Rest In Peace Momma Hen.....

[Guinea Goonie]

Today I came home to a hawk feisting on my VERY favorite mother hen, a wild hen I have had for a few year that I hatched from an egg.

I am so very upset about this. She leave her three babies (the ones that survived), two others were taken by a hawk a few weeks ago.

I just can't understand why she wouldn't know better after the other two attacks.

I am just heartbroken.

 

[SurprisingWoman]

I am very sorry for your loss but...

Quote:
It wasn't her job to learn from that.... it was yours.

Sounds like you need to do some rethinking of your predator proofing.

 

[Bizzybirdy]

If a hawk, probably the same one, got her babies a few weeks ago...why was she not put up in a safe place??

A hen cannot protect itself from a hawk or any other predator. It is up to us humans to do that. Hope you put her remaining chicks up.

 

[CityClucks]

I'm sorry you lost your hen - it does seem to always be our favorites...

 

[goldeneggtees]

Did you see she said wild hen? I think she is a free ranging girl. I think you guys are being mean. She's sad and needs support not harsh words! Have some heart.

I'm sorry you lost your hen, I imagine that's got to be hard and very sad.

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Oh dear, so sorry.

It hurts to lose them, especially our favorites. Sending hugs your way.

 

[b.hromada]

Quote:
Yes, I agree. Maybe keep her chicks in an enclosed area, so no more hawks can get them. Best of luck to you.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Oh, she had plenty of cover. Her little house, the nursery, which is a 16x8 portable building off the ground, a 6x10 trailer and of course the Guineas. The nursery was open and her and the babies were in it.

She had cover NOT more than 5 feet from were I found her. Remember she is a Free range hen and one that is very unhappy when cooped up.

This is a very smart hawk, one that I have been keeping an eye on for weeks. I have lost a polish baby hen, a big white rock, two of my hens babies and now my hen.

I have gone over board and kept the chickens in for days. The hen in her little house with her babies for DAYS.

I have warned off the hawk and I am constantly on the look out for HIM.

Today I had to go to town and the mother hen and her babies were UNDER the portable building.

For those of you that can put your chickens in a run and cover them, all the power to you. I can not afford, nor wish to confine my flock to a run. They would destroy both the run and themselves in a matter of days.

My chickens have a HUGE barn to run to, covered areas all over the property and 32 Guineas to alert to the hawks.

I have 10 BIG roosters that would lay their lives down for their hens.

My chickens are Spoiled beyond belief.

I am simply heartbroken. I do not need a lesson in chicken management.

 

[WriterofWords]

I'm so sorry for your loss! She was probably trying to protect her babies, mommas will do that! Treasure those she left behind and keep them safe.

 

[CMV]

Quote:
This is probably exactly what happened. So sorry for your loss. I've lost two birds in 6 months to two different types of hawks- Cooper's and red-tailed. One hen was free-ranging, but my duck was well-protected and she still got nabbed. Don't beat yourself up. It happens.