Thanks - she seems to have stopped bleeding now, so I will keep her isolated for the time being and keep an eye on her and try that later if needed. I'm laughing over dipping a chicken head in a bowl of flour/sugar. Her best friend is out there crying for her but every time we go to open the run for her she runs - she's the most skittish of the flock.
I was going to suggest shooting it but looks like that is out if the question for you. And yes it is illegal to shoot a lot of birds of prey, but a lot of places have an exception if they are endangering your livestockWas out of town for a week. Finally caught up with this thread. Had a great time in the desert sun but a rough day returning. My chicken sitter did a great job, but unfortunately I have a very, very determined hawk. It killed one of my 3 Amigos. My neighbor sent our dogs out after it and called my chicken sitter (another neighbor). She cleaned up the pullet carcass to prevent the hawk from getting rewarded. This is the 1st time we ever lost a chicken of any age. I knew it would likely happen at some point, but the dogs, kids, tree cover & rooster usually deter most hawks. Because my chickens have kind of become a neighborhood project, many are saddened by the loss. RIP Miracle. (She required assistance hatching, so we say it's a miracle she lived.) Miracle was the golden pullet. The 3 Amigos did everything together & never bonded with the flock. Perhaps that's why the hawk 1st targeted them.
Here's Miracle trying to go for a dog ride.
I've been keeping the chickens locked up for the past 3 days. Today I let them out while I cleaned. After 5 min, I called the chickens back & was handing out treats before locking them back up. All of a sudden SQUAWKING & FLAPPING! Less than 15 ft from where I stood a hawk made a grab for Princess then it flew right past me! Some ran to the coop, some needed my personal escort to walk from the bushes back to the coop, & some frozen in fear just needed to be carried. Not sure how to get this particular hawk to leave. I've been looking at online pics & think it's a Cooper's Hawk. It's probably the same one I caught INSIDE the run over the summer. It flew in through the open human door & was sitting on the roost waiting for a chicken to walk out of the coop. Before that I've seen it here many times terrorizing the young chicks in the tractor. When approached it simply flies just a little out of reach. Not afraid of people at all, so I just start throwing rocks until it flies off the property. My dogs can do a better job chasing it off, but they're not out 24/7. Today it attacked even with the dogs outside - but not nearby. The hawk has definitely been getting more comfortable here over the past 6 months. Anyone have advise?
@Faraday40 So sorry to hearRIP Miracle. (She required assistance hatching, so we say it's a miracle she lived.) Miracle was the golden pullet. The 3 Amigos did everything together & never bonded with the flock. Perhaps that's why the hawk 1st targeted them.
Here's Miracle trying to go for a dog ride.
The hawk has definitely been getting more comfortable here over the past 6 months. Anyone have advise?
Am so sorry for your loss. We have one here too. My guinea seem to keep it away, as well as the turkeys and geese. I have seen it swoop at a bantam, and the whole guinea flock goes after them. Some folks have hung up flags and cd's on fishing line as deterrents.Was out of town for a week. Finally caught up with this thread. Had a great time in the desert sun but a rough day returning. My chicken sitter did a great job, but unfortunately I have a very, very determined hawk. It killed one of my 3 Amigos. My neighbor sent our dogs out after it and called my chicken sitter (another neighbor). She cleaned up the pullet carcass to prevent the hawk from getting rewarded. This is the 1st time we ever lost a chicken of any age. I knew it would likely happen at some point, but the dogs, kids, tree cover & rooster usually deter most hawks. Because my chickens have kind of become a neighborhood project, many are saddened by the loss.
RIP Miracle. (She required assistance hatching, so we say it's a miracle she lived.) Miracle was the golden pullet. The 3 Amigos did everything together & never bonded with the flock. Perhaps that's why the hawk 1st targeted them.
Here's Miracle trying to go for a dog ride.
I've been keeping the chickens locked up for the past 3 days. Today I let them out while I cleaned. After 5 min, I called the chickens back & was handing out treats before locking them back up. All of a sudden SQUAWKING & FLAPPING! Less than 15 ft from where I stood a hawk made a grab for Princess then it flew right past me! Some ran to the coop, some needed my personal escort to walk from the bushes back to the coop, & some frozen in fear just needed to be carried.
Not sure how to get this particular hawk to leave. I've been looking at online pics & think it's a Cooper's Hawk. It's probably the same one I caught INSIDE the run over the summer. It flew in through the open human door & was sitting on the roost waiting for a chicken to walk out of the coop. Before that I've seen it here many times terrorizing the young chicks in the tractor. When approached it simply flies just a little out of reach. Not afraid of people at all, so I just start throwing rocks until it flies off the property. My dogs can do a better job chasing it off, but they're not out 24/7. Today it attacked even with the dogs outside - but not nearby.
The hawk has definitely been getting more comfortable here over the past 6 months. Anyone have advise?
If the flour keeps getting knocked free, try styptic powder. Guys use it for shaving, and I have used it on spurs/hooves/dogs toenails if they are trimmed to close.
