New Jersey

I'm so upset today. When I got home my chicken didn't come greet me as usual. I went searching for her. I found her on the other side of the yard headless. She was still warm. **** hawks. She was one of the friendliest chickens I have. It's just so heartbreaking! I'm starting to rethink lletting them free range.


Oh I'm so sorry :(. I free range also and always worry too. Could have been hawks, stray cat maybe? Do what you think is best, I still free range and take that risk only because I know it makes them so happy.
 
That is the worst feeling. I am so sorry you came home to that.
hugs.gif


I lost 6 chicks and a hen to hawks November & December so I decided to keep them in until hawk migration is over in March. Then we have the issue with the bears coming out of hibernation and the foxes hunting to feed kits. I lost 7 to a fox last spring. So, they will see the yard around May sometime... I will start letting them out to range for an hour here or there while I am outside doing the early spring yardwork, but only under supervision.
 
That is the worst feeling. I am so sorry you came home to that. :hugs

I lost 6 chicks and a hen to hawks November & December so I decided to keep them in until hawk migration is over in March. Then we have the issue with the bears coming out of hibernation and the foxes hunting to feed kits. I lost 7 to a fox last spring. So, they will see the yard around May sometime... I will start letting them out to range for an hour here or there while I am outside doing the early spring yardwork, but only under supervision.


That's terrible. So many lost. Well I have to say (knock on wood) although a bear has walked through our neighborhood, that's one thing I don't see. I have seen fox and coyote but they seem to stay away. Hawks are always around since one has been residing in the woods out back for several years now. I hope you have a better spring and those guys stay away.
 
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So sorry! I can't let mine roam because we have resident hawks right behind my house, and they keep a VERY sharp eye on my birds, terrorizing them from outside the run. One even got one of my little girls by pulling her right through the wire. They are the worst. Someone told me you can't blame them for doing what's natural. I venture to say they have never lost a bird to one of them. I blame the heck out of them! It's a good thing for them they are protected by law, or else...
 
So sorry! I can't let mine roam because we have resident hawks right behind my house, and they keep a VERY sharp eye on my birds, terrorizing them from outside the run. One even got one of my little girls by pulling her right through the wire. They are the worst. Someone told me you can't blame them for doing what's natural. I venture to say they have never lost a bird to one of them. I blame the heck out of them! It's a good thing for them they are protected by law, or else...

I agree...the law is the only thing keeping them safe when they fly over my yard!! I have only lost 1 to a hawk in the 1.5 years I have had my chickens, thankfully. But we do scare off a LOT of hawks...especially on cloudy, overcast days.
 
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