We have watched red-tailed hawks carry off young chickens. One was really heartbreaking - the little guy was screaming while the hawk was flying away with him. I watched the hawk land on the other side of our yard, kill it, and take off with it again, probably to feed its young. We have no problems with grown chickens being killed by hawks. We now pen the youngsters until we figure they are big enough that the hawks will leave them alone. Of course, right now, there are a lot of hawks in our area. We are in Florida, and we always have extra hawks in the winter. In the next month or so when they are feeding young, we will really have to be careful with our young chickens.
We have also watched hawks hit older young chickens and eat them on the ground. Hubby chased away a hawk that was chasing our old bantam hen across the yard. It must have missed its first strike and it was running behind her. Chrissie, our bantam, was screaming her head off! Hubby was building another coop at the time and had a tape measure in his hand. He threw it toward the hawk, making it fly up into a tree. The hawk sat in that tree and watched for a while and then went away without supper.
The only way to make them safe is to lock them up.
We have also watched hawks hit older young chickens and eat them on the ground. Hubby chased away a hawk that was chasing our old bantam hen across the yard. It must have missed its first strike and it was running behind her. Chrissie, our bantam, was screaming her head off! Hubby was building another coop at the time and had a tape measure in his hand. He threw it toward the hawk, making it fly up into a tree. The hawk sat in that tree and watched for a while and then went away without supper.
The only way to make them safe is to lock them up.
