Rough-legged hawk vs. Marsha = tied

[bockbockbock]

I came home this afternoon to our first experience with a predator attack. I don't think I've ever heard a chicken make that kind of noise, and I hope never to hear it again. I found the hawk straddling my Marsha, cornered to where he couldn't take off with her. I scared him away with a few waves of a branch, brought her inside, and she's hurt pretty badly but isn't bleeding as much as she was. Hoping we can get her back to health, but I've read enough on BYC forums to know that chickens don't do shock very well.

Took a lot of looking around to find the other three girls - they were hidden very, very well in the juniper trees.

I guess we need to scrap the free range idea and build the girls a run with a top over it. They just got a new coop this summer.

I'd be interested to find out whether hawks return to an area they know there is food to be had - we don't want this to happen again.

 

[Kacey's Krazee's]

yep, it's a guarantee that it will be back. Sorry to say.


Kacey

 

[Wifezilla]

Yeah, the hawks always check back where they saw the snacks. I lost 2 ducks to a hawk last summer. Now I have a run covered in netting.

 

[chkn]

It's a good thing you came, those hawks can pop the head off a chicken pretty fast.

 

[Seeing Silkies]

Yep get a run with a top Fast... A Halk took one of my babies out of there run ( with no top ), We started on the top that day, Next moring he was sitting on top of the framing, day after that he was flying over... its been a week and we havent seen him, he must be eating else were now that he knows he cant get mine. Best of luck to you & your chickens

 

[sourland]

My guess is that the hawk has already returned today. Have you seen it?

 

[wood&feathers]

I have a similar story but today the hawk picked on the right chicken - Digger is fast and knows how to squeeze into all the little hidey holes she digs here and there.

I just found a 100' roll of welded wire at Lowe's for $66. For that price I coulnd't resist. Now I'll build them a bigger run. My old one is only 8x10., with a roof.

 

[bockbockbock]

I didn't see the hawk today, but I heard him when I went out to check on the three other girls - he was out there somewhere. We had several inches of snow fall this morning, so I decided it was best to leave the girls in the coop for the day.

Any ideas as to getting this injury taken care of? She lost a chunk of skin from the top of her thigh, we don't think there's enough to pull over the area with butterfly bandages. Right now, we're using gauze pads held in place with stretchy wrap bandage stuff, and we're cleaning it and applying "Vetericyn" (which was recommended by a local farm/pet store). I'm really worried that it won't heal up properly, leaving her open for infections. Is it a lost cause?