I started a small flock this past spring. First time with chickens, I went with four based on what I read- with four you can afford to ‘lose one’ without having compromised the size of the flock. But losing one hurt more than I ever imagined. I lost my first chicken to a hawk today. My girls are confined to the coop with its attached run at night and during the day while I am at work. It’s covered but it is small (probably 64 sq ft total run and coop), so I free range them as much as I can. I had them out all day today while I was home, and then decided to make a quick run to the store. I am now kicking myself for not putting them away like I thought to do before I left. I came home and upon bringing the first bag into the house saw a hawk perched in the backyard. I dropped the bag and ran out the back door and the hawk flew away. I then began frantically searching the coop and the yard for any chickens. I was stunned. Began thinking that the hawk had actually carried away all four, one at a time. Upon my second check of the coop one dropped down who had apparently been perched up on top of a hanging feeder. I shut her up in the coop up and started wandering the yard again in a daze when two more heads appeared that had been hiding up near the house. They were hesitant to move, I went up and petted them and then pick them up and took them to the coop. I was hugely relieved to have found the three, but then I saw the feathers. I couldn’t even walk over to her. From a distance I could tell that she was gone. I had someone come and pick her up for me. Starting to wonder whether I can handle this. In summer we have so much foliage overhead it’s almost impermeable. I got too comfortable. But based on how sad I feel over this loss, I’m debating giving the remaining 3 girls to a fellow flock owner who I know takes good care of his girls. I see hawks in the neighborhood all the time. Never thought it would happen. Now I’m afraid it will happen again, and I’m terrified of losing another one. I got chickens because I love animals and I want them to be able to free range at least part time. As a single mother living in Wisconsin it’s hard to constantly supervise them while they’re outside. I plan to keep them in the coop at least for a few days to make sure that the hawk does not return, but again there are hawks regularly overhead in my neighborhood. I could look into partially covering an area of the yard, but the ladies just love roaming and scratching and dust bathing, and it’s time and money that will take some time for me. Ugh. Just devastated right now and looking to vent and seek advice, I guess.
