Hawk killed favorite hen

[HowellChicken123]

I came out to the coop this morning to find my absolute favorite girl maple under a hawk. She was 3 years old. She was the last remaining of my original 6 and had always been my favorite girl jumping on my lap and taking treats from my hand (and the bag).

I am devastated. I had put plastic netting over my run after an attack last year but it just burst through it. Was hoping anyone might have any advice on other deterrents for hawks?

Also, just looking for some solace from anyone else who may have suffered similar losses. We have lost chickens before but this one is extra painful.

 

[Evadig]

I came out to the coop this morning to find my absolute favorite girl maple under a hawk. She was 3 years old. She was the last remaining of my original 6 and had always been my favorite girl jumping on my lap and taking treats from my hand (and the bag).

I am devastated. I had put plastic netting over my run after an attack last year but it just burst through it. Was hoping anyone might have any advice on other deterrents for hawks?

Also, just looking for some solace from anyone else who may have suffered similar losses. We have lost chickens before but this one is extra painful.

I am so sorry about Maple! She was lovely.
I understand the pain; a raccoon got our favorite turkey a few months ago in broad daylight.

Could you put hardware fabric or at least chicken wire on top of your run? A hawk would not be able to breach that. Some people also hang brightly colored lines crisscrossing their run. I don't know how well that works though.

 

[alinas2010]

I’m so very sorry about Maple. She was beautiful and sounds like she was such a great friend. I hope you are able to find a bit of comfort in the memories and photos that you have of her. Our favorites take such a toll on us when they go.

Is your run sturdy enough to support something like chainlink or polycarbonate panels that still let sunlight through? A picture of your set up might help with suggestions.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

I'm sorry to hear about Maple! I recently lost two six-week-olds to a hawk and I was so sad. I obviously didn't have the long-term bond that you had with yours, but in that short time I had bonded with those two a lot. I've also had to put down well-loved hens in the past, so I understand the pain.

It's very tough, but know that it's not your fault. We can try to prevent predator attacks, but sometimes they still happen. It's nature. Some people have the means to build 100% hawk-proof runs, but it's not possible for everyone.

As for deterrents, I recently put up the shiny "hawk proof ribbon" that we bought on Amazon and I swear I have seen fewer hawks hanging around. I also built a new run for my hens that is about 90% covered by low-hanging juniper trees that they can hide from hawks under. If you are able to have at least part of your run covered by something, it's worth it. Juniper trees have been a godsend for me, but there are probably other low-growing plants/shrubs/trees that could have the same function. The only 100% solution is building a 100% covered run, but I realize this isn't in everyone's means.

Maple was beautiful! May she rest in peace and enjoy pecking around in chicken heaven.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

Grow as heavy vegetation as you can for your property. Chickens are the descendants of junglefowl and that's the environment they're most suited for

I'm fond of bamboo (phyllostachys) because junglefowl have a symbiotic relationship with it, but I understand not everyone can grow the stuff

Sorry for your loss. Beautiful Ameraucana

 

[HowellChicken123]

Thank you all very much for the kind words and suggestions. Spent yesterday fortifying some areas, we plan on moving soon so will definitely plan for a hard roof on the future coop.

Nightly/Morning check ins are definitely hard without her there, but thank you all again for the kind words. She was very loved

 

[DogwoodMtnFarm]

I came out to the coop this morning to find my absolute favorite girl maple under a hawk. She was 3 years old. She was the last remaining of my original 6 and had always been my favorite girl jumping on my lap and taking treats from my hand (and the bag).

I am devastated. I had put plastic netting over my run after an attack last year but it just burst through it. Was hoping anyone might have any advice on other deterrents for hawks?

Also, just looking for some solace from anyone else who may have suffered similar losses. We have lost chickens before but this one is extra painful.

I'm so sorry for your loss; Maple was a beautiful hen. We lost Walter, my very favorite Guinea Fowl, a beautiful coral blue boy, the day after Christmas to a hawk 10' from our house. We moved a few things around so the remaining 13 GFs who free range in the day would have more cover back there. I lost my next favorite, Copper, to a Cooper's hawk Jan 27th, again just feet from our house. The 2nd attack really surprised us because it was 3' from a nearly 4' retaining wall, 6' from our house and about 3' from the back our our ginormous F350 Dually. The hawk dragged poor, dead Copper UNDER the truck.

I hand raised them from 2 day old chicks and was attached even if they saw my hands as covered in knives and scissors when I'd try to touch them. Guineas are far from cuddly and we brought ours to take care of aggressive ticks, insects, organic pest control for our veggies gardens, warning devices and entertainment. I cried when Walter was taken and got mad about Copper. We buried them so the hawks wouldn't get a tasty meal out of our hard work.

We've been researching what we can do for our 12 remaining Guineas as they free-range during the day. They're trained to return to the coop at night (not easy since they're really dumb!) and aren't let out if we're not home or if it's overcast (both attacks were on overcast days so they had no shadows to warn them.) We've read about human and owl scarecrows but they need to be moved every few days or the predators figure it out. I've got 5 owl decoys coming, 2 of them are solar so their heads rotate, their eyes light up and they make noises when they sense movement. I'm also ordering 4 large goose decoys since guardian geese have been touted as excellent flock protectors. The Hubster is making 2 human scarecrows that will rotate in the wind AND are on a spring so they'll move like a bobble head doll. They'll all have to be moved every few days - ugh!

We're hanging enough CDs we could get a disco ball and lights and have a nice dance club on our mountaintop homestead. I think I'll try the tape you mentioned as well. The Hubster is going to cover our entire back, front and side yards with bird netting and cables. He's really PO'd! We're on 24+ acres of NW Georgia mountain top that's heavily forested except for the 1 acre around our house and another 2 acres at the top of our property 1/5 mile from the house where we have an orchard and a pasture. We don't let the Morons go up there since there's no cover and lots of predators. We're in the middle of tens of thousands of acres of forest land that stretches into 100's of thousands in alabama and farm- and ranch-land in the valleys below our mountain. Prime hunting groun for several varieties of hawks and even bald eagles. We usually love it but I've done some cursing the past couple of weeks.

We're also going to apply for a permit to dispatch hawks and try to protect the Morons that way as well. I don't want to have to do that but I don't want to lose any more little Tick Slayers to them. We have a lot of $$$ in buying them, feeding them, building GuineaHam Palace (it's the GF equivalent of Ft. Knox, nothing is getting to those birds!), the warming lights and plates, feeders, waterers, my time hand raising them, vet fees for 2 we tried but couldn't correct a genetic leg defect, etc. Plus, I don't want to do the whole hand-rearing thing so soon after getting these guys out of my garage.

I don't know why it's the ones we really like that go first. I have 6 total A-holes that bully and chase the others to the point they're 20% smaller than the bullies. I think the bullies are partly responsible beause they chased both birds out of the safety of the flock making them easy pickens' for the hawks. I don't want to lose any of the Morons but I certainly don't want to lose my favorites!

Good Luck and again, sorry for your loss.
~Trish

 

[KyCoop]

So sorry for your loss. Why is it always the favorite hen and never the mean ol rooster?
Hawks are very bad in the winter because they are migrating and hungry. With some cover for your yard be it netting or string the local hawks learn pretty quickly they won't get an easy dinner so it does not seem such an issue in the spring and summer.
Winter hawks are a different kind of scary. They are tenacious and desperate. I had one my first year that was on the ground going around and around the run ON THE GROUND trying to get into my girls.
Spring and Summer hawks are the locals. They are way easier to deter and you can to learn their breakfast, lunch and dinner times. You will know when to keep an eye out.
Keep your ears open, the blue Jay's and the crows will let you know when one is around.
Be present. Hang out with your chickens and let the hawks know you are there to protect your flock.

 

[AGeese]

It is tough when you personally raise them up no matter how you lose them. Sorry for your loss. Getting a rooster is the way to go if you're not in a neighborhood.

 

[Silkie fluff butts]

So sorry for your deep loss! I know fully how you feel. I lost my precious Snowy Girl to a hawk almost 2 weeks ago. I cried for 3 days. I never knew I could love a chicken so much. But she loved me and chose me from the rest of my family. She would run to me for safety. Every day, she would call me from the back door so she could sit on my lap for cuddles while I ate breakfast. I have been focusing on remembering all the adorable and funny things she did. It's helped me move on from the pain of not being able to save her. I hope you can find peace too. <3