Today, I said goodbye. Don't know what happened

[lexi234]

*WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES OF MY DEAD HEN INCLUDED*
Today, I was outside with my family basically all afternoon cleaning up the yard. I had just checked for eggs and went inside for about 30 minutes before going back out to shut the chickens in. My dog was standing by this girl, who was outside of their FENCED pen (fence does not have a lid). I did not know what this was at first, and went over to investigate as my dog seemed to be in a protective stance and wouldn't leave her side. We think she hopped the fence, and then something got her. Any ideas to what happened? I feel like it wasn't a fox or hawk because they would've taken the whole bird. It could've been my dog trying to play and simply went too far. This is the only hen we've lost that seemed to be attacked, and it was still bright outside when she was found.
EDIT: please no hate. I'm 17 and this is my first year of raising chickens. We are working on putting something over the fence so they can't hop out.

 

[nparks]

Never easy to lose a bird! Possibly a hawk? They are out in full force where I live at in Michigan, we just lost one of ours to a hawk a few weeks ago. With no cover on your run, a hawk could have even gotten her in the run and carried her over the fence. We have deer netting over our run to keep our girls in, it’s pretty cheap to add. Maybe it’s time to consider something on top of the run if your girls are flighty!

Good luck, sorry for you loss

 

[lexi234]

Never easy to lose a bird! Possibly a hawk? They are out in full force where I live at in Michigan, we just lost one of ours to a hawk a few weeks ago. With no cover on your run, a hawk could have even gotten her in the run and carried her over the fence. We have deer netting over our run to keep our girls in, it’s pretty cheap to add. Maybe it’s time to consider something on top of the run if your girls are flighty!

Good luck, sorry for you loss

Thank you! The hawks around my area have been bad lately, but we've had good luck with them leaving us alone until now.

 

[nparks]

Thank you! The hawks around my area have been bad lately, but we've had good luck with them leaving us alone until now.

Definitely try the deer netting. You can get it on amazon for like $20 and it’ll keep the girls in and hawks out. It is very thin so I will not keep any other kind of critters out like coons or weasels.

 

[OFChickens]

*WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES OF MY DEAD HEN INCLUDED*
Today, I was outside with my family basically all afternoon cleaning up the yard. I had just checked for eggs and went inside for about 30 minutes before going back out to shut the chickens in. My dog was standing by this girl, who was outside of their FENCED pen (fence does not have a lid). I did not know what this was at first, and went over to investigate as my dog seemed to be in a protective stance and wouldn't leave her side. We think she hopped the fence, and then something got her. Any ideas to what happened? I feel like it wasn't a fox or hawk because they would've taken the whole bird. It could've been my dog trying to play and simply went too far. This is the only hen we've lost that seemed to be attacked, and it was still bright outside when she was found.
EDIT: please no hate. I'm 17 and this is my first year of raising chickens. We are working on putting something over the fence so they can't hop out.
View attachment 1705381View attachment 1705382

Awe no! So sorry this sad loss happened to you! I give you credit for reaching out to try to figure out what happened to prevent future losses. My best guess is a hawk. They’re so fast and can grab anything quickly that’s just a few pounds. Your dog might’ve tried to save her and scared it off. If your dog was in protective stance over the bird- then something else was there as predator. We have hawks here so I’m afraid to free range. You did everything right, it’s just dumb nature.

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

So sorry for your loss I would say it was either your dog (unless your 100% sure your dog would never) or I would say possibly a small hawk. I've seen hawks that were smaller then my hens kill them where they find them and eat them there. The amount of feathers around says your bird was either shaken (like a dog's death shake) or taken by surprise and hit hard. I had a fox (that I caught on camera) that took a rooster of mine so fast there was a puff of feathers in the air and he was gone before the feathers landed.. Good luck on this one.

 

[lexi234]

Awe no! So sorry this sad loss happened to you! I give you credit for reaching out to try to figure out what happened to prevent future losses. My best guess is a hawk. They’re so fast and can grab anything quickly that’s just a few pounds. Your dog might’ve tried to save her and scared it off. If your dog was in protective stance over the bird- then something else was there as predator. We have hawks here so I’m afraid to free range. You did everything right, it’s just dumb nature.

thank you! I appreciate it!

 

[lexi234]

So sorry for your loss I would say it was either your dog (unless your 100% sure your dog would never) or I would say possibly a small hawk. I've seen hawks that were smaller then my hens kill them where they find them and eat them there. The amount of feathers around says your bird was either shaken (like a dog's death shake) or taken by surprise and hit hard. I had a fox (that I caught on camera) that took a rooster of mine so fast there was a puff of feathers in the air and he was gone before the feathers landed.. Good luck on this one.

It could’ve been my dog... but my chicken was blind in one eye so I’m thinking a predator snuck up on her and got her by surprise. We are installing cameras around the coops soon.

 

[Callender Girl]

I am so sorry about your hen. Please realize that everyone loses chickens to wretched predators eventually, and you are to be commended for trying to figure out what happened and how to prevent it from happening again. There's a lot of learning in the first years of raising chickens -- including how to protect them from a whole host of predators in the air and on the ground.

 

[lexi234]

I am so sorry about your hen. Please realize that everyone loses chickens to wretched predators eventually, and you are to be commended for trying to figure out what happened and how to prevent it from happening again. There's a lot of learning in the first years of raising chickens -- including how to protect them from a whole host of predators in the air and on the ground.

thank you !