Dealing with guilt from hawk attack

[FrostRanger]

Any ideas for things to do in the run? I have climbing ladders made from thin tree logs, dust bathing pans, a roosting platform and of course scratching around, food, water. Maybe that’s enough. They still pace by the door when they see us coming but maybe that’s just because the norm is that they’ll be let out to graze. If that time is reduced, hopefully they’ll adapt and be more content in the run.

I’d still like to give them a little time in the later afternoon when they are confident again. I’ll be sure to be with them and have the dogs out if that happens.

Pictures would be helpful, but your run sounds great. Aside from habit, they are also probably just happy to see you and are wondering what you're doing. Mine will run up to see me whether they're in the run or not, if they are in the run they'll go back to what they were doing after a few minutes

 

[Ajp23]

Pictures would be helpful, but your run sounds great. Aside from habit, they are also probably just happy to see you and are wondering what you're doing. Mine will run up to see me whether they're in the run or not, if they are in the run they'll go back to what they were doing after a few minutes

That’s true. *most* of them like us probably all except our Rhode Island reds but then again, do they really like anyone?

Maybe I’ll get some run photos tomorrow! We’ll be out there as we’re also building a goat enclosure. We have some baby goats we took in as bottle babies after their mama didn’t take to them. Five weeks old now and so entertaining!

 

[Seaslug]

Any ideas for things to do in the run? I have climbing ladders made from thin tree logs, dust bathing pans, a roosting platform and of course scratching around, food, water.

Those are all good. Throw in fresh grass clippings, random tree cuttings with leaves, dropped leaves in fall for scratching in, fresh compost, move things around (can be scary for a bit, but the boldest will investigate and then all will get into the habit)... we provide random things like cabbages and pumpkins now and then as it gets them to grab and run around. When the weather improves I will spend time in the yard collecting things for them -- so I get the health benefit of walking around, picking things like dandelions, tomatoes, and Japanese beetles for them. Anything I think they might find interesting, except long dry grass that a hen might ingest and get sour crop from.
And the girls still run up to the door of the run when they see us -- that is where we enter to leave them out in the morning and if we are going to provide them with any special treats, so it is no surprise that they are right there. If I walk to the side of the run, most of the girls follow me because I may throw a bug in from the side. They aren't going to miss that possibility, unless they are laying. So do not feel guilty about that.
I know how it feels to be disappointed in yourself. Most of us are doing the best we can, even when we feel we have stumbled. In fact, it is when we feel we have stumbled that it feels the worse. Give yourself time to forgive yourself. And even if you feel as though you can't, I think it helps that you have posted what happened and now all of us can learn from it.

 

[Ajp23]

Coming back to this with a new inquiry: the chickens finally came out today and are cruising the run. I’ve been outside observing and one of my most docile hens is now behaving like a total bully. She’s pecking any hen that comes near her and chasing our Rhode Islands who are usually the top queens.

Is this possibly a result of the attack? She’s on edge? I don’t see any injuries of any kind.

 

[FrostRanger]

Coming back to this with a new inquiry: the chickens finally came out today and are cruising the run. I’ve been outside observing and one of my most docile hens is now behaving like a total bully. She’s pecking any hen that comes near her and chasing our Rhode Islands who are usually the top queens.

Is this possibly a result of the attack? She’s on edge? I don’t see any injuries of any kind.

Yes, the loss of any birds can cause the pecking order to shift. As long as no one is getting hurt and they have ample room with multiple feeders and waterers I'd let them just sort it out

 

[McChooky]

My 4 yr olds were attacked a year ago and don't free range anymore. Being confined 2 yrs before the attack probably has a lot to do with why they quit. My younger flock were free ranged at a much earlier age and still free range after losing two but it took them 6 months to get the courage to leave the front entrance of the run .They still won't go far

 

[mcdze]

ive always free ranged and lost alot of birds over the years to hawks ..mainly you just have to be 'very' strict about locking them up at night and not letting them out early. 9 out of 10 hawk attacks happen in the cool hours of early morning when you get lax because its been all quiet for months ..this is the time of year the hawks are migrating home .. theyre hungry ..it happens again in the fall as theyre migrating for winter .. theyll hang out and kill all your birds any time of the day once theyve spotted them if they arnt secured .. if i get an attack i'll keep them locked up a few days .. not for everyone, but i keep my birds hungry also, i manually feed them once a day, they know the procedure, and i can get them up anytime .. works out better if you free range .. im also not afraid to pop them suckers if i spot one eyeballing my flock, but thats me .. so i generally dont get decimated by hawks anymore .. other predators at night has been the biggest issue, if i 'forget' to lock something up at night it can be fatal, might get away with it for months .. until you dont .. beaks feet and wings everywhere .. got to be strict and consistent with procedure, especially free ranging ..

 

[B_Chickle01]

If you do free range, generally hawks are less active after like 1 or 2pm so you might want to wait until around then

I wouldn’t count on this; they really aren’t safe any time during the day. Our very first loss we experienced was when we first started raising chickens; it was our favorite hen, a Porcelain D’Uccle, and I remember it was close to 4, as I had to go and get the kids off the bus shortly after this traumatic incident. They were outside free-ranging, supervised as I always did. I ran inside for literally a few minutes to use the bathroom, and I didn’t realize my dog followed me in until I heard him flipping out in my bedroom, which is next to the bathroom. I ran out, and he was in my window going absolutely berserk. I naturally approached my dog and looked out the window to see a hawk right there on my lawn with our sweet girl. I ran outside screaming, and then he picked her up and flew off with her . It was absolutely devastating. Then I had to break this awful news to my little girls, who were in love with this specific bird. Just terrible.