Hawks

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Big Bubba said:
I live in an area that can best be defined as semi-urban. I've seen hawks before but it is such a tight area they swoop through before you can blink an eye.

Today a hawk attacked in our backyard with me and my dog not more than 20 feet away. It flew away quickly. My girls were very upset.

What surprised me was the balls on that hawk to attack with me and the dog present. I guess a hawk couldn't be all that successful with such a short time frame to kill. But, it will make me think twice before deciding to leave for just a few minutes. Too bad, my girls really love free ranging.
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I have dogs that actively chase and might actually kill hawk if they catch it. Even with dogs present hawks like Coopers will occasionally stoop at members of free-ranging flocks but I have not had any losses since dogs in place and when chicks are involved an adult rooster close by. Chickens still get riled and that may be part of the defense they use.
 
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tatertot said:
Chicken hawks fledged between 25..36 days old...
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The words "chicken hawks" is a generic term that refers to at least 3 species.
1. The big honking red tail hawk
2. The not so big Coopers hawk
3. The smaller still sharp shinned or blue darter hawk, the bane of baby chickens everywhere.

The term chicken hawk is used because your chickens are these hawks preferred meal.

Especially with the red tail hawks, adults may vary by as much as 50% in weight between different parts of the continent, with red tail hawks East of the Mississippi river being the heaviest.
Centrachid is correct about hawk weights at fledging, in hawks the term "mature" means at an age to be sexually active. However it is common for young hawks to loose their baby fat while they get the hunting and killing thing down pat.

I know a fellow who hunts with wild caught hawks. He tells me that hawks can't pass up a trap baited with a white pigeon or pullet.
 
Chicken George 2? Guess this is ROOTS 101...I. used the term CHICKEN HAWK because I was in a hurry and am not a Hawk expert like you! I GOOGLED IT AND GOT THAT ANSWER...the other member wanted to know if the small birds were juveniles NOT WHEN THEY WERE SEXUALY MATURE! I really don't like the know it all's on here...they don't allow anyone but themselves to have an opinion or a correct answer....blah blah blah ...sometimes nature doesn't always go by your text books professor...and you can quote me on that
 

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