What bird tried to kill my chicken - video

[SarahLadd]

My run door is broken and 3 birds escaped while I was away at work. This attack happened 20 minutes before I arrived. Constellation is in emergency surgery in 45 minutes.

What bird is this? Video has sound. Don't watch this if you don't want to witness and hear.

Not necessarily looking for care advice, I hope the vets know what they're doing and she's going to stay with us...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry about your hen, I hope she makes it through surgery.

Hopefully others can I.D. the exact name/type, but that's a Hawk that has attacked your hens.

The Hawk will be back, so getting the run secured as soon as you can is a very good idea.

 

[SarahLadd]

I'm sorry about your hen, I hope she makes it through surgery.

Hopefully others can I.D. the exact name/type, but that's a Hawk that has attacked your hens.

The Hawk will be back, so getting the run secured as soon as you can is a very good idea.

We've patched the door for now and we're getting a new one this weekend.

I think the captures are too blurry for Google lens. I wonder why it let go...?

I am devastated. It is a full moon today.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

How big is your hen that got attacked, for approximate size of the hawk?

 

[SarahLadd]

How big is your hen that got attacked, for approximate size of the hawk?

She is a Belgian bearded d'anvers and her normal weight is 700 grams.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

She is a Belgian bearded d'anvers and her normal weight is 700 grams.

Ah, ok. I thought maybe she was a bantam. I think it was likely a Cooper’s hawk then. They’re a smaller hawk, but have been known to attack chickens before. I don’t know why it didn’t carry her off, but she and you are very lucky it didn’t. I hope she pulls through.

 

[SarahLadd]

Ah, ok. I thought maybe she was a bantam. I think it was likely a Cooper’s hawk then. They’re a smaller hawk, but have been known to attack chickens before. I don’t know why it didn’t carry her off, but she and you are very lucky it didn’t. I hope she pulls through.

What kind of behavior am I to expect from this bird? I'm assuming it will come back. Is it going to tell its friends where the "free snacks" are? The biggest birds I own escaped today. My watermaal are 400g wet. One of them would have been toast

 

[BigBlueHen53]

My Google Lens says Cooper's Hawk. Best wishes for your hen!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We've patched the door for now and we're getting a new one this weekend.

I think the captures are too blurry for Google lens. I wonder why it let go...?

I am devastated. It is a full moon today.

Sometimes a hen is able to get out the grasp, the talons will leave deep puncture wounds and gashes, that's for sure.

I've lost a few to Hawks. One was a pullet and I actually was outside when it happened, the poor thing, the Hawk basically dove down and just struck her to the ground, killing the pullet instantly.
It really stinks.

I get it, Hawks have to eat too, I think they are beautiful in their own right, but that day, I didn't much care for the Hawk.

The Hawk will be back, I can assure you of that. They are savvy. They can also land on the ground, walk right in and will try to worry a hen to a corner and reach in with their beak/talons (seen this attempted too), if wire spacing is large enough, this is why having hardware cloth is best, at least for several feet up if possible.

Keep us posted on how your hen is doing. It's good that you do have vet care. Many don't, so there's quite a few ER threads dealing with attacks and hens do make it through severe injuries, so let's hope your sweet girl is one that does.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

What kind of behavior am I to expect from this bird? I'm assuming it will come back. Is it going to tell its friends where the "free snacks" are? The biggest birds I own escaped today. My watermaal are 400g wet. One of them would have been toast

He’ll for sure be back. I don’t think he’ll tell his friends, as hawks don’t really fly around in flocks. So it might just be that one hawk hanging around, not more. I’m not sure if you normally free range or not, but I certainly wouldn’t do so now.