Hawk killed favorite hen

[Chickens are life]

I'm so sorry that it happened to your favourite chicken. I lost my favourite chicken at the start of 2024. She was an Isa Brown and had a limp. She always let me pick her up and would sit on my lap to eat food I gave her. Then in January of 2024, I came home and she had a big wound under her wing, she was still alive so we took her to the vet but sadly we decided to euthanise her. We buried her in our backyard the same night. We still have no idea what happened but we are happy that we were able to give her a proper goodbye since most of our past chickens just disappeared without a trace. I have lost two more chickens since then, one to old age and one to old age and heat. I still have two from the original flock, got two Silkies in May 2024 and two baby chicks who are about to be 8 weeks old (all hens). Maple looks like a beautiful chicken. Hope your doing well.

 

[McChooky]

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

I rarely free range in the winter but I do let them out a couple hours at least a couple days a week.I'm attached to all of mine but I'd be devastated if I lost my favorites.Sorry for your loss!

 

[McChooky]

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 sorry you lost your favorite hen in the circle of life .Sometimes knowing we are loved so much means more than how long it lasts

 

[Sondraa]

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 feel your pain. It's been 3 or 4 years since I lost all of my small flock of ducks. I only just 2 months ago had another go and hatched a few eggs again. Its taken me that long to get over it. It's devastating! You poor thing. I went remote hiking and trusted a local couple to let my ducks out in the morning and put them in their night enclosure before dark but..they stopped doing it a day before I arrived back. I was only gone for 5 days and nights. They got the dates wrong, they said. All that was left was a few feathers. So sad.

Very sorry for your loss. You are not alone in your grief.