I'm sooo sad !!!!!

[katknapp]

I am fairly new at having chickens (October we got 8 day old chicks - 2 were roosters that we had to give away). Now that the weather is nice I've been trying to let the girls out to free range more...I usually check on them very often but today I didn't and after an hour I went out to find feathers on the front lawn and my beautiful Red Star Ginny no where to be found

. I feel so guilty -- I swear I can actually smell blood on my hands.
So now that a hawk has had a free meal should I expect to see him back?

 

[CUDA]

First off, how do you know it was a hawk? Could have as easily have been a dog, or many other things. No matter what it was though, it will be back, you can count on that.

 

[Redfeathers]

I'm so sorry. It could have been anything, You might want to only keep them in an area that is fenced. Don't give up on having chickens though, these things happen and we learn from them. Good luck.

 

[katknapp]

Thanks for responding. I am assuming it was a hawk because all that is left is feathers .... would a dog or other animal leave nothing else behind?

 

[CUDA]

Yep, not saying it wasn't a hawk, but during the brief struggle, you might be surprised how many feathers get left behind from a dog. Either way, predators are a constant battle, that's why all my fowl are in fly pens, and I trap predators, and have dogs running my yard. Good luck!

 

[Love my Critters!]

Many predators will haul off with their kill. The body could be close by somewhere, and you just haven't found it. What ever it was will come back, so keep a look out. I'm sorry for your loss, it is always hard to loose a pet like that. But like said before, we all learn from our mistakes. It's not your fault, its what makes the world go around.

 

[katknapp]

Quote:
What's a fly pen?
I hope my boys don't see your post -- they are going to up the pressure on getting our own dog

 

[CUDA]

Check out my site HERE to see some of my pens.

 

[katknapp]

Nice pens! Thanks for sharing and also for letting me vent...

 

[horsejody]

Maybe they just wandered off. Leave the coop open and they might wander in tonight.