So I have all my windows open...beautiful day. Then all the sudden every single adult chicken starts barking. I look out and see nothing. I run out to the pasture because I have two hens with chicks and chicks in a pen. I get out there and all my chicks are gone 30 chicks!!! The broody hens are barking like dogs and ticked off. My adult hens are in the coop bawk-bawk-growl. I look over and a hawk is on my fence post. It is dark colored with a light tail (what breed??) I step towards it but it only fly's up into one of my trees. So I start the head count process. All hens and rooster accounted for. But my 6 free range broody chicks are gone and the mommy hens are ticked. I check my pen and all my chicks are gone. So I start to really worry. The hens are still freaking out so I yelled at the hawk and he finally flew away. Mean time the broody hens start their mommy-to-baby bawk-bawk call, and suddenly baby chicks start emerging from all parts of the pasture. They had been laying flat in the grass. I run back over to my pen and make my mommy call that I use for my hand raised baby chicks and they start appearing from all sorts of hiding places.. So my baby's that I am raising are safe. They are in a covered run. But my hens, rooster and broody raised chicks are still in the open. I think part of the problem was my DH put a antelope meat bone out for the dog and the smell might of brought the hawk in. I don't know what to do
I can't cover my pasture, and the coop is too small to lock the hens in it. Meanwhile I am so proud that my rooster and adult hens were able to sound the alert to the baby chicks could all hide!!
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