One of my chickens is missing!

[Crickett]

We've seen a fox lurking about, also a wild cat and have had a hawk circling as well. One of my RIR has vanished, and I'm not sure of the culprit. I'm not even sure of WHEN they were taken. I think it was during the daytime, while they were out free-ranging, but I'm not sure.

 

[DDRanch]

Oh, I am so sorry. It is unfortunate that our beloved birds have so many enemies.

 

[Jajika]

For along time my only predators were raccoons. I solved that problem with the blinking red lights.

Have not had a racoon problem in eight years.

We have Sharp Shin hawks where I live, but they never, ever bothered my chickens.

They are in a fenced off area in our orchard and the top was not covered....because for eight years, the Sharp Shins, who are known for only going after mice, etc would just ignore the chickens...I would see them in the trees, etc.

Then....three months ago I came home from work and found one of my sweeties dead. Her body there but her head and neck missing.

It was a day-time predator and could only be a hawk.

I had to top five fruit trees and it took several days. I lost three chickens in four days...

Thought I had the entire 900 sq. yd covered. Put up mirrors, ran poultry netting back and forth, but could not quite get over the enormous lemon tree.

Everything was ok for about a month, then another attack. That hawk found it's way in somehow.

Out of desperation my husband took his Sawsall and cut the lemon tree in half and we netted the rest of the chicken yard.

It's not as pretty as it used to be, but I know for sure ain't nothin getting inside now.

It is quite bizarre that for eight years I never had a problem. Obviously something has changed.

It hurt like crazy when I found my pets savagely murdured, but it hurt more to feel I had not protected them either. It is my responsibility to keep them safe. They are helpless to care for themselves in our yards unless we do it for them.

Tough lessons, eh?

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
I've heard about this. Do you use something like outdoor Christmas lights?

 

[Chickenmaven]

We lost a five week old last year. I was sure it was lost to a hawk. Months later, we found what was left of it ( a ball of feathers & bones) under a bale of hay. Now, we leave NO stone unturned...

 

[mikesbigroo]

ya really don't think about predators until you have something like chickens, an easy meal, lost a few myself until i got a handle on it, good luck eliminating the problem::l

 

[Kojack]

I have a question to add to this. Will a large rooster protect the girls from a hawk. Im still quite new here and one of the things I have found is that whenever my roo (1 yr old) hears the screech of a red tail, he sends the girls to the coop and he hangs out in the open looking up. Its almost like he is taunting the hawk. What is he doing? is he challenging it or is he trying to be a distraction?

 

[ChooksChick]

This is absolutely a rooster's job.

They protect their girls. They also feed them all the treats they can find...

He's drawing attention to himself while the girls run and hide.

So sorry about your loss- perhaps she's not really gone? Maybe she'll come home? How old are they? If she's of laying age she may have stashed a clutch of eggs and may be sitting on them. Look very carefully for her before dark- if she's sitting, move her after dark to somewhere safe.

They like to sit under, behind and between things...leaning wood, under bushes, etc.

Good luck!

 

[frogs n chickens]

From what I have read on this site even a small rooster will put himself between the predator and give his life if need be.
I have read of people watching their bantam collide with hawks in mid air to protect their flock.

 

[Kojack]

Quote:
Yeah,! I watched him kill a huge spider and instead of eating it, he started talking to the girls and looking down at it until one came over and got it....What a gentleman!