two chickens dead!

[amcconnell]

I lost a chicken yesterday to a young hawk. Don't think I can do anything about it. I believe it's against the law to shoot a hawk but I don't want it picking my chickens off either.

I also found a hen dead this morning. She had blood on her vent. Not sure if possible egg bound or what. She was acting fine when she went to roost. Any suggestions?

 

[varanisblack]

Yes it is illegal to shoot any raptor be it Hawk Eagle or Owl as for the vent I am sorry to say I can not help on that one.

 

[Suzierd]

If you have a run with a cover I would keep them in for awhile you can bet that hawk will be back. If you don't have one I would make one. You can put chicken wire over the top or even bird netting will help I have heard of some going thru the cheap plastic bird netting so I would go for the chicken wire. Good luck

 

[amcconnell]

Yes...I do have a run that is completely enclosed. I just like to let them out to free range. I love watching my chickens in the yard. I did keep them in today and probably will for a while and then several days or weeks down the road let them out. I hate it for them....to be cooped up.

 

[Feanor]

I feel your pain, amcconnell. I live on a couple acres with a few neighbors and everyone loves seeing my chickens out about the yard chasing grass hoppers, and they are jumping at the door every morning when I go out to see them ready to come out, I would hate to have to keep them cooped up all day because of some freeloading vultures out for an easy nibble that we can't legally retaliate against. I see hawks circling every now and then too and have considered getting rubber BBs to shoot at them to at least give em a wack to drive them away, but I doubt a wack would keep them away from an easy meal. Luckily I've noticed my hens staying under the house or under the trees in the cool places with this summer heat, so I feel a bit more OK with leaving them outside unguarded. But I could imagine wanting to rip a hawks head off if it ever tried to make a meal out of my sweet and gentle girls.

 

[amcconnell]

The hawk got another chicken yesterday. I've had them kept up all week in the coop and my husband let them out for a short while to free range and sure enough....the hawk struck again. I guess I will have to keep them up for some time in hopes that the hawk will look elsewhere for his meal.

 

[USC Chick]

I guess it just depends on how much you want to free-range them. We lost one to a hawk a few weeks ago and have put up braided string/twine (hot pink) in a web formation starting from the top of the coop. Our run is approx 25' x 20', but we were hoping to be able to completely free-range them (which we only do now in the evening and when one of us is working outside). I've also heard of hanging up cds to scare the hawks away. I don't know how much of an investment it would be but you could build a larger run and they would have more space to roam rather than being so "cooped" up. I think the hawks will always know they are there, but they will be too scared to get caught up in the line (space it close) to go for a chicken.