Just kind of discouraged. Horrible update: post 29, I think. So sad.

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Augh, so sorry. I have a *few* suggestions-
Enlarge the covered run, free range with supervision only for the time being, get some guineas as watch birds (they scream when they see hawks, they warn our flock), make friends with the local crows (we have a 6 crow family that lives nearby- they mob the hawks, harass them, chase them ect. Crows are a risk to unprotected chicks- but will generally leave adult chickens alone), get a large rooster to protect the hens- most will watch for airborne predators and warn the hens- ours screams at vultures and airplanes too, talk to wildlife people nearby- find out when the large migratory hawks are coming through and keep the chickens in during those times, don't keep or don't let silkies and banties free range- they are too easy for a hawk, don't get white birds- they stick out like a sore thumb (white silkies are doomed on our farm). Plant COVER (savy chickens rapidly learn to stick near cover in hawk territory- we have planted bamboo, the chickens love it, but pick something for your area that grows fast, tall and bushy). Hope something in there helps!
 
So sorry for your loss! I totaly understand since we have kids and our hens are pets. Once we had a hawk attack and we lost one, injured another. My 9 year-old son was so sad he sid he didn't want chickens anymore; however, once I reassured him that we were going to put a netting all over their free-range area, then he felt better. The chicken's fenced in area is a 30 X 40 ft. enclosure and we went to great lengths putting plastic netting on top (cheapest we could find!). We feel better now. Still, we lock them in their coop at night so racoons and weasels in our area don't get them. They are know to climg and get in through any space, and our netting on top is "loosely" attached to the fence. Good for hawks but we know it won't keep nocturnal predators out. There are no coyotes or anything like that in our area.
 
Sounds like canine attacks. Foxes can make a pile of feathers too. Weasels too. If they don't think they are in the hurry to take it elsewhere, they will eat it on the spot.
 
Quote:
You guys are great. Thank you! These are things we have been talking about at home. The plant cover idea is great, too. We hadn't thought about guineas! I'll have to read up.

Our tentative plan: buy 8 chicks in the spring. Maybe from the feed store, or a site like my pet chicken. Brown breeds mostly. Our coop is big enough for 7 maybe. We will expand our covered area and make it more comfortable for everyday use. Free range when we are home and expect losses.

No more silkies, until we build them a separate coop
wink.png


The only thing up in the air is the rooster. We adored our silkie roo's personality and his gentle nature. His size was great, too. The woman I got him from has a black rooster the same age. My flock has been exposed to her flock (I quarantined him and will a new boy). Should I get him? My girls need the leadership, I think.

So, should I get him? The 3 would be happy together for th rest of the winter. If I get a roo by accident this spring, then I'd move the silkie roo in with my proposed silkie coop!

I am shocked that folks think a dog- of course it's possible. Now fox? That's a real possibility. I guess I'll never know.

My kids are totally fine today. My older dd said that at least those hawks had a nice meal before all this snow. We've gotten over a foot so far and the "crime scene" is all gone.

Again, thanks!
 
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Get a silkie rooster if you want a silkie rooster for personality and looks. Don't get a silkie and expect him to chase and scream at hawks. You want a standard of some sort that is comfortable free ranging as far as the hens want to go, and is larger/taller than the standard 5-6lb hawk. My silkies and silkie rooster while I had him- were home/barn bodies. My best roosters that go out and stick with their roaming hen bunches are the EE mixes. I need roosters that are good with people as well as with the hens & other roosters (we have 5 roos ranging on the same acreage), so have stayed away from the more gamier breeds. But EEs which are mixes of ameraucana and other dual purpose breeds do a decent job protecting their girls from things smaller than themselves....

Quote:
You guys are great. Thank you! These are things we have been talking about at home. The plant cover idea is great, too. We hadn't thought about guineas! I'll have to read up.

Our tentative plan: buy 8 chicks in the spring. Maybe from the feed store, or a site like my pet chicken. Brown breeds mostly. Our coop is big enough for 7 maybe. We will expand our covered area and make it more comfortable for everyday use. Free range when we are home and expect losses.

No more silkies, until we build them a separate coop
wink.png


The only thing up in the air is the rooster. We adored our silkie roo's personality and his gentle nature. His size was great, too. The woman I got him from has a black rooster the same age. My flock has been exposed to her flock (I quarantined him and will a new boy). Should I get him? My girls need the leadership, I think.

So, should I get him? The 3 would be happy together for th rest of the winter. If I get a roo by accident this spring, then I'd move the silkie roo in with my proposed silkie coop!

I am shocked that folks think a dog- of course it's possible. Now fox? That's a real possibility. I guess I'll never know.

My kids are totally fine today. My older dd said that at least those hawks had a nice meal before all this snow. We've gotten over a foot so far and the "crime scene" is all gone.

Again, thanks!
 
Quote:
3 at at time and feathers everywhere doesn't sound like a bird of prey attack... more like dog..

*just read the rest of the thread... it could be a hawk, did you find any neatly picked bones nearby?
 
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