Our Mixed Flock Journey!

[Riv-6]

I lost my little Madeleine today! I'm 99% certain that it must have been a hawk! I was supposed to keep her safe, I just don't know how to protect them from those kind of attacks and let them be free range too!

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I'm so sorry to hear this, Rene. It really stinks when you try all you can do to protect them. I'm glad you were able to see the hawk, though. Now you know who the predator is. Hopefully he will move along and stop attacking!

 

[N F C]

I lost my little Madeleine today! I'm 99% certain that it must have been a hawk! I was supposed to keep her safe, I just don't know how to protect them from those kind of attacks and let them be free range too!

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So sorry Rene, those losses hurt

 

[drstratton]

I'm so sorry to hear this, Rene. It really stinks when you try all you can do to protect them. I'm glad you were able to see the hawk, though. Now you know who the predator is. Hopefully he will move along and stop attacking!

Thank you Rei! There is only so much we can do...I've always known there was a possibility of this happening, but hoped there was enough cover for them to evade one. Now they all know that there is a danger from above & they will hopefully be vigilant. I was encouraged that they were all hiding in the enclosed pen when it came back. I hope it moves on too!

 

[drstratton]

So sorry Rene, those losses hurt

Thank you Debby...she really was one of my favorites...I will really miss her!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

The great escape part 3!!! I went back out to see if I could figure out what was happening and I had 3 hens on the loose! I managed to catch them and place them back into their pen. I then stood around to see if they would try to escape again...my patience was rewarded! As you all know we have more than a few rocks on our property...well...my smarty RIR figured out that a certain rock along that fence line allowed her to slip through one of the upper holes! I went and got hubs and he came out and grabbed some more wire and we blocked them in one more time...I should mention that by the time we got back out there to fix the problem, I had 4 hens out...definitely not dumb...

Wait...what, I know there was an opening here somewhere...thwarted once again...
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My girls rush the door when I go into the run/coop area. Two of them particularly, my leghorn Blanch, and my RIR Rose (I recently dubbed her that), aggressively try to zoom between my legs to get out the door, and Blanche made it yesterday. And she took off! Yes! Freedom!
Naturally she wouldn’t come to me, snacks or no snacks. She was out! Believe it or not, Gracie and Otis helped me herd her towards the backdoor of the run. I almost never use that door, and I left it open and we got her in there.
She is such a little brat.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

Yes another little is the perfect reason and at least I can drive to see them and enjoy some of our beautiful country on the way!

I agree..MO is much prettier! We lived in the Ozarks for just a short time and it was amazing! The area my son wants us to move to is Table Rock Lake...we looked at some of the golf courses and they were kind of unbelievable!

I love when our family gets a new little baby! I am a little sad because I think the list of grandkids is finished. (There ARE 12!) Our kids are done building their families. Next will have to be the great grands!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

I lost my little Madeleine today! I'm 99% certain that it must have been a hawk! I was supposed to keep her safe, I just don't know how to protect them from those kind of attacks and let them be free range too!

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Oh no. I am so sorry.
It is the worst feeling in the world when this happens.

 

[igorsMistress]

At least I won't have to worry about having a beach body in Oklahoma...
He was showing us some house's, but they are in Missouri about 6 hours away...he knew his dad would be more enticed by all of the golf courses there...I also think it's an area he would like to visit a lot. .
I'm tempted...I wouldn't mind getting out of WA!

Er, snow?

 

[BY Bob]

I lost my little Madeleine today! I'm 99% certain that it must have been a hawk! I was supposed to keep her safe, I just don't know how to protect them from those kind of attacks and let them be free range too!

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I'm so sorry.

I've been there two. If you let them free range then they are going to be at more risk. Even if you are there at all times you can still lose them. You can keep them completely safe but it's that the life you want for them. There is no easy answer.

I chose to continue to free range despite my losses. That's my choice. You have make yours.

I really am sorry. I lost my first hen to a hawk. I know your pain.

 

[BY Bob]

My girls rush the door when I go into the run/coop area. Two of them particularly, my leghorn Blanch, and my RIR Rose (I recently dubbed her that), aggressively try to zoom between my legs to get out the door, and Blanche made it yesterday. And she took off! Yes! Freedom!
Naturally she wouldn’t come to me, snacks or no snacks. She was out! Believe it or not, Gracie and Otis helped me herd her towards the backdoor of the run. I almost never use that door, and I left it open and we got her in there.
She is such a little brat.

Leghorns are both smart and really fast! She will learn your small tendencies over time and take advantage of them again and again. Don't underestimate her.