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Look who I found watching my hens today...

post #1 of 51
2/22/12 at 6:29pm
Thread Starter 

cooperhawk1.jpg

 

a coopers hawk. can these birds really take down a chicken? it didn't seem all that big - a little bigger than a robin maybe, smaller than a flicker woodpecker.... 

 

 

Chickens in the coop!
Coop & Girls: http://bluebetween.blogspot.com/search/label/backyard%20chickens
1 buff orpington (Pippi), 1 silver lace wyandotte (Bellatrix Lestrange), 1 cuckoo maran (Lulu) and 1 welsummer (Daphne).
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Chickens in the coop!
Coop & Girls: http://bluebetween.blogspot.com/search/label/backyard%20chickens
1 buff orpington (Pippi), 1 silver lace wyandotte (Bellatrix Lestrange), 1 cuckoo maran (Lulu) and 1 welsummer (Daphne).
Reply

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post #2 of 51
2/22/12 at 6:34pm

I don't know if it can take a full grown chicken or not.  

 

I just wanted to commend you on your camera skills.  Beautiful shot!

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post #3 of 51
2/22/12 at 6:37pm

If it is that small, I'm wondering if it is a Sharp-shinned Hawk rather than a Coopers.  They are very similar.  

Owned by two old dogs (yellow lab and a big, red, fuzzy mutt) and four chickens (Buff Orpington, Barred Rock, and two Easter Eggers)
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Owned by two old dogs (yellow lab and a big, red, fuzzy mutt) and four chickens (Buff Orpington, Barred Rock, and two Easter Eggers)
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post #4 of 51
2/22/12 at 6:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yay Chicks! View Post

If it is that small, I'm wondering if it is a Sharp-shinned Hawk rather than a Coopers.  They are very similar.  



Yes, sharp-shinned adult and if robin sized a male.  Small feet (shins) and squarish head of perching bird are good indicators of sharp-shinned hawk.  Not a threat to adult chickens, probably not even bantams.  May threaten chicks but not in my experience.

 

Make every effort to understand your chicken's biology and the environment that supports it.
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Make every effort to understand your chicken's biology and the environment that supports it.
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post #5 of 51
2/22/12 at 7:26pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by centrarchid View Post



Yes, sharp-shinned adult and if robin sized a male.  Small feet (shins) and squarish head of perching bird are good indicators of sharp-shinned hawk.  Not a threat to adult chickens, probably not even bantams.  May threaten chicks but not in my experience.

 



oh yes! http://www.arkive.org/sharp-shinned-hawk/accipiter-striatus/ - that's what it was, phew!! I feel better now, thank you all :) 

Chickens in the coop!
Coop & Girls: http://bluebetween.blogspot.com/search/label/backyard%20chickens
1 buff orpington (Pippi), 1 silver lace wyandotte (Bellatrix Lestrange), 1 cuckoo maran (Lulu) and 1 welsummer (Daphne).
Reply
Chickens in the coop!
Coop & Girls: http://bluebetween.blogspot.com/search/label/backyard%20chickens
1 buff orpington (Pippi), 1 silver lace wyandotte (Bellatrix Lestrange), 1 cuckoo maran (Lulu) and 1 welsummer (Daphne).
Reply
post #6 of 51
2/22/12 at 7:34pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by G-Man View Post

I don't know if it can take a full grown chicken or not.  

 

I just wanted to commend you on your camera skills.  Beautiful shot!



Thank you G-Man - I just got a new lens today, stepped outside to try to capture some photos of the chickadees - and they were all gone - weird! where did all the birds go - ahaha! what is that! A gift from mother nature for my new lens! But then I zoomed in and realized it looked hawkish... and had to lock all the hens up quick.

Chickens in the coop!
Coop & Girls: http://bluebetween.blogspot.com/search/label/backyard%20chickens
1 buff orpington (Pippi), 1 silver lace wyandotte (Bellatrix Lestrange), 1 cuckoo maran (Lulu) and 1 welsummer (Daphne).
Reply
Chickens in the coop!
Coop & Girls: http://bluebetween.blogspot.com/search/label/backyard%20chickens
1 buff orpington (Pippi), 1 silver lace wyandotte (Bellatrix Lestrange), 1 cuckoo maran (Lulu) and 1 welsummer (Daphne).
Reply
post #7 of 51
2/22/12 at 8:08pm

Congratulations on your new lens. Looking forward to seeing the pictures of your girls.

Thank you for sharing.

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post #8 of 51
2/22/12 at 8:20pm

Years ago we had bird feeders in front of the house, and a hawk sometimes hunted there. One day it was just outside my bedroom window, and I got a couple pics of it.

 

Is this a Coopers Hawk?

 

Hawk1.jpg

 

Hawk2.jpg

My old page:  http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/rvl-rookies-progress-page

My coop/flock progress:  http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/630215/i-started-converting-my-shed-into-a-coop

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My old page:  http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/rvl-rookies-progress-page

My coop/flock progress:  http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/630215/i-started-converting-my-shed-into-a-coop

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post #9 of 51
2/22/12 at 8:52pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rvl Rookie View Post

Years ago we had bird feeders in front of the house, and a hawk sometimes hunted there. One day it was just outside my bedroom window, and I got a couple pics of it.

 

Is this a Coopers Hawk?

 

Hawk1.jpg

 

Hawk2.jpg

 

it looks like some of the coopers hawk pictures I've seen online, but it really looks like a Merlin from my bird books.



 

Chickens in the coop!
Coop & Girls: http://bluebetween.blogspot.com/search/label/backyard%20chickens
1 buff orpington (Pippi), 1 silver lace wyandotte (Bellatrix Lestrange), 1 cuckoo maran (Lulu) and 1 welsummer (Daphne).
Reply
Chickens in the coop!
Coop & Girls: http://bluebetween.blogspot.com/search/label/backyard%20chickens
1 buff orpington (Pippi), 1 silver lace wyandotte (Bellatrix Lestrange), 1 cuckoo maran (Lulu) and 1 welsummer (Daphne).
Reply
post #10 of 51
2/22/12 at 9:10pm

This was about 40mi SW of St. Louis, MO., if that helps any with ID.

My old page:  http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/rvl-rookies-progress-page

My coop/flock progress:  http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/630215/i-started-converting-my-shed-into-a-coop

Reply

My old page:  http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/rvl-rookies-progress-page

My coop/flock progress:  http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/630215/i-started-converting-my-shed-into-a-coop

Reply
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