Im not sure what is doing this.HELP

[cdodehrn]

I am all new to this. Recently we have lost about 12 total hens. I think it may be hawks. Ive seen them, one large & one smaller. All but 2 lost have been full grown hens. 2 roosters were lost but Im sure that a dog was the culprit by what was left behind. Of the lost hens, most have been found with throats cut or a head missing. Some haven't been found at all. Just blood all around. Leaving behind very docile roosters & hens that seem scared to death!! one of the poor things even ended up DROPPED onto my back deck. Although she didnt have any cuts or blood on her. It was almost as if the darn hawk took her, flew over my house and handed her back to me saying."I can get them no matter what you do".......GGGRRRRRRRRRRrr
i know chickens & turkeys aren't supposed to be raised together but putting my RP tom in there with them seems to be the only thing that has stopped these predators.. Any suggestions. The coop is too large to cover it with poultry wire just yet. Newly seperated and finances are tight.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

A hawk will peel & eat. A possum . skunk, or coon will take off the head & drink the blood. Get the gun!!!

 

[cdodehrn]

Well....ok then.I have seen these predators perched above and alongside of the coop very very early in the mornings most times. They are definitly fowl. But can I kill them?

if not, what should I do? Ive lost way too many hens for this critter to get his/her or both next meal in my yard!!

Trust me I've been out there a few mornings waiting.but I have a 20 gage pump with short range and am not doing very well with it. My other gun is a 40 glock, poor thing wouldnt survive...if I could hit it!! I sit there with the shotgun, but I'm afraid I'll hit my chickens or other animals because using birdshot

 

[cdodehrn]

And if it was a skunk or coon, how did the poor hen end up on my deck? it is gated and so is the coop. The only way out is from above

 

[Tinkspirit70]

A friend of ours lost his roo to a hawk and he saw it happen, the hawk ripped it's head off just as he was pulling up in the driveway from work....so sorry for your losses, I wish I could help you somehow

 

[justbugged]

Hawks are generally unable to carry the weight of a chicken. Hawks tend to kill and rip the chicken up tearing pieces of meat from the other bird. The hawks are just not able to carry much weight. It really sounds like you have more than on predator at work here. Is your run covered? That, and making sure than nothing else can getting via the bottom of the run.

birdaholic described what some the other predators will do. Then there are coyotes and bob cats, they will grab and go sometimes leaving only some feathers behind. As for how you hen got on to your deck, the only thing I could come up with is that maybe she was scared enough to fly there herself. That is only a guess because I don't know what your set really looks like.

 

[deerman]

Dead Chicken on the deck, Owl if killed at night, hawk if killed during the day. Sound more like a large owl.

 

[cdodehrn]

This happened during the day. Morning to be exact. I left for shopping around 9am.by 12 noon I was home. Went out the back door and there she was. Still warm. But she had no visable wounds. I too thought that a hawk would not be able to lift these hens.but something is. I have seen these 2 birds that Im sure are the culprits. I just think they are hawks. Trust me they ARE picking up my girls. Its so frustrating. Thanks to all of you for your information. As I said before, I have put the turkey & the goat in with these chickens & it seems to have stopped.at least for now. I know Im not supposed to have the turkey in there. What about the goat? I guess because the added animals have deterred the culprits because of their size:/
The smaller runs are covered, larger one is not so Ive moved almost all into the small runs with the exception of a hen & 2 roosters. The predators don't seem to like the roosters....hm wonder why. The one that was killed was very young. Bottoms of all runs are all secured also

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Hmmm..... only one other option , BIGFOOT!

 

[deerman]

Rooster will fight off some of smaller hawks, like Coopers. Yes many hawks can pick up chickens, remember hawks come in many sizes.
I have seen a gamecock go after a cooper.
A large rooster may help,just like your Tom turkey.

Now if they have no marks, thats odd for bird of prey, unless they got run off their prey.

Could even be a dog, they kill without a mark, as they play with them'

Not sure where you are from, depend on your area, what type bird of prey you have.