Hi,
We have a family of hawks that live in our trees. For the past 3 years, they have left our chickens alone - they do seem to help with the gopher and rat problem. Yesterday a large one killed 2 of my 6 month old silkie hens in their run. It wasn't covered, so I suppose I was asking for trouble. But, we closed up the rest (including the rooster) in their coop area. There was a VERY small hole in the corner. A small hawk got in and killed and proceeded to eat another hen. It couldn't figure out how to get out and we had to grab it and pull it out of the coop. He was beautiful, and we let it go.
Why would the first one have killed 2 birds and not eaten either of them?
Today, why didn't the silkie rooster try to attack the young hawk trapped in their coop?
We have covered the coop with netting, so they hawks shouldn't be able to get in again But I have another coop and uncovered run.
Will these hawks try to go after my Rhode Island Red, Delaware, Barred Rock, Black Sex Link or Easter Egger hens? 1 is about 4 years old, the rest are all about 1 year old. These girls are all much bigger than the silkies were. But there is no rooster there to protect them?
Thanks!!!
Kathy
We have a family of hawks that live in our trees. For the past 3 years, they have left our chickens alone - they do seem to help with the gopher and rat problem. Yesterday a large one killed 2 of my 6 month old silkie hens in their run. It wasn't covered, so I suppose I was asking for trouble. But, we closed up the rest (including the rooster) in their coop area. There was a VERY small hole in the corner. A small hawk got in and killed and proceeded to eat another hen. It couldn't figure out how to get out and we had to grab it and pull it out of the coop. He was beautiful, and we let it go.
Why would the first one have killed 2 birds and not eaten either of them?
Today, why didn't the silkie rooster try to attack the young hawk trapped in their coop?
We have covered the coop with netting, so they hawks shouldn't be able to get in again But I have another coop and uncovered run.
Will these hawks try to go after my Rhode Island Red, Delaware, Barred Rock, Black Sex Link or Easter Egger hens? 1 is about 4 years old, the rest are all about 1 year old. These girls are all much bigger than the silkies were. But there is no rooster there to protect them?
Thanks!!!
Kathy