I think everyone is right, they aren't attracted to the smell of blood. They just have to know they're there. I've been having an awful lot of hawk troubles here, great big brown one's and coopers I think. One species is HUGE, and the other medium to large, cream colored with speckles or bars. I HATE THEM SO MUCH !! Yesterday our roo's and girls were out in the yard, when I heard one of the roo's sound the alarm. I ran out to find FIVE hawks circling the property. FIVE OF THEM. I would like nothing better than to just shoot them, but I know it's not right, and also that they are protected. Not to say I won't ever do it though. If they take one that's it. I lost a chicken to a hawk a little over a year ago, took it from where my daughter was standing. I've never seen so many try to get at them, usually it's only one, last week I had a pair. We are planting more tree's in the yard to give them more shelter come spring. I don't want to just keep them cooped up, they hate it. I know it's preferable to having dead chickens, but I don't think any animal should be caged at all times. I'm so sorry for your loss, I hope that if you get more chickens that it won't continue. There are some breeds that are more watchful than others, and will sound the alarm for the rest of the flock. I'm getting guinea fowl to also help out. They're excellent alarm systems, I'm just waiting for spring, and I'm getting them as chicks so there won't be any problems. I hope. If you don't have a cover on your coop it's going to keep happening. If you get more, give them plenty of places to run for shelter. I've seen teepees made of sticks that people have built so the chickens can run inside to get away from hawks. We have other predators, but none make it in to the yard so far, only skunks, but they can't get through the coop. We have it built like a fort for them. The more shelter you have the better. I hope you won't give up on having chickens, they're such a joy to have around. We love ALL of ours, we presently have 48 of them. Hard to keep track of at times, but we do a head count every night when we lock them up, if anyone is missing, we search until we find them, usually hiding under the honeysuckle or under the iceberg rose. That's another good thing to have. They get quite large, and have plenty of thorns, Our chickens love to camp out under ours, we have them planted next to each other so they have plenty of room to nap safely, or just hang out. I throw their scratch and treats under it so they don't feed in the open.We had a hawk try to get one of our Buff Orpington hens last month, and she ran under the iceberg rose, it flew right into the bush and was stuck for a few minutes, it was screaching , so it hurt. I hope. Also Lady Banksia rose gets HUGE. It's a home to hundreds of sparrows at our house, and we have hens go under it all the time. Just food for thought. Shelter is the best thing, someplace to hide. This was not your fault, I know how you feel. Hope you'll try again, good luck to you. Hugs.
Dianna in NM
And we are building them a good, safe run because free ranging down here is just too risky.
