My chicken died and I feel so guilty

[Spekai]

Hello! Around a year ago I got my first 4 chickens, 3 were hens and one was a rooster. They were amazing and it was such a fun experience. However, just yesterday my rooster Chandler died of a hawk attack. He was roaming free in the backyard when a hawk came to attack and Chandler protected his flock. The back of his head was ripped off and he died shorty after. Now, this is why I feel guilty. Chandler was very loud and very protective. Although he never hurt any of us, whenever he would side step me I would push him away with my foot or hand. Not hard of course. I never offered him any treats because whenever I tried to feed him some, he would cluck a little and give it to the hens. Sometimes though I would take him inside by himself so he could eat some oatmeal or a grape. I feel like I was so mean to him and ignored him just because he was protective, even though I used to hold him and let him a lot. The last thing I did to him was push him away from me. I feel absolutely terrible. The next thing is that I heard them outside being attacked but I just assumed it was one of the hens about to lay an egg, so I didn’t go outside. If only I would have gone a little bit sooner. The last thing is that he died in a terrible way. He fought for his hens and died with the back of his head gone. It must have been so painful I can’t even imagine. I was so upset I couldn’t even look when I first saw him laying there. I tried to be a good owner I just feel like sometimes I took him for granted. He was one of the friendliest. I can’t believe he’s gone and I would do anything to get him back. I’m losing sleep on all the things I did wrong and I have been crying on and off since I saw him.

My next question is how do is stop the hawks frlm taking anymore? I have a big coop that’s almost finished and I put a dog playpen by the exit so they can walk around a little and put chicken wire on the coop windows. I won’t let them roam around the whole backyard until I’m sure all the hawks are gone or if I’m watching them. Will that be enough to keep them away for now? Should I get a scarecrow? I don’t think I can handle losing another chicken. Thank you.

 

[BlueBaby]

Hawks are fast, and have been known to swoop down and grab a chicken within feet of people out there who are supervising a flock that is free-ranging.

 

[Perris]

sorry to hear of your awful experience but don't blame yourself; it was not your fault. It might have looked awful but he might have felt nothing, so try to put that thought out of your head too.
As for deterring future attacks, there are quite a lot of discussions on this site about that, just use the search function.

 

[2 many chickens]

It's not your fault.
The death was probably instant for him..considering his head was ripped off...
Don't worry about you kicking him before his death. You didn't hurt his feelings, he probably forgot about you the second you walked off. He didn't sit there wondering why you kicked him or why this why that.
Don't feel guilty. Not your fault.
Keeping hawks away means no more free ranging. With free ranging, there's risks.

 

[The Phantom]

I'm so sorry! It's not you fault, he was protecting his girls. He probably thought you just bumped into him when you pushed him.

 

[New2Chicks97]

Sorry you lost your chicken! Trust me I get it.....I miscounted and thought everyone was in for the night but one of my favorite girls was trying to be broody and snuck back out into the big run where her favorite outside nest was while I was closing the other coop door. Well, a very determined coyote dug into the run and got her. The coyote managed to dig up the wire we had around the run and move several cinderblocks to get her. But I still feel responsible because I didn’t see she wasn’t there when I did a head count. Now I have an electric fence around the coop and run! And I have much stronger wire that is getting buried around their new run I am working on.

I don’t know how to keep Hawks from attacking short of providing a covered area for your chickens in a run. We have a red tail hawk, horned owls and a few eagles that hang out around our house sometimes. If anything is hanging out I keep them in and don’t free range.

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry! Your hawk will return! Keep the flock in their safe coop and covered run for at least ten days (or longer!) until she's moved on elsewhere. Watch for her, and make sure she's been gone for a week at least before letting them out.
Your survivors will be more careful, and if you pay attention to the presence or absence of songbirds and crows before letting the chickens out, it helps too.
Polite roosters who don't plan attacks on humans are the best! Your boy did what he needed to do, and was unlucky. It would have been another bird, if not him.
Mary

 

[cmom]

Hawks are fast, and have been known to swoop down and grab a chicken within feet of people out there who are supervising a flock that is free-ranging.

It has happened to me a couple of times so I don't free range anymore. My birds all have nice large pens. Good luck...

 

[Jacquej57]

I've lost some of my flock to predators. It was a tough call for me...Keep them safely locked up so that predators couldn't get them or to let them take the risk of free ranging. My girls are so much happier being allowed to be chickens, chasing grasshoppers, searching out succulent greenery. I decided that I'd rather they had happy chicken lives, even if they were cut short. I like knowing their patterns of movement and watching them spend their time they way they enjoy. Yes, it hurts whenever I lose one, but I know they are happy and content while they are alive.

 

[Brooks_]

I think that is a little harsh

I'd call it outright trollish. Dredging up an old thread to cast blame with a first post.