Minnesota!

[Bogtown Chick]

Yesterday my buckeye at roost time was soaking wet across her back with many blood feathers and free ranging in the rain snow mix--she's almost too tough for her own good -- everybody else must have taken cover and were dry and fluffy. So took buckeye up to house. Since she's been a chick she's protested being held and although she filed a mild complaint I could tell her heart wasn't in it as she looked uncomfortable and hunched on the roost. I got her in the bath room and turned the blow dryer on low and she nestled right in to the sink basin and rolled her eyes back. Lol. Not quite the struggle I anticipated with her. Hahaha. Anyways got her back down to the coop and she began preening and much more comfortable I could tell.

This weather is probably more dangerous for birds than the 25 below in my humble opinion. Especially when it dips to freezing after a rain.

 

[lalaland]

Oh - Sit rep... The good news is that it was only 1 chicken. one of my older leghorns. poor girl she was one of my first chickens on the new farm.

I found the remains of the hen under the edge of a pine tree. The neck is mostly eaten away with the head dangling from just a little skin. I have a photo to share if that will help but its gruesome so i wont unless I must.

My wife said when she pulled into the driveway this afternoon a large dark colored bird flew away from that area and that is when she noticed the feathers. She was thinking a hawk because of the coloring. She said no white head or tail, that she noticed aka not a bald eagle. The only thing she said was unique was it seemed really big for a hawk.

She said I "Need to get online and talk to my chicken friends" to see if you guys know what we are dealing with and if we need to keep the girls locked up for a day or two to keep them safe. I have heard someone on here talk about a kind of hawk setting up shop for the winter and i want to make sure that isnt a problem we have.

Can you help me??? this is our first predator kill so we are pretty bummed.

I'm sorry about your hen.

That does sound like a hawk kill to me - I suppose it could be an eagle, but hawks can look pretty darn large and are often dark colored. I've lost a couple to hawks and owls, and have seen plenty of bald eagles (they nest up the road) but never seen them take interest in the chickens. They supposedly do take chickens though.

Fall is the worst time for me for aerial predators. It is why I have the hawk enclosure. This is a wire fencing roofed pavilion type structure that I restrict them to in Nov and Dec. After that the snow usually keeps them in there - I use old wooden snow fences for the sides, chicken wire from the top of the snow fence up to the "roof" - 6' long 2x4's set on the ground upright, fastened to 14' long 2x4's. I used old wire fencing with 4 inch square holes fastened to the top.

It is set up so the chickens exit the coop right into the enclosure.

Previous to having this, I was losing 1 or 2 hens each fall, followed by days of lockup. The hawks and a great gray owl always always always were seen for up to a week after each kill hanging out and watching for more.

Best of luck going forward!


found a pic of the enclosure.

 

[duluthralphie]

It could very well be a golden eagle. I see 1 or 2 a year, usually while hunting in the fall.
There is or were resident goldens that wintered along the Mississippi River bluffs in SE Mn.

Quite a few years back the DNR suffocated a small lake near my house to kill all the fish.
The eagles were having a field day. There were over 2 dozen golden eagles and many bald eagles.
I could see the eagles sitting high in the trees about 3/4 miles away.
Golden eagles always seem bigger to me than bald eagles, but are very close to the same size.
I think it is because I see bald eagles all the time and goldens so seldom.


Whatever attacked your chickens, I hope it doesn't visit again.
I would keep them on lock down for a while to make sure.

Sorry for your loss and good luck.

I saw there was about 60 golden eagles wintering in the bluffs on the Mississippi river in SE MN. How far do they roam to eat? Is the count of golden eagles by the DNR as accurate as their count of wolves and cougars in Minnesota? If so there could be thousands in the state. I thought I saw a golden eagle once, but the read we did not have them in this area so I assumed it was a juvvy bold eagle.

 

[duluthralphie]

Klopklop, I would be willing to wager that the bird in question was a Goshawk. The females can be quite large. If they find a food source they will remain in the area and continue their attacks.
Free range in the open is likely to result in more losses unless the culprit is relocated.

What gauge and size shot do you use to relocate a Goshawk?

 

[KlopKlop]

I'm sorry about your hen. That does sound like a hawk kill to me - I suppose it could be an eagle, but hawks can look pretty darn large and are often dark colored. I've lost a couple to hawks and owls, and have seen plenty of bald eagles (they nest up the road) but never seen them take interest in the chickens. They supposedly do take chickens though. Fall is the worst time for me for aerial predators. It is why I have the hawk enclosure. This is a wire fencing roofed pavilion type structure that I restrict them to in Nov and Dec. After that the snow usually keeps them in there - I use old wooden snow fences for the sides, chicken wire from the top of the snow fence up to the "roof" - 6' long 2x4's set on the ground upright, fastened to 14' long 2x4's. I used old wire fencing with 4 inch square holes fastened to the top. It is set up so the chickens exit the coop right into the enclosure. Previous to having this, I was losing 1 or 2 hens each fall, followed by days of lockup. The hawks and a great gray owl always always always were seen for up to a week after each kill hanging out and watching for more. Best of luck going forward! found a pic of the enclosure.

We basically have the same structure built into each of our coops and the girls are restricted to those today. Ours are made of 2x4 welded wire on all sides plus 1/2" hardware cloths 2' high on around the bottoms and a 1' out as a skirt. This is also where the hens get to go if we are gone for a night and we don't want to leave them locked indoors which we rarely do

 

[lalaland]

yeah, its a pain to restrict them when there is still greenery out there for them to eat, and there is no snow. Once there is any depth of snow on the ground, I find the hens don't venture out into it unless it is just a few inches.

I've been wavering on when to shut them up, your report makes me want to take care of that this weekend. Just have to roll out those fences....

 

[KlopKlop]

What gauge and size shot do you use to relocate a Goshawk?

I have had my eye on a Winchester model 97 12 gauge that is on the used gun rack at cabela's in town but DW doesn't think I need another gun... Maybe this will change her mind haha

And before anyone gets too shocked - I won't be out there blasting Eagles! I'm just leveraging the tragedy to get new toys. I learned the habit from our government, so blame them.

 

[Cebarmlds]

sounds yummy.. sure your flock will love them...

What a great idea!

Does the pepper go over well?

Yep they are little pepper heads

 

[KlopKlop]

yeah, its a pain to restrict them when there is still greenery out there for them to eat, and there is no snow.  Once there is any depth of snow on the ground, I find the hens don't venture out into it unless it is just a few inches.

I've been wavering on when to shut them up, your report makes me want to take care of that this weekend.  Just have to roll out those fences....

Does the fence keep most of the snow out? I'm on the fence (pun intended) about putting a tarp on top of them but worry about snow load. Both runs are on the Lee side of their buildings so probably more protected in that sense

 

[duluthralphie]

I have had my eye on a Winchester model 97 12 gauge that is on the used gun rack at cabela's in town but DW doesn't think I need another gun... Maybe this will change her mind haha

And before anyone gets too shocked - I won't be out there blasting Eagles! I'm just leveraging the tragedy to get new toys. I learned the habit from our government, so blame them.

You are only doing what any good husband would do. You are not really buying that gun for yourself, you are buying it to make your spouse feel safer and more secure in her home. This is a totally selfless act on your part, I think you should reward yourself on being such a loving caring husband by purchasing something you want for yourself, not the gun your wife needs you to buy.

Maybe a new ATV??