thebirdguy
Songster
You were visited by a male kestrel or sparrow hawk.. I doubt he would have tried for a full grown chicken but chicks would have been on the menu.. They primarily eat sparrows (big surprise given their name huh?) mice, other small birds/rodents and insects ie grasshoppers, etc.
I raised a pair of orphan kestrels from chicks when I was about 12.. They were fun birds.. After releasing them, the male hung around our property for about a month but never bothered the chickens..
I raised a pair of orphan kestrels from chicks when I was about 12.. They were fun birds.. After releasing them, the male hung around our property for about a month but never bothered the chickens..