My Hawk experience

[Tacswa3]

Today, I lost a chicken due to a hawk attack. A first for me involving a hawk. I walked around the corner into the back yard and saw the hawk fly up from the ground. I look and see one of my young RIR's injured. Her face was tore up. Eyes bulging, waddles picked off. She could walk but because she couldn't see she would just sit. I felt so bad, I decided to end her suffering.

Here is the kicker. This damn hawk was relentless. I had set the chicken carcass off to the side and had to finish a few things before I was going to dispose of her. I'm still outside and the hawk returned three times to feed on and try to carry off the chicken!! BOLD Hawk seemed young, it was small. I can't believe how determined it was.

 

[10xmama]

Very sorry for your loss. I have kept chickens for six years now. Up until the last six weeks I’d never had a loss due to a predator. In six weeks I’ve lost 3 hens. Two to hawks and one to a raccoon. Having to reevaluate my safety measures for my flock. So sad and hard to lose good laying hens!