My hen was attacked (she did not survive)

[EmmieGee]

My Buff Orpington was attacked at some point this morning and unfortunately she did not survive. :-( I am so heart broken. We had had some scares with hawks in the yard before but always managed to intervene. Today we did not notice the attack until it was too late.

I just wanted to make a post as a remembrance of my sweet little Orp. She was an absolutely shameless beggar for worms, an unabashed party crasher, and overall sweet girl. Our Columbian Wyandotte was calling out to her today when it was bedtime and was so confused when she didn't come. Orp liked sleeping in the between the other two.

I normally let the girls free range in the backyard but I am thinking of installing chicken tunnels around the perimeter or something. I really want to reduce the chances of that ever happening again.

 

[MamaBelle5]

I am sorry for your loss.

 

[Chookchicken]

She was such a beautiful chicken
Sometimes the worst part of losing a chicken is hearing the others grieve and call out to them, and be sad when they don’t come. I’d install the tunnels as soon as possible and in the mean time try and keep them in an in closed area. If the predator knows there is more food it will come back. I am so sorry for your loss. Remember there is always someone on here who you can talk too. Almost everyone in this site has suffered losses/a loss there is always someone willing to help you through this. The feeling that your feeling may feel like it will never go away, it does after a little while it does mostly go away. You’ll forever miss her, and you’ll probably feel sad when thinking about her. But just remember she’s still there just not in your backyard. We are all here for you

 

[Ursuline Chick]

It's so hard to say the right thing at a time like this, may be because there isn't a right thing to say. I am truly sorry, she sounds like she was a wonderful hen. May you both find peace.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Hi.
Your lovely hen was a beautiful example of a Buff Orpington. I have three Black Orpingtons and they are all very sweet girls. She will be missed I know and I am so sorry you lost her and know it hurts really bad. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and please know that we all know how it is and she wasn’t just a chicken to you. She was important and will always be remembered as she should be. Just think of her as having crossed over the rainbow bridge now and she is flying high and feeling free with no fears or any pain and watching over you and her friends. Take care now!

 

[Callender Girl]

I'm sorry for you and for her grieving chicken sisters. Your girl was a beauty and sounds so sweet.

 

[cmom]

Do you know for sure if it was a hawk that killed her. In the past I have free ranged but no more due to losses from predators. My birds have nice large covered pens. I also have electric wires around the coops and pens and concrete under the gates all due to losses from predators in the past. My most special bird was taken during the middle of the day by a fox. I did catch the fox and eliminated it. I let her out and was distracted and the fox sneaked in and got her. I cried. She was very special. I don't usually name my birds but did her. I still miss my Gladys and can't forgive myself for not putting her in her pen while I was distracted. Good luck...
Gladys.