Predator? Confused.

[McChooky]

Even though your chicken didn't have obvious wounds, you may want to treat her for shock if she is acting off, not eating or drinking normally.

Aerial predators will always attack from above: hawk, falcon, owls. I can tell you hawks and owls will swoon in silently. You may not always hear their approach and if they are on glide mode, you won't hear their wings beating. Yes, owls are out during the day here also. Everything is hungry.

One day out of the corner of my eye I luckily saw a hawk making a silent nose dive into the yard. I jumped out of the shadows in a bee-line for the chickens flailing my arms which surprised the hawk who made a fast 90 degree turn and flew away. It was only about 15 feet above the chickens. Unless you have a rooster, a dog, or you are the rooster, chickens cannot always run for cover fast enough and do sometimes get surprised despite being naturally sky aware.

After reading about the various predation injuries on this site, I'm paranoid and now won't leave them in the yard alone at all.

People who genuinely care about their birds and supervise them rarely lose a lot of birds.Not saying it can't happen but predators watch us as much as we watch them. Its when we leave them unattended and are gone a lot that the worst attacks occur

 

[McChooky]

Couple days ago I noticed one of my cats intently watching something in the woods when I went out to check on the chickens.The sun had already gone down but it wasn't dark yet. She never took her eyes off whatever it was so I turned and heard a twig snap about the same time. I knew whatever it was watching us so I immediately locked my chickens up. The very next morning I found something had come in the yard and dug up a cat I'd buried a few weeks ago.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

The very next morning I found something had come in the yard and dug up a cat I'd buried a few weeks ago.

Do you have bobcats? They like buried meat. Probably other things too. I swear we have a bobcat or two that watches me from the underbrush. I’ve heard it. But never seen it. My dog will even go on point but won’t chase it which means she is freaked out by it. She is kind of a wuss though so who knows. It might be a gopher lol

 

[2 Acres]

Even though your chicken didn't have obvious wounds, you may want to treat her for shock if she is acting off, not eating or drinking normally.

Aerial predators will always attack from above: hawk, falcon, owls. I can tell you hawks and owls will swoon in silently. You may not always hear their approach and if they are on glide mode, you won't hear their wings beating. Yes, owls are out during the day here also. Everything is hungry.

One day out of the corner of my eye I luckily saw a hawk making a silent nose dive into the yard. I jumped out of the shadows in a bee-line for the chickens flailing my arms which surprised the hawk who made a fast 90 degree turn and flew away. It was only about 15 feet above the chickens. Unless you have a rooster, a dog, or you are the rooster, chickens cannot always run for cover fast enough and do sometimes get surprised despite being naturally sky aware.

After reading about the various predation injuries on this site, I'm paranoid and now won't leave them in the yard alone at all.

I have played the part of a rooster, when a bald eagle was eyeing my chickens. It saw them and did a U turn. I was yelling and screaming at the eagle. Evidently the eagle decided I was more of a threat to it.

I have tried to train my chickens to look up.

Both of my roosters know what is a threat... and what isn't.

 

[Bawkbok]

Roosters are not legal here so I am the rooster which is why I am always out with the when they are out.
I love that they all hang around my feet and collectively preen as I stand guard. I refuse to crow for them, however.