Warning Graphic Pic - Was this a hawk attack?

[TammyP]

Hi. I went out this afternoon to see feathers scattered all over the back field area.....looked and saw one of my light brahmas dead . Below is a graphic pic of her backside......just wondering if a hawk would do this? Or do you think it could have been another animal? It doesn't appear that the killer ate much of her at all. I'm just heartsick.





Tammy

 

[newoldchick]

So sorry for your loss--hugs.

 

[chickenmommy1]

Sorry for your loss

 

[thaiturkey]

We've had turkeys look like that and it was done by dogs.

 

[Kev]

If none of the bones were broken and there was a lot of "stringy pieces" still stuck to the bones, it could be hawk.

Broken bones, especially those with rather clean cuts are NOT by hawk. my experience with carcasses having almost cleanly cut bones were work of bobcat.

Other signs of non hawk attack is if there were feathers everywhere or in several different places. What I saw with hawk attacks were feathers all in the same location as the carcass and none were very far(just two feet tops from the carcass), unless it was very windy.

Wait.... at second look.. is her right wing completely gone/missing? I don't think a hawk could do that? If wing is gone would first think of a mammal predator.

 

[duckinnut]

I am thinking winged predator. The plucking of the feathers are usually a clear sign of that. Most 4 legged thieves will take off with it but will return for more.Sorry for your loss.

 

[Chickenaddict]

Hawk, seen this tooo many times in my own backyard. Sorry for your loss

 

[Donna Sue]

Looks like a hawk to me too. We used to have a lot of trouble with them and this was almost an every day gig until I "took care" of it. I'll not say how I took care of it, just that I did. Once they learn that they can get dinner at your place, they'll keep coming back as if you're running a KFC in your yard.

Our problem was a couple years ago. We still have hawks, but thankfully, they've left our birds alone. Our dogs probably help out quite a bit with that. I hate that they're illegal to kill. I don't understand why they are protected when they seem to be so abundant around here.

 

[maitia17960]

Hawk. I am having the same problem now. It took two of mine. I have chased it both times and that is what the chicken looks like when I picked them up. The one taking my birds is a cooper or goshawk. The ones with a striped tail.

 

[Old Fossil]

Looks like a hawk to me too. We used to have a lot of trouble with them and this was almost an every day gig until I "took care" of it. I'll not say how I took care of it, just that I did. Once they learn that they can get dinner at your place, they'll keep coming back as if you're running a KFC in your yard.

Our problem was a couple years ago. We still have hawks, but thankfully, they've left our birds alone. Our dogs probably help out quite a bit with that. I hate that they're illegal to kill. I don't understand why they are protected when they seem to be so abundant around here.

They are protected because people would kill them. Before they were protected, their numbers were greatly reduced to the point that many species became threatened and/or endangered. This is bad because they are an important part of the food chain; they help keep down rodent and snake populations, among other things. I say this as one who has lost chickens to hawks -- lost two just last month to a young first-year Red-tailed male, who found my Polish an easy meal until I was able to acquire another large rooster.

I understand that occasionally there is the raptor that becomes too comfortable raiding chickens, and in those cases action may be required. As an alternative to killing -- for those like me who value hawks -- one could locate area falconers. Some of these might be interested in trapping problem birds, to use in either their own hunts or for apprentices (the latter can only use red-tailed hawks in most states, and RT's are usually the problem birds for chicken owners, anyway).

More difficult, but probably the more correct thing to do, is to learn to live with the depredations of predators such as hawks. Kill one, and in time another will move in to take over the vacant hunting grounds. This is the path I have chosen for me and my flock. I consider the occasional loss as the cost of having chickens on our own little bit of land, and part of the whole experience of animal husbandry.