This is why you should have a covered run

[ToniaM]

That is tragic and chilling. I'm so sorry this happened.

Thank you. I was so shocked this could happen. I searched this site out of curiosity and found your post.
In hopes of helping someone ever needing an idea of what to do should this happen to them...
Get a couple of people to help you and using long sticks or fishing poles, push them through the fence and wave them up and down. Patiently direct the bird towards the door. It may take an extra minute. But it works.

 

[David61]

https://pinnonhatch.com/poultry-supplies/p/heavy-knotted-poultry-netting-2mesh
This stuff is great. two years old now and like new. Doesnt trap debris or song birds.

 

[ColtHandorf]

My new runs are going to be covered. I've had very few issues with BoP in the last few years, but an enclosed/secure run means I don't have to worry about anything else.

As some of you have found out, an open door to a covered run is still an invitation for a hawk to fly/waltz in and help themselves. I saw a video of one literally walking in to the pen through the open door, flying in to the hen house, and selecting the bird it wanted like it was at the grocery store.

I've had one little Cooper's get into a run like that before. He was after some chicks a Salmon Faverolle had hatched out. I didn't have a clue as I'd stepped inside to grab a drink. By the time I'd returned the Salmon Faverolle Rooster had nearly flogged the little hawk to death. I threw on some gloves and caged it until it had regained its senses and calmed down for about thirty minutes. Once I was sure everything still worked on it, I took it back behind the lake on the 113 acres and let it go.

 

[Sueby]

What a great picture you caught! I'm glad everyone was ok.

I've had a visitor recently, fortunately my run is also covered because my girls are just not smart enough to run. They were intrigued by the hawk & followed him from pole to pole as he tried to find a way in.



He's been back since.

 

[azygous]

I can't believe those hens just stood there calmly with that hawk breathing down their necks! My hens were all hiding under their coop even though the run has a solid roof.

 

[ToniaM]

What a great picture you caught! I'm glad everyone was ok.

I've had a visitor recently, fortunately my run is also covered because my girls are just not smart enough to run. They were intrigued by the hawk & followed him from pole to pole as he tried to find a way in.

View attachment 2854795

He's been back since.

That is so bizarre!
The hawk came back here today. I wasn’t outside so they were safe in the covered run but this time the screen door was shut. I bought a fake owl and put it on a post under the pine tree the hawk was sitting in. Now I’m wondering if I’m terrifying my chickens with an owl right outside their door. Not sure what to do at this point.
Happy your chickens seemed to enjoy their visitor lol

 

[Swbertrand1]

This morning I had an awful scare. I went out to clean my coops and all of my hens had stuffed themselves under the rear coop in the covered run. However, my two roosters, who normally free-range all day, had vanished. All was deathly silent.

Expecting to find two mangled bodies, I went in search of the roos. I walked in an expanding loop around the run, and as I was getting farther away, I heard the boys frantic screeching back in the vicinity of the run. I ran back and found them sheltering next to the fence around my squash patch. I led them back to the run where they were very eager to go in where it was safe.

I assumed it was a lone coyote that sometimes lurks, contemplating what chicken tastes like. (Probably a lot like wild turkey) I headed into the house to make tea and calm my nerves when the chickens all started making a hysterical racket. As I looked around for that spooky coyote, I caught a glimpse of a large bird gliding overhead. It landed in a pine right next to the run. Did I mention my run is covered? I ran into the house and grabbed the camera.View attachment 2835185As I stood watching, a raven flew in and landed on a treetop nearby. The hawk pretended to ignore it, but flew off a minute later. Since the ravens moved into the neighborhood some years back, I've had very few hawks where before, they were dive bombing my chickens, sometimes while they were standing right next to me. Now the ravens will chase the occasional hawk out of the area.

It would have been such an easy shot with a .22 rifle, but these predators are protected in the United States under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 USC, 703-711. It wasn't necessary, at any rate, since the raven took care of the problem.

We have a covered run for that very reason, and we LOVE the Crows (Ravens) that frequent our yard

 

[steve&kris]

My chickens weren’t as lucky. I went outside yesterday late afternoon to give them some sunflower seeds and the hens were crazily bocking. Most were able to seek shelter in one of the coops. A few were standing inside my ENCLOSED run, nonstop screaming. Then I see the hawk on the far end of my 60ft run. Opposite side of the screen door. I am guessing it followed them into the run when they sought safety. They were free ranging on more than a half acre we have fenced in. One six wk old BCM was killed/eaten alive. You can see it lying there in one pic behind the hawk on the other side of the little white bowl. View attachment 2848037View attachment 2848038

I know a lot of people are going to disagree with me on this.... but I'd put money on it that the chicken was killed by something else and the hawk went in scavenging. Hawks don't kill too many adult chickens...it happens, but it's infrequent. Also, hawks don't walk up to chickens and peck them to death. If a hawk kills a chicken, it does it by swooping down fast and hitting the chicken from above with it's feet.... the hawk couldn't have swooped from above inside this run.
Azygous above commented that "it would have been an easy shot" except for the federal protection.... as if that is a bad thing. Everyone has the right to their own opinion, but I'm very glad they're protected. They're beautiful, incredible birds. I live my chickens, but they cost $3 if I occasionally lose one and have to replace it. In 15 years of having chickens, I've lost quite a few to fox, dogs, possibly a coyote, bunches to raccoons, and I had a weasel problem once.... I do suspect that one (1) was lost to a hawk....but it's just a guess. One chicken in 10 years isn't worth killing all the hawks in my area (if it were legal). However, if it were legal...I know they'd be slaughtered. I caught my neighbor shooting a beautiful big redtail because he thought it "may" kill a chicken someday, and our rabbit club kills dozens of them a year. It's tragic that all people don't value these birds more.

 

[azygous]

I know a lot of people are going to disagree with me on this.... but I'd put money on it that the chicken was killed by something else and the hawk went in scavenging. Hawks don't kill too many adult chickens...it happens, but it's infrequent. Also, hawks don't walk up to chickens and peck them to death. If a hawk kills a chicken, it does it by swooping down fast and hitting the chicken from above with it's feet.... the hawk couldn't have swooped from above inside this run.
Azygous above commented that "it would have been an easy shot" except for the federal protection.... as if that is a bad thing. Everyone has the right to their own opinion, but I'm very glad they're protected. They're beautiful, incredible birds. I live my chickens, but they cost $3 if I occasionally lose one and have to replace it. In 15 years of having chickens, I've lost quite a few to fox, dogs, possibly a coyote, bunches to raccoons, and I had a weasel problem once.... I do suspect that one (1) was lost to a hawk....but it's just a guess. One chicken in 10 years isn't worth killing all the hawks in my area (if it were legal). However, if it were legal...I know they'd be slaughtered. I caught my neighbor shooting a beautiful big redtail because he thought it "may" kill a chicken someday, and our rabbit club kills dozens of them a year. It's tragic that all people don't value these birds more.

Azygous above commented that "it would have been an easy shot" except for the federal protection.... as if that is a bad thing.

Don't be so quick to assume what is in the mind of someone when they make a comment. There is nothing to indicate my desire to kill a hawk. I've had dozens of such "easy shots" over the years. I've made my share of threads on the predators forum when I've had predators attack my flock. I've had many responses to the effect, "you had such an easy shot, why didn't you kill the @#$%^&*? I am a retired park ranger whose job it was to protect wildlife. If I have to "shoot" a predator threatening my chickens, I use bean bag or rubber rounds, never lethal loads, and regardless of their legal protection status, they are never killed.

 

[McChooky]

Judging by how much was eaten it very well could have been something else.Its not unusual for one animal to kill something and another take the spoils. Hawks only eat a little and take pieces back to the nest until they get it all-over a period of days