Only One Left

[Abriana]

so sorry about your birds. I would recommend electric fencing, that has worked very well for me, or a run with 1/2 inch hardware cloth covering the entire thing.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Sorry for your loss. Amazing how easy it is to get attached.
They’re fascinating little creatures.
I too had a lone survivor. She was naked from over mateing and I had to pluck one side completely as she had a terrible wound.
I’d go out to keep her company wrapped in a blanket and tell her stories of about all the new friends she’d have in spring. She survived it will be a year next month. And she loves bossing her flock mates.
It’s nerve wracking all the predators.
And yes Eagles love chicken.
There’s so many chickens looking to be rehomed.
Invest in some
Netting. Make
Hawk hideouts. Secure your coop.
And adopt some flockmates because those little faces......how could you not? Right?
Best wishes

 

[JLR]

Sorry for your loss. Amazing how easy it is to get attached.
They’re fascinating little creatures.
I too had a lone survivor. She was naked from over mateing and I had to pluck one side completely as she had a terrible wound.
I’d go out to keep her company wrapped in a blanket and tell her stories of about all the new friends she’d have in spring. She survived it will be a year next month. And she loves bossing her flock mates.
It’s nerve wracking all the predators.
And yes Eagles love chicken.
There’s so many chickens looking to be rehomed.
Invest in some
Netting. Make
Hawk hideouts. Secure your coop.
And adopt some flockmates because those little faces......how could you not? Right?
Best wishes

No, I am not going to have Chickens if they are locked up 24/7. The coop is secure. They may have had a short time here, but it was the best time of their lives. They couldn't contain themselves when I went to let them out in the morning. It was so funny. I did not think chickens were emotional, but I learned that they are. Heck, my wife was going to eat them when we got them, so i guess it was all worth it. Hopefully Lola survives and enjoys the time she does have. My wife is going to see if her friends have any that stopped laying and are ready to part with it.

 

[MissChick@dee]

You could put up netting so they can have protection while free ranging. I have tons of Hawk hideouts especially in winter when trees and bushes die back. I spent time putting treats in them and got a chair and sat and watched. They’ll let you know where they like to hide I just go with their natural instincts. Mine like to hide probably the only time they can relax...a little. And I agree with you. If I wanted a caged bird I’d get a parakeet. But I feel better knowing they know where to hide.

 

[JLR]

View attachment 1599811 You could put up netting so they can have protection while free ranging. I have tons of Hawk hideouts especially in winter when trees and bushes die back. I spent time putting treats in them and got a chair and sat and watched. They’ll let you know where they like to hide I just go with their natural instincts. Mine like to hide probably the only time they can relax...a little. And I agree with you. If I wanted a caged bird I’d get a parakeet. But I feel better knowing they know where to hide.

They have plenty of places to hide.... under the deck, stairs, boat, picnic table, bushes, and they were using them, especially after the fox attack. The problem was they started getting bolder and bolder and would eat grass out in the open yard. I have a feeling she did not know what hit her. I just wish I knew what got her. Could have even been a cat or stray dog. I figured a Cooper Hawk because I had seen one fly over a few days ago. Or the eagles that roost in my oak tree.

 

[sourland]

Eagles will unquestionably kill chickens, and many here at BYC have had problems with them. I would suggest a predator proof pen and monitored free ranging in the future. Whatever killed her will return - possibly tomorrow. Good luck in protecting her.

 

[JLR]

Eagles will unquestionably kill chickens, and many here at BYC have had problems with them. I would suggest a predator proof pen and monitored free ranging in the future. Whatever killed her will return - possibly tomorrow. Good luck in protecting her.

The Eagles did not bother my roosters for a year and ignored the hens since I got them. They perch in an oak tree on the shoreline right above the coop. The eagles main food is fish from the lake. More than likely it was the hawk I saw yesterday, a cat, dog or fox. I will cut their time free ranging, won't let them out so early. and their coop is secure.

 

[No More Empty Nest]

The Eagles did not bother my roosters for a year and ignored the hens since I got them. They perch in an oak tree on the shoreline right above the coop. The eagles main food is fish from the lake. More than likely it was the hawk I saw yesterday, a cat, dog or fox. I will cut their time free ranging, won't let them out so early. and their coop is secure.

I guess I'm confused, you'll keep them locked in the coop longer but not in a run? They don't have to be in a run 24/7. You can let them out just like you let them out of the coop.
Edit: I guess i should add, my coop and run are both predator proof, as much as humanly possible. So I don't have a closed door on my coop, they go out in the run every morning whenever they want. You could open the run door when you let them free range but they'd have time in the run until you lwt them out.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

For whatever it is worth eagles are the laziest birds on the face of the Earth.
While eagles will definitely kill and eat a chicken, the national bird much prefers to snatch dead fish off of the surface of lakes and rivers. And once the Polar and the grizzly bears breach the skin you can sometimes find 50 bald eagles feeding on one defunct beached whale. Old Benjamin Franklin knew what he was talking about when he pushed the turkey for our symbol.

 

[JLR]

I guess I'm confused, you'll keep them locked in the coop longer but not in a run? They don't have to be in a run 24/7. You can let them out just like you let them out of the coop.
Edit: I guess i should add, my coop and run are both predator proof, as much as humanly possible. So I don't have a closed door on my coop, they go out in the run every morning whenever they want. You could open the run door when you let them free range but they'd have time in the run until you lwt them out.

I guess I'm confused, you'll keep them locked in the coop longer but not in a run? They don't have to be in a run 24/7. You can let them out just like you let them out of the coop.
Edit: I guess i should add, my coop and run are both predator proof, as much as humanly possible. So I don't have a closed door on my coop, they go out in the run every morning whenever they want. You could open the run door when you let them free range but they'd have time in the run until you lwt them out.

My coop has a small run built into it.