MY CHICK WAS KILLED!

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Sorry for your loss.

Those chicks are way too young to be out in exposure.
They are predator magnets. A hawk is looking for food that is small and easy to carry off. Your babies need covered protection. It's spring time. Food was scarce all winter. Mother nature's creatures are starving. Protect the rest of your chicks.

i am getting a hen from my neighbor that will hopefully take them in, i am wiring the top. Thanks!

I have an outdoor safe-pen that I use to let them be outside all day without supervision. It's made of two rabbit fences. I use one as the walls and then I lay one on top. If it's wobbly I tie the weakest part to a metal post in the ground. Totally hawk proof, never had any deaths or break-ins with it. Also, crows eat chicks too so beware (I have a few dozen crows by me. Luckily, the crows scare away the hawks!)

At first I just used the "wall" fence, but then a hawk landed next to the cage one day and dropped his previous meal (a mouse) as he prepared for a fresh one. Luckily my 8lb chiweenie is super protective of them and tried to attack it, scaring it away before it took a chick. That's when I put the fence on top.

they were in an outdoor safe pen, and i was watching them the whole time, i just went inside and got them some food for like 2 minutes and i came out and the hawk was under there and had just got it, i have a temporary fence that is around the whole chicken coop, i honestly didn't think that a hawk could dive between a fence and coop roof that is less than a foot on the away from the roof of the coop, and i thought they were safe, ill get some pics to show you in a bit.

Also, I always arm myself with a stick or pole to wave at any crows if I'm free ranging the babies, and I NEVER leave them alone unless in their safe pen. And I especially won't let them out because now my own grown pullets are the biggest predator here.

they were not free ranging, and were only unsupervised for 2 minutes at tops, but i guess the hawk was waiting, i do not even know how he could kill one that fast. they spend most of their time in the safety of the coop, and i have a special set up for them. i only left to fill up their food and my entire family was out there and no-one saw it come.