wanna know what a hawk kill looks like? *graphic*

[CorriByrne]

Sorry about your chickens. I live in an urban old suburban community in N. Florida- Tallahassee. And a friend's cat was recently killed very similar to the photos you posted. The locals blame the coyotes and the bobcats which have been seen here but I am arguing one of those has the strength to carry off the whole prey animal to its den to feeds its pups/kittens. But a hawk or owl, both strong enough to kill an 8ld cat, will just take what it can carry. A friend found her kitty in a similar condition- Torn apart but an obvious kill site- remains everywhere. Again I am sorry that you had to experience this personally but I am trying to understand what is the actual culprit.

 

[rainbowhatchery]

That sucks, sad cycle of nature when its your pets.

 

[CorriByrne]

Nature does what it needs too. It is heartbreaking when its personal. But I draw comfort from being part of nature. My time will come too. I hope I gave back as much as I took.

 

[rainbowhatchery]

Thats kinda how I look at it, its sad but they are just eating and surviving. We use LGD dogs so it works out nice because the predators just stay away so we dont lose animals and no predators are killed either because they dont try.

 

[CorriByrne]

Curious what is LGD?

 

[Honey B]

I had her body out...I had to go to work right after she was killed, so I didn't have a choice. I would just have to bury her later...luckily it is cold enough not to really make much of a difference...as gross and sad as that is...well, the hawk came BACK and found her again. He had gone to work plucking all the feathers off of her, but I interupted him yet again, and he didn't get any further. This time, the body was under an awning about 20 feet long, a foot from a brick wall, and three feet from the new coop I am working on, on the other side of our property. This hawk must be STARVING to seek out his kill and FIND it in a new location, and work in three feet of space...


Well, the hawk didn't see me until I came around the corner. I got within five feet of him before he flew off. I went to work on the coop, I am despirately trying to get it done before it gets cold...I got set back a week because of rainy weather, and that blasted hawk came back a THIRD time looking for his kill!!!An animal that determined is despirate.


The crazy weather we are having has been super hard on wildlife this past year. I almost feel bad for the poor guy. I feel worse for my chickens though...no free ranging for them...not with this incredibly persistant hawk around...and I only have a 10x10 run for them /img/smilies/hmm.png

The fact that you were able to get so close to the hawk is definitive proof that it was more than likely starving. A licensed rehab friend of mine tended to a male redtail that he literally grabbed off a squirrel that was frozen to the ground. They tend to be very wary in all other circumstances. I applaud the attitude you have about this situation. People tend to want to villinanize predators but they are only acting according to their survival instincts.

 

[CorriByrne]

Thank you for your candid description of the events. There are politics going on in this upper class neighborhood I live in. The birders are against any outside house cats. I see their point. But I don't want to start a witch hunt against any of the other critters that live here too. Bird feeders, garbage cans, compost bins, cats, dogs, and yes chicken coops all attract the bigger critters. Just need to be aware and mitigate. Your are going to loose a few sometimes. I'm just trying to make sure I don't do anything that lures the wildlings in. There is plenty of food for them in the wild. Cheers.

 

[kari_dawn]

I have since moved from that location (returned to school in a different town), but I brought a couple of my old girls with me! I have a new flock now, but my beautiful old Blue Orpington is still with me. Honey B, perhaps my more accepting perspective is because I too, am a permitted wildlife rehabilitator. I understand that we raise animals that, unfortunately for us, at times, are prey. We have to do what we can to protect them, but if you are going to let them free range, you are risking loss. Even if they DON'T free range, you are risking loss. For the poster asking what a LGD is, I believe it is a livestock guard dog. Like great pyranese for example.

I will say, that in this area, I still have a large yard (1/2 acre, down from 3/4 of an acre), but FAR fewer trees. There were about 113 at that house. There are 5 here. There are WAY fewer predators out here. Hawks included. I don't know why the hawk population has been exploding out there, but here in the Texas Hill Country, there is a lot less raptor activity. I have 11 girls now, and all are doing really well.