Lost my first bird to a hawk today.

[NateinFL]

Quote:
What size are your Hawks over there ?

They're all small, I've never had a visit from a red-tail although I have seen them less than a mile away. Mostly Red-shouldereds which generally don't bother them unless there's babies around, and then the Cooper's/Sharp-shinned, those are the ones I REALLY worry about, they are fearless with chickens, and they mine never hang around, they just come from nowhere it seems and then I never see them again for a while.

 

[BayouPoules]

ChickenWisperer I am so sorry for your loss,. I am also very happy for the little hen that made it. We also just lost our rooster to a hawk or eagle,. it had to be a big one,. and I too stood in the yard and cried,.. I felt guilty for a little while,. like I had not taken good care of my poor rocky,. but the truth is,. it happens if we free range and the only other choice is to keep them penned up,. you take good care of your birds and it's not your fault,.

I hope you're feeling better,

 

[chickfamilyonsleepyhollow]

Dear ChickenWisperer, So sorry to hear about your loss ... how easy it is for us to become so attached to our feather friends ... may you be comforted with lots of great memories.

A hawk was in our open run a couple of months ago while it was closed up so we put chicken wire on top ... we still let them free range daily and will often see that hawk lurking in the trees .... its unrealistic to think we have the power to keep them completely safe from harm and know that they would be safer if we left them in the run all day - but prefer to let them enjoy the short life that they have free roaming around the yard - at least for a few hours.

God Bless.

 

[BitsyB]

So sorry for your loss, especially that it was one of your favorite chickens.

My first and only loss to a predator was from a hawk. It's surprising how sad it is to lose a chicken, after all they're only birds- but they're your birds, that you raised with loving care.

I was stressed and paranoid for months that it'd happen again, and went to great lengths to protect my girls as well as I could- building runs w/ fishing line, running like a maniac outside every time I heard a chicken squawk- then I realized this is crazy.

I've finally accepted the fact that hawks do what they do, and that Nature is sometimes quite cruel (from our perspective, at least). And if I lose another chicken to a predator, well that's a good excuse to get some new babies this Spring. .

(Although I still throw a tennis ball towards any hawk that I see lurking about in the trees. It scares them away without hurting them...)

 

[grendel]

I too,I sorry for the lost of your beloved feathered friend.when I free range ,I stand out there with the birds .I lost a chicken to a hawk and said never again.

 

[ChickenWisperer]

Quote:
Crows always see off a hawks or Herons specially if they are nesting nearby.

We never had any problems when the vultures and the owl were roosting in our gully.

Interestingly enough, the giant horned owl that would roost right beside the coop never tried anything.... but dad cut the tree he stayed in down, so he left... and a week or two before that, he scared the vultures off. I wish I could get them back.

Thank you guys, for all of your support. It's funny - I didn't raise her, and I had only recently bought her 2 weeks ago; but she was so shy and scared when she got here. She had just started to freerange with everyone else, and come up to the house for treats. Chickens are much more than we give them credit for... they are their own little people with their own little personalities. And to anyone who keeps them and knows such, it's hard when you loose one. It's funny how quickly and deeply you get attached to them. Kira, on the other hand, I raised from a chick.

I think I'm going to make the enclosed run bigger, and let them freerange only when I'm outside - maybe and hour or two before bed. I'm still worried about Hope - my tiny little cubalaya game pullet - but she is a game bird and she probably got out of there faster than anyone else.

 

[ChickenWisperer]

Quote:
What size are your Hawks over there ?

They're all small, I've never had a visit from a red-tail although I have seen them less than a mile away. Mostly Red-shouldereds which generally don't bother them unless there's babies around, and then the Cooper's/Sharp-shinned, those are the ones I REALLY worry about, they are fearless with chickens, and they mine never hang around, they just come from nowhere it seems and then I never see them again for a while.

This one was a huge red-tailed. He at least come up to my knees. And I know he was desperate for food... even with us standing there, screaming at him, he wouldn't leave for a good 30 minutes. I run him off before he could eat, (insert derogatory term here) so we could bury Bailey. I know he needs to eat, but he's not gonna eat my baby girls. He made several passes back the next day, but we haven't seen him since.

The gosshawks are around here, but have never made a move.

I wonder, how can you get crows to come to your area?

 

[BitsyB]

I wonder, how can you get crows to come to your area?

Crows are omnivorous... The neighbors near us throw out things for the birds -leftovers from their dinner it seems- and the crows hang out in the oak tree above. The large pieces of white bread seem to attract them, and I know they like scrambled eggs and such. Blue Jays love peanuts in the shell. But I don't know if these birds come around if there is not the right habitat for them, like mature trees and shrubs. But if they do, they sure let it be known if there's a hawk around!​

 

[Stonerowfarm]

I'm so sorry for you loss. It's terrible when it happens, but unfortunately it is part of chickens. Prior to today I had only lost one other chicken to a predator in the last three years and that was to a raccoon. However I also lost just lost my first chicken to a hawk. A big red tail. She took my sweet little Mimi, a mille fluer d'uccle. The hawk has come back twice so far today and the rest of the bantys are on lock down. Hubby (dear man) is out there running aluminum fence post around the whole parimeter and is setting up chicken wire to make a temporary covering so she can't get back in to take the rest.

Take care of your remaining chickens and try to discourage the hawk the best way you can. I've heard that mylar ribbon is a good deterant, but I'm not sure where you could find it. Maybe someone has a suggestion.