Need help/encouragement

[Prof-grubbly-plank]

Hi! I am one year exactly into keeping our kindest backyard chickens. We had 9 girls and unfortunately a hawk got into our run extension yesterday and ate our sweet Hei Hei. The hawk got caught in the extended run and I had to quickly usher the girls back into the main run while the hawk was trying to escape. Today, the girls are all huddled in the coop and not going into the main run (we walled off the run extension until we fix the area where it got in). I’m assuming they are traumatized by what they saw? Is there anything I can do to support them and help them feel more comfortable? I feel so sad they lost a friend. I am also very worried about them staying in the coop all day.

 

[GodLovesU]

Are they in shock?Can you post a picture of your set-up?I’m so sorry this has happened to you.

 

[sourland]

The hawk may still be in the area, and they may be aware of its presence. It always takes time after a predator attack for birds to feel at ease.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Let me guess, chicken wire was used on the run?

As far as calming them down, if the hawk broke through the top of the run, perhaps covering the run with a tarp to give an illusion of safety.

I'd not worry too much about the chickens. They are a prey species and aren't too intelligent enough to do much worrying after a few days.

Anthropomorphism aside, if they were big enough they would have killed and eaten the hawk or even you had they the ability and the chance.

 

[Prof-grubbly-plank]

Are they in shock?Can you post a picture of your set-up?I’m so sorry this has happened to you.

I can get most of them to come out if I call them and tempt them with some dried worms for a treat, then after a few minutes they retreat back into the coop. I’ll attach some pictures of our setup. Right now with the temp/upcoming snow we have 3/4 walls covered and vented from the elements. Then the second picture shows our tunnel out into the perimeter of the yard which we have blocked off for now. Thank you for your help

 

[Prof-grubbly-plank]

The hawk may still be in the area, and they may be aware of its presence. It always takes time after a predator attack for birds to feel at ease.

Alright, I will just keep monitoring and hope they ease back into their typical happiness over time. Thank you for your input

 

[Prof-grubbly-plank]

Let me guess, chicken wire was used on the run?

As far as calming them down, if the hawk broke through the top of the run, perhaps covering the run with a tarp to give an illusion of safety.

I'd not worry too much about the chickens. They are a prey species and aren't too intelligent enough to do much worrying after a few days.

Anthropomorphism aside, if they were big enough they would have killed and eaten the hawk or even you had they the ability and the chance.

Yes, chicken wire was used for the outer perimeter of our yard/run extension so that we could manipulate it around the trees (see pic). All year, we’ve let them free range our whole yard from sun up to sun down with no problems so once we saw one hawk, we immediately set up this tunnel/outer perimeter run to keep them covered. We live on a small island with typically no hawks nearby- they stay on the mainland to prey. However, one obviously found our chickens and has flown over the bay. Do you have any suggestions on improvement if you don’t favor chicken wire? For obvious reasons, we are currently only keeping them in the main run which is very secure. I know they will eventually be grumpy at me for keeping them in as they have had so much freedom in the past.

 

[BDutch]

Alright, I will just keep monitoring and hope they ease back into their typical happiness over time. Thank you for your input

Maybe it helps the chickens to feel safer if you add more clutter to hide under in the run.

If you want them to go out to free range again, you better wait until the hawk has given up. After a few weeks the hawk knows there is no food for him to grab. After he is unsuccessful he probably won’t come back regularly.

Make sure the garden provides lots of hiding places (bushes, crates with two openings) in case he is coming back. Trees are not helpful.

I know someone who put up camouflage netting on a few stakes, with openings low to the ground on all sides. It seems to be good place for the chickens to flee/hide under.

 

[Al Gerhart]

I thought so, chicken wire isn't to be used outside of coops or runs. Many predators including dogs can rip right through it. It is just twisted together, very frail.

You need hardware cloth. Bears might be able to claw through it, or a wolverine, but your common predators can't get through it.

And I know, they call it chicken wire.