What killed my chicken? (GRAPHIC PICTURES)

[ShrekDawg]

An already dead animal will not scream, escape, run a few feet, and get captured again before going into death twitches and going still.

Maybe it depends where the hawk hits?

But those poor animals

 

[ShrekDawg]

Nope. Have never seen that happen. I suppose it could, but all the hawk attacks I have seen grabbed for the back and started plucking. Different birds of prey kill differently so it really depends.

Sorry didn't see this edit till now but ohhh that makes sense.

There are a few things to understand about hawks....they are territorial and they are mating and nesting this time of year....this means that come January they'll be feeding young ones in the nest. Knowing these factors can aid ya in knowing when the pressure on prey is at the greatest....don't think for a minute that just because ya haven't had an attack from a hawk that it doesn't keep an eye out for the prey in its territory and will defend that territory from other hawks also.

Thanks, that is helpful! Maybe I should leave it for them then if they have babies and so she's not wasted but I hate the idea of a predator ripping my favorite chicken to shreds

And hmm. Yeah, I saw one a few months ago eyeing them from a tree then it flew off and then there's the one that just visited. And I've seen one fly through the woods too. So I guess they are keeping an eye on my flock and I am too stupid to know it.

Maybe it was the same one, the one flying through the woods had spots or stripes too. Or maybe a breeding pair?

We have a red tail family around here too.

If they are territorial why are there so many around here?

 

[BantyChooks]

Maybe it depends where the hawk hits?

But those poor animals

Maybe. I have multiple hawk attacks per year (have saved most, I am home a lot) and I haven't ever had one dead on impact. Only dead birds I found were half eaten.

 

[CntryBoy777]

An already dead animal will not scream, escape, run a few feet, and get captured again before going into death twitches and going still.

I agree....every strike is not on target, but when it is it is disabling....red tails also encircle their prey with their wings to make it dark and to confuse their prey....allowing for a direct head strike also....especially with snakes.

 

[microchick]

It's a hard lesson no matter how it happens and whether or not death happens swiftly or if there is suffering involved is one of those things that since nobody witnessed the kill, nobody knows for certain. You can only hope that she took one breath in this life and the next in that little corner of heaven that is reserved for their tiny feathered souls.

Her death did stand for something. Hawks are beautiful creatures that own the sky when they take to wing. To it, your little hen represented a meal, the same as a hamburger represents one to us. Animals die so we can eat every day, so it is with the wild creatures of this earth. Please don't beat yourself up and please don't hate the hawk.

This is an important part of keeping chickens that we all battle with on a daily basis....keeping our birds safe from predators.

 

[BantyChooks]

It's a hard lesson no matter how it happens and whether or not death happens swiftly or if there is suffering involved is one of those things that since nobody witnessed the kill, nobody knows for certain. You can only hope that she took one breath in this life and the next in that little corner of heaven that is reserved for their tiny feathered souls.

Her death did stand for something. Hawks are beautiful creatures that own the sky when they take to wing. To it, your little hen represented a meal, the same as a hamburger represents one to us. Animals die so we can eat every day, so it is with the wild creatures of this earth. Please don't beat yourself up and please don't hate the hawk.

This is an important part of keeping chickens that we all battle with on a daily basis....keeping our birds safe from predators.

Great post.

 

[twilightgecko]

i am soooo sorry for your loss. finding her like that is heart breaking.. it really is a classic hawk kill.. they pluck and make a circle of feathers and try to decapitate.. don't beat yourself up too much tho.. hawks are fast and even if you were there, in the house for a few minutes, a hawk can swoop in.. [hugs]

 

[twilightgecko]

Instantaneous!

absolutely agree..

 

[microchick]

Thanks Banty.

We've all been there and done that, whether young or old. It hurts.

 

[path.otto]

I'm so sorry for your loss! I know it is normal to "coulda, shoulda, woulda,", but don't do it - we're all human and make mistakes we wish we could take back. Thank you for posting the photos as hard as it probably was for you. I, for one, learned what a hawk strike looks like because you did.