The chickens are shaken and so am I

[McChooky]

We had a hawk encounter a while ago. I heard our chickens squawking so I ran and looked out the window, lo and behold a chicken hawk was running around trying to catch our chickens and especially our guinea keets. I ran out there with my sister, screaming at it, and it hightailed outta there! Thank goodness our chickens were smart and they all hid in the bushes, beneath our cars, etc. It took ages to find the 3 keets, they were so well hidden! Our 5 adult male guineas helped a bunch because they were making their warning noises (CHI-CHI-CHI) and luckily our chickens listened! The hawk surprisingly hasn't attempted again. I guess we scared it. Must've been a young one looking for easy prey.

Free ranging means admiring our beautiful chickens out in the grass scratching around for any bugs they can find, hunting their eggs, surprise baby chicks hatched from missing hens we never found and treating injured chickens that may or may not survive after days or weeks of treating them. Chasing predators off is a whole different chapter by itself titled "The Price of Free Ranging Chickens."Locking your birds up a week or so will motivate him to move along and hunt elsewhere.Leaving them out guarantees he'll be back...

 

[gtaus]

We had a hawk encounter a while ago. I heard our chickens squawking so I ran and looked out the window, lo and behold a chicken hawk was running around trying to catch our chickens and especially our guinea keets. I ran out there with my sister, screaming at it, and it hightailed outta there! Thank goodness our chickens were smart and they all hid in the bushes, beneath our cars, etc. It took ages to find the 3 keets, they were so well hidden! Our 5 adult male guineas helped a bunch because they were making their warning noises (CHI-CHI-CHI) and luckily our chickens listened! The hawk surprisingly hasn't attempted again. I guess we scared it. Must've been a young one looking for easy prey.

I live on a lake. We have hawks and Bald Eagles overhead all the time. I don't free (lunch) range my chickens. I just made the run larger and put some bird netting over it. Keeps the hawks and eagles out, and the bird netting is pretty inexpensive.

I have some neighbors who are former chicken owners. They would let their chickens free range. Now they don't have any more chickens.

 

[Ponypoor]

Here’s a photo I managed to take of the hawk, it all happened very quick.

Looks like maybe a Cooper's Hawk, they r good at flying through trees, brush and shrubs.

I do not let my my chickies run free unattended also.

 

[Ponypoor]

Thanks, yes I am keeping my birds inside for at least the next couple of days!

I feel your pain, lost two of my silkies to a fox at the same time. That was the end of their freedom.

Now I keep them in a run with electric netting. Next spring I want to cover it....

Never thought keeping chickens was so stressful!!!

 

[ThinMintTheChicken]

Free ranging means admiring our beautiful chickens out in the grass scratching around for any bugs they can find, hunting their eggs, surprise baby chicks hatched from missing hens we never found and treating injured chickens that may or may not survive after days or weeks of treating them. Chasing predators off is a whole different chapter by itself titled "The Price of Free Ranging Chickens."Locking your birds up a week or so will motivate him to move along and hunt elsewhere.Leaving them out guarantees he'll be back...

I guess we're just lucky then because our chickens always lay in their coop, never run off with a clutch of eggs, and they stick close to the coop except for the few that like to hang out by our front yard since they love people so much. I guess caring for chickens varies on the flock and the enviroment.

 

[Jenessa_096]

Looks like maybe a Cooper's Hawk, they r good at flying through trees, brush and shrubs.

I do not let my my chickies run free unattended also.

Yes, I also think it was that. They are very common in our area!

 

[Jenessa_096]

I feel your pain, lost two of my silkies to a fox at the same time. That was the end of their freedom.

Now I keep them in a run with electric netting. Next spring I want to cover it....

Never thought keeping chickens was so stressful!!!

I still let them free range when I am home but I definitely lock them up when I leave! I’m not taking that risk!

 

[Jenessa_096]

I guess we're just lucky then because our chickens always lay in their coop, never run off with a clutch of eggs, and they stick close to the coop except for the few that like to hang out by our front yard since they love people so much. I guess caring for chickens varies on the flock and the enviroment.

Same! I’ve never had a chicken that’s layed in the yard! I have had a chicken or two lay in their old coop which I trained them not to do but other than that nope!

 

[Ponypoor]

Yes, I also think it was that. They are very common in our area!

I am quite happy though, that your gals r all ok! I have seen those Cooper's kill Mourning doves here on our front deck. They never miss! A chicken is a bit large for them but a small bantam is likely going to take a beating...

 

[Ponypoor]

I still let them free range when I am home but I definitely lock them up when I leave! I’m not taking that risk!

Yep - mine are fast out the back barn door! I like to think that my horses and ponies will help protect them but just in case I keep any eye on them while mucking out hahahaha!