My first loss...

[Chicken Mom Leslie]

Hi... I'm pretty new to being a chicken mom, having started my flock this past September. They are my passion and have brought me endless joy since Day 1. Yesterday, we lost our first (hopefully only) chicken to what we believe was a hawk. Our coop and run are secured around the perimeter like Fort Knox, but we had not (yet) put up any aerial defense (stupidly I now know). Our run is partially covered by a roof, and we thought the birds could safely escape there if they were threatened. Yesterday, while I was at work, I took a look through our "chicken run cam" (as I often do when I need a "zen" moment at work), and was completely shocked to find a crow picking at what looked like a pile of feathers (formerly our beloved Buff Orpington named, Otis). I have had a lot of pets (and pet deaths) in my life, but for some reason, I have cried more over this loss than any other. Maybe it's just that I feel so responsible for these little souls. This particular bird had a rough delivery to our house and I nursed it back to life when she first arrived. She's also my daughter's chosen chicken and was named after her Grandma and Grandpa (now deceased). They're all special, but this one was... well, very special.
So, now my flock is stuck inside until we figure out how to prevent this from ever happening again.
Thanks for listening... needed to "talk" to a community who understands the grief.

 

[Ribh]

 

[Stockpilejoy]

So sorry for your loss. I lost my first 2 hens to a hawk in 2017 and was devastated. Mabel was a Buff Orpington and Nellie an Easter Egger. I too took their death harder than any other animal. They were my favorite hens and so vulnerable. To this day I still get a lump in my throat thinking about them. So glad your remaining flock is safe because the hawk will return for more.

 

[Melky]

I think you will have to add a roofed run as well. This is the safest and use 19g 1/2 inch HWC for the netting. If not some here have used aerial aviary netting with small holes to prevent aerial attacks. So sorry for your loss.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

So sorry for your loss of Otis... We had two sharp shinned hawks go after one of my favorite SLW pullets last month. I used to let them free range while I cleaned inside the coop. Now we only let them out when we can walk around with them.

In the short term, you might consider tying up some baling twine over the open part of your run. That will break up the flight pattern and the hawks won’t want to try to fly in. Once the weather gets a little nicer, you can always fence over the top or extend the roof.

 

[sumi]

So sorry for your loss It always seem to be the favourite and special ones that go. I myself have lost a few favourites and special ones to predators and it's awful, I know!

I think some strong netting or similar cover for the run would be a good idea. Hawks are a difficult predator to deal with, as you can't just trap them, or kill them, like you may with other pests, so prevention is the best cure in this case.

 

[Ducksandchickens]

I’m very sorry for your loss

 

[staceyj]

Oh gosh!
Reading this makes me so sad. I am so very sorry for your loss of Otis.
I can only imagine how awful it was seeing it remotely on your chicken cam.

It’s funny, having chickens was something I’d wanted to do for such a long time. I wasn’t at all prepared for how connected to them we’d become. I never anticipated how deeply saddened I’d be when a loss occurred.
I had no idea that I would actually LOVE them!
When it happened to us (my friends here know) I was a WRECK.
I still tear up about it a year later.

Of COURSE it’s ALWAYS the special one!
Couldn’t be the nasty one. Ever.

Why?!
WHY??!!!!

I am sending many virtual hugs to you and your family today and hope that in time, the memories of her bring a smile to your heart.

 

[N F C]

So sorry for the loss of Otis We do get attached to them.

As the others have said, some sort of cover over the run will help protect the others. And for a while, at least, I wouldn't let the flock out to free range.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome, and I'm so sorry for your loss. It's always a favorite, I know. Keep your birds in for at least ten days, or longer, because your hawk will return!!! I've had losses every three days or so, back when, until I figured out the problem. Covering your run with netting will keep raptors out, at least.
When you have chickens, every predator imaginable will turn up, sooner or later. Build Ft. Knox, and keep it up, and you will have fewer disasters. Free ranging is great for the chickens, but definitely a risk, and losses will occur, even if you are home with them.
All the best,
Mary