Stupid Hawks

[Fairy Godmother]

NewBerlinNewbie, I know how you are feeling! I lost one of my original 4 girls to a hawk last month. I have a large fenced yard and have let them free range for the last 3 years with no problems. I did loose a young hen (one of my Coocoos hatched her earlier) to something but I don't know what it was. The one I lost to the hawk was a small Golden Sex Link. She was my most vocal and I miss her so much. I have kept the remaining hens penned up and they are so unhappy! I finally got brave and let them out a couple of days ago and saw another hawk head for them. Raced out back and scared it away and now I am afraid to let them out. I think I will be putting a net over a smaller area and hope that will work. As for giving your remaining hens away, think hard as they have so much to offer.

 

[deepbluesea]

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.

I'm so sorry for the loss of one of your girls. It's hard, I know. Don't beat yourself up, please. Predators are are omnipresent, and keeping them in for a while and researching defense is a good idea. Not sure how old your child/children are, but hopefully they're not too traumatized. Hang in there.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Hawks appaently stalk their prey. I saw one just the other day perch on a security light right next to a building that is close by the chicken's coop. It sat there for awhile watching the chicken coop. Since November, when I received these chickens, I have seen a hawk 3 times in the vicinity eyeballing my chickens at different times of the day. Sadly, my girls will never free range. They will always be under some form of protection.

 

[Themotherofchickens]

I have lost another chicken to a hawk. This time it was our Olive Egger, Kristoff. Interesting thing is that shortly after the attack I couldn't find any of the other chickens. They had all hidden themselves, mostly digging themselves up under a fallen tree. Once I did find them, I had to pull them out of their hiding spots by hand. Even then they were so scared they wouldn't wander back to the coop, so I had to carry each one (except the rooster) back to the coop by hand. Is this normal? If I hadn't carried them would they have eventually gotten over it and went back to the coop for the night?

Also, I hate hawks. I would feel a little better if they would at least eat the chicken. They just keep ripping the heads off and flying away. What a waste!!! Other than shooting the hawk, are there any strategies for trapping or eliminating him?

Hello. I wanted to let you know that a hawk killed one of my chickens in front of the others and they all went and hid in brush, even in the snow. They wouldn’t come when called and i had to go into the brush and carry them back to the coop one by one/—except the last 2 i carries together so they wouldn’t be alone

I’m considering a hawk net or something so they can free range better. Or get my dogs to protect them without trying to eat them.

 

[darrylv50]

Hello. I wanted to let you know that a hawk killed one of my chickens in front of the others and they all went and hid in brush, even in the snow. They wouldn’t come when called and i had to go into the brush and carry them back to the coop one by one/—except the last 2 i carries together so they wouldn’t be alone

I’m considering a hawk net or something so they can free range better. Or get my dogs to protect them without trying to eat them.

I

 

[darrylv50]

I looked out my back door yesterday to see a hawk inside my fence feasting on on of my girls. When I investigated there was another one dead beside the chicken house. I am so upset. We have never had a problem with a hawk attack before and to lose two was very sad. I have had nettng over my run the past few years in summer but it gets weighted down with snow and I didn't put it up for the winter. Regretting this immensely! My other girls were all in the hen house clucking and running around like crazy with the ducks. I hope it doesn't come back for its lunch today.

 

[happyfrenchman]

I hope it doesn't come back for its lunch today.[/QUOTE]


That bird will return to the carcass if you are able to leave it out and have a mind to do something about it.

 

[darrylv50]

I put both hens in our treeline beside our property hoping to lure it away from the rest. I'm going to try to find some netting today to cover the coop again. Thanks for your comment .

 

[speedy2020]

I loose 1 Bresse to the hawk on 1/3/18. I put the battery operated radio out there playing some music and seem to keep it way.