Hawk Questions

[ajamichelle]

Hi!

I'm new to chicken keeping and just had my first predator encounter. My run is predator-proof when it comes to terrestrial predators (raccoons, coyotes, dogs, etc.) and I have great tree cover. But I awoke this passed week to my chickens making loud alarm clucks. At first, I didn't think anything of it, but upon taking a drink of water, RIGHT when I woke up, I looked out my kitchen window to see what I believe to be an adult red-tailed hawk sitting on my coop run fence, staring at my chickens.

The hawk was about 3 feet tall and about 18 inches wide (closed wings), and red and stripey.

My chickens were using the coop as a shield while my rooster was out in the open doing a crazy war dance at the hawk. My roo actually fought him off and protected the chickens. He's a pretty formidable rooster (in my limited experience).

Upon seeing the hawk I basically choked on my water and ran outside waving my arms and yelling. He wasn't exactly deterred. He flew away when I got within four feet of him and perched on my neighbor's house. I stayed outside and he eventually flew off.

Of course, I live in a city and wasn't expecting such gigantic predatory birds to be about.

I haven't really been able to find much information about hawk behavior.

---Is the danger from hawks constant all day long (sun up to sun down)?

---Can you link me to any resources on BYC, or is my best best to just explore the predator forum?

---Would a hawk be willing to walk inside my coop?

---Will they stop coming back?

Thank you in advance!

My wonderful Turken rooster Malory. He'll be 18 weeks old on Saturday.

 

[centrarchid]

Timing of visits specific to a given hawk's habits. This summer visits for me mid to late after noon but other seasons visits can be at other times. Red-tailed likes to go after stuff it can predict like small rodents which are likely primary reason it visits you. Chickens are just a pleasant surprise.


A red-tailed hawk will walk into a coop but you have very poswerful repellent in a bird as large or larger than it willing to fight back. Your rooster is rather young to be trying to repel a hawk, mine do not start until at least 32 weeks.

More likely than not, if the hawk keeps coming back over more than a week or so it is catching something and it does not have to make a catch every visit to make it worth his / her time. Catch likely a rodent like a mouse or vole, but may also be targeting squirrels or rabbits. No catch for a while and it will check other areas. Soon migrants will be involved making predictions less possible.