I am shaking...can't believe it.

[bragabit]

Luckily my yard has plenty of hiding places. So hopefully that and my presence in the backyard today will help. I'll hang up some scratched dvd's today. I found it very interesting that the adults hid in the coop. BUT the broody hens stood their ground in the pasture making the most noise. Leads me to believe that they would rather let the hawk take them, instead of their chicks laying in the grass.

 

[Brindlebtch]

Quote:
Hawks don't hunt by sense of smell

Few species of birds even have a sense of smell. The only ones I can think of off the bat are some species of vultures. Hawks have a minimal if any of smell. Have incredible eyes, though.

 

[lovemelovemybirds]

I have a VHS of chicken tales and factuals I bought from the local PBS...it has one story on there..the hen covered her chicks with her wings as the hawk dove...hen running toward the chicks..chicks running toward the hen...Hawk diving...very dramatic. hen took a direct hit from the Hawk...was wounded but saved all those babies. Chickens are so underestimated!!

 

[chkn]

Boy, that is a great account of the story. Hawks are attracted to the little ones until they are at least half grown. I would keep them in a covered place until they're grown more and then corraled somehow with the larger chickens until they get big enough. They don't seem as inclined to attack the teenagers when the adults are around.

 

[chkn]

I watched one of my little broody araconas chase off a feral cat all puffed up and growly. I was so pleased....

 

[xyresicchick]

Wow! I say run to the feed store/hardware store and get some harware cloth or even some cheap fencing like poultry wire... make a few pens for the broody mamas and their chicks until the chicks are bigger. do that until you stop seeing the hawks.

that is what i would do, no hesitation! i lost my two roos (18 week old bantams)to a hawk last week. sent them to a friend until spring and just two days later they got eaten. i was so mad. keep those babies safe!

 

[buildingmyark]

Great Chicken teamwork! You raised them right!!!!

 

[carrlr]

Quote:
Hawks don't hunt by sense of smell

True, it's by sight. Of course it could have seen the bone. But most likely would have chosen a chick over any bone.

 

[arch_cpj]

hang a mes of cds randomly in the yard also if you can put up a little cloths line we have had good luck with hanging an old white sheet to flap in the wind move it 2 times a week a bit and it is a lively scare crow..

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Poor little things, I 'll bet they were scared to death. Good job from the mother hens though. I wish you luck. It will be back, almost guaranteed. Only thing that comes to mind is maybe a scare crow, but they might not be in the area where it is though.