Paranoid and anxiety filled after hawk attack (I'm talking about ME!!)

[kculbert]

Daisy. She's 9 weeks and the biggest of them all. Lol

Awww, she's a real cutie! I am so sorry for all your losses. I teared up just reading about it so I can only imagine what it must have been like actually living it. I've had chickens for a year and a half now and my husband realized within the first few days that I was going to be a crazy chicken lady.

I think all your hiding places look good. I do think changing things around frequently helps a lot. I read that hawks will actually study your habits and recognize the pattern in them. The only thing that will works for sure is to keep your girls in a fully enclosed space using hardware cloth. I can't do that so I just do the best I can to make it as hard for the hawks to maneuver as possible. A couple of mine have grown up to be pretty smart girls and will sound an alarm when something startles them.

Something grabbed my little silkie one night and took some chunks out of her back. She recovered (after a trip to the vet) but it made me extremely paranoid about night time predators as well. We have an automatic door on the coop but I guess she didn't make it in on time. This has all been a big learning process but it's worth it in the end. Little ones are just so vulnerable but it looks like Daisy is going to grow up and be a big beautiful girl.

 

[chickmomma18]

@kculbert
Thank you so much. So helpful!!!

 

[shend]

Just lost my favorite, oldest hen a sex link (my avatar) yesterday afternoon by hawk. It happened so fast and she was very experienced being 4 years old, so you just can't protect them completely.

My girls free range and were out front with less tree coverage, but I bet that hawk has been just waiting to get his chance. My coop and run are nicely covered by trees and underbrush and I think a hawk is careful not to get in a spot where they can't retreat. Out on the lawn, however, he is king.

Sorry for the loss, part of keeping chickens free and happy, I'm afraid. I'll be sad for some days but have the others to look after so this too shall pass.

 

[chickmomma18]

@shend
Sorry to hear that!!! That sucks and yes, I am learning very quickly life with chickens is a whole other world.
I'm taking another chick to the vet today. An Easter Egger who is having a hard time walking....I have a feeling they are going to tell me to put her down... We shall see

 

[shend]

So sorry for her-hope she makes it. I try to treat this experience as a "farmer" would. They are stock animals that have a purpose, but you get to know them and can't help but treat them as pets too.

 

[preciouskitty]

So sorry for the losses.

I just lost my Blue Ameraucana pullet to a hawk on Tuesday. My first predator attack since getting chickens in Mar 2013. Rana had just started laying, & wandered off by herself to some high grass, most likely to nest.

Had noticed she was not with the rest of the flock, walked around house, on my second pass (which was less than a minute) rounded the corner, saw the mess of feathers & knew what happened.

My rooster is EXCELLENT for predator control & warning; but that doesn't work so well when a girl wanders off.

I am still somewhat devastated, she was such a sweetie...and today, I'm a nervous wreck since I let them out to free range; not that much time left here in Michigan for them to enjoy green treats, bugs, etc. and, they were NOT happy with me yesterday when I made them stay in!

I know there is a risk when free ranging. In fact, I've probably been lucky that that was the first attack. But, I think the quality of life/rewards for the girls outweighs the risk.

 

[mamahenAtlanta]

Do you have aviary netting on top of the run area? Can't tell for sure from your pics. That's what I have, plus a lot of tree coverage in the area but now I'm paranoid! We also just built a tractor -- just for day time use and haven't tried it out yet.

 

[chickmomma18]

@preciouskitty sorry to hear that.
My Easter Egger actually had a tumor that was causing her to not walk. Had to put her down today... It was a bummer.
@mamahenAtlanta we finished that one little section of roof that the hawks entered. Added hid away cages and put a plastic tarp over different sections. Our roof is fencing we used as the roof. I'm out there every day creating new hide-aways.
It's raining here today in PA, the girls are under the tarp. These girls aren't into getting wet

 

[The Triplets]

Just lost my favorite, oldest hen a sex link (my avatar) yesterday afternoon by hawk. It happened so fast and she was very experienced being 4 years old, so you just can't protect them completely.

My girls free range and were out front with less tree coverage, but I bet that hawk has been just waiting to get his chance. My coop and run are nicely covered by trees and underbrush and I think a hawk is careful not to get in a spot where they can't retreat. Out on the lawn, however, he is king.

Sorry for the loss, part of keeping chickens free and happy, I'm afraid. I'll be sad for some days but have the others to look after so this too shall pass.

I'm really sorry about your loss. I do have a stupid question though since I spotted a hawk for the first time while I had my two pullets in the front yard yesterday. Do the hawks usually pick up the pullet/hen and carry them away? I was really nervous, but the pullets looked to be the same size or a little bigger than the hawk so just wondering what happens?
Thanks

 

[preciouskitty]

@chickmomma18
Aw, sorry about ur EE. My 19 week old EE just started acting funny around noon...def something wrong. If I can catch her, she's sleeping in the chicken infirmary in the house. She was hatched & raised by a broody..so not as tame as my others, thus somewhat unapproachable.
She's under a bush out front...everyone else had a safe day wandering around the yard & in the woods & have has put in for the evening...
This has not been a good chicken for some of us, eh?