Red Tailed Hawk killed one of my Araucanas

[Mortos]

I let them out for a short period today (about 30 minutes) while I cleaned out their coop. I am off next week so I can build their permanent structure with room to roam and a place to lay (eventually). When I was out with them I saw the shadow of a hawk flying overhead. Looked up and there were two circling high above us. No more free chicken dinners for these guys.

 

[Boudicea Farms]

That's too bad I live on the snake River and we can't free range chickens because of owls hawks and eagles. Chicken tractors are a good alternative to free range in high predator area's because you can move them often and where you want. They are relatively easy and inexpensive to build.
Home to 2 scottish (terrorists) terriers, 2 Barred Rocks, 2 Austrolops, 4 Rhodes, 17 South African Boers and 3 Nubian goats

 

[puredelite]

My experience is that once a hawk kills one he knows that there is an easy chicken dinner available so he does return. Have had entire broods running loose with the hen disappear one at a time til all were gone. Most troublesome usually are the smaller sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks as they are super swift and agile. When I am able to I just practice the " 3 S's"- shoot, shovel and shut-up! Sorry about your loss tho.