What killed my precious Ana?

[Ihavesomechickens]

They were 4 months old. I’ve lost some ducks to hawks before and that’s why I got the decoy. I move it every two days and I’ve never had a attack since. Every time a hawk gets near a few crows fly over and chase it off. So unless the hawk was super hungry or really brave I have a hard time thinking it was a hawk. None of the other chickens seemed spooked either which is really weird to me. It also seems odd to go for them when I have other bigger breeds like polish and Australorps. It’s seriously like they fell of the face of the earth.

Hm. An owl could be a possibility. Do you live near a city, or more out in the country? I’m still thinking hawk. Hawks like to take birds that they can carry, they don’t want a fight. So it may very well be possible a hawk quickly dove down, snatched two tiny birds, and made a break for it.

 

[FathertoFeathers]

Hm. An owl could be a possibility. Do you live near a city, or more out in the country? I’m still thinking hawk. Hawks like to take birds that they can carry, they don’t want a fight. So it may very well be possible a hawk quickly dove down, snatched two tiny birds, and made a break for it.

I live in a neighborhood with a little wooded area behind my house. I have seen a owl before but never when it was still light outside. Maybe it was a hawk...

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

I live in a neighborhood with a little wooded area behind my house. I have seen a owl before but never when it was still light outside. Maybe it was a hawk...

I’m willing to bet money it was either an owl or a hawk, more likely a hawk. Either way, you should probably keep your birds in a run. I’m not sure about the laws where you are, but at least where I live it’s illegal to kill a hawk or an owl. I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal with this.

 

[sourland]

Birds that size are especially vulnerable to a Cooper's hawk attack.

 

[Tonyroo]

I had a feral cat grab my D'uccle, it happened so fast. Good thing I was there and saw the whole thing. I ran after that cat with my bird in it's mouth. I cornered him and he dropped her.

 

[FathertoFeathers]

Today I went out int woods behind my house trying to find anymore evidence. I found 4 feathers that looked like they might be hers and from her breast. Tried to follow the trail but there was just to few to find a pattern. One had a teeny amount of blood at the very top. I couldn’t find the body or any other bigger feathers like wing feathers. I also scanned the trees thinking maybe her body would be up there but nothing. Is this indicative of a hawk attack?

 

[Jeanw]

It could be a hawk, I’m so sorry

 

[FathertoFeathers]

Here’s the only feathers I could find. The second one has a bit of blood on the very top. Don’t know if these will help at all.

 

[cmom]

chickenlittle21

She clearly stated that it couldn't be a hawk because she moved her decoy. Please try and keep up.

thx

@aart

 

[cmom]

I had a hawk kill a bird not 10 feet away from me. It happened so fast. The hawk did kill the bird but didn't take it. It was a Rhode Island White.