What killed my chicken

[dekel18042]

the breed defiantly has something to do with it. i want to know the breed because i want to know the size of the chicken. if the chickens is a very large chicken than hawks won't attack the chicken, hawks tend to go for smaller breeds of chickens. if you don't believe me than look it up.

To a certain extent I agree with this. Previously I had lost chickens to hawks When we started a new flock again several years ago I wanted something big, so I got Jersey giants then added a few other large birds. We actually saw hawks come down and sit in trees, but not attack.
Twice I witnessed unsuccessful hawk attacks. In one case the hawk was after a small Easter egger who was able to dive under the deck and another time the hawk went after a less than three month old juvenile who scooted under an evergreen. We have lots of shrubbery and hiding places for chickens.
I know of a successful hawk attack recently with someone else. The hawk got the smallest chicken in the flock.
There are many small flocks in our area and the consensus seems to be if the chickens are out for example in a pasture, with other animals like horses, goats or sheep, the hawks won't come down. They seem to be aware of what they can and can't carry away, and won't come down if the prey is too large to carry.
Recently this past winter I was out with someone else and we both had dogs on leashes. A hawk swooped into a tree, only about ten feet away right between us and with barely a pause flew off carrying a squirrel which had been running up the trunk of the tree.

 

[JJSS89]

It's worth noting that different species/sub-species of birds-of-prey exist and that their behaviors will vary from state-to-state, region-to-region.

 

[justplainbatty]

You know, thinking about the incident with my BO, I would have to agree with both of you. My bantam, SLW and EE were able to hide and they blend in better. The BO ran to the shed, which is a peach color (close to her color) and ducked in between the cattle panels. She was the only bird still visible so maybe the hawk's only choice to try to get her.

 

[aart]

Any predator usually goes for the smallest/weakest/easiest prey...but if they're hungry, they'll go after anything.
Since the predator in this thread was unknown, breed/size was of really of no matter.

 

[HarrisOBIE]

Hawks tend to go for the available food.

Sure they'd target the smaller of the bunch but when the pickings are slim, they go for full sized chickens all the time.

I had a hawk attack a jake that was 2x as big in stature as a grown chicken

thats why i wanted to know how many chickens were in the flock

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The breed and number of chickens has nothing to do with it.


Sounds like a hawk attack to me.

I 2nd that.

 

[SpringPeeper]

the breed defiantly has something to do with it. i want to know the breed because i want to know the size of the chicken. if the chickens is a very large chicken than hawks won't attack the chicken, hawks tend to go for smaller breeds of chickens. if you don't believe me than look it up.

After they look it up, I hope they'll come explain it to the red shouldered hawk who has been after my fatso English Orpingtons.

It's worth noting that different species/sub-species of birds-of-prey exist and that their behaviors will vary from state-to-state, region-to-region.

Very true and pertinent.

 

[Deer lane farm]

My flock was 5 chickens, now 4. The one that was killed was a Rhode Island Red. I have 2 Rhode Island Red's left, and two Black Sex Lincs. The day it happened it was raining for hours so any evidence was washed away. I'm getting goats in the Spring so once they grow up maybe I can keep the chickens out with them during the day to protect them better.

 

[chick124]

I found the chicken in the fenced in yard but not locked in the enclosed cage, the door was open because  It was day.  The head was still on but the neck was plucked clean.  Only one or two what looked like bites from the chest.  It was raining so i don't know if there were any animal tracks. The other chickens are fine. 
I thought I could leave them out during the day for a bit. But I guess not.  I'm so upset. 

M

 

[bstorm44]

Am so sorry to read your post. I just joined this group because my chicken may be dead in the morning...
I have been leaving my coop door open but after 18 months something happened.
At 4 am this morning I heard noises in the yard...ran out there with my flashlight and one of hens
(have 2) had gotten out of the fenced area in my backyard. She was walking like she was in shock...I good see
her back tail feathers were a mess. I went to the coop yard and another hen was yelling...then my flashlight light went
to the coop door. There standing in the door was oppossum. I turned on all the lights in the yard...banged on the coop roof
and then he disappeared. The hens went back to the coop (100's of feathers around).
Now this morning the injured hen was featherless on her backside...and she had some small bloody cuts and scratches.
She walked around ate and drank water but by 4pm she was laying in the shade near the coop.

She is very shy so I did not try to catch her....I feel so bad....they went in their coop at dark but I had to give her a little buge
to get up and in. But they are safe now. Door is closed and locked. Lights all on in yard.
I am worried she might die in the night.....I don't know if the oppossum harmed her or in her scare she hurt herself trying to get out of
coop yard but most of the feathers are in the coop. (I cleaned it out today)

Can she survive with her cuts....should I have done something ?? This is my first disaster and I am sick about it. Can anyone tell me
what I should do? Do you think the oppossum scratched her up in her frenzy to get out of the coup. I have not had any messy or
stolen eggs that I know of. Please advise. thank you