2 hawks circling today : Can they fly off with a full size chicken?

[BlossomSilkies]

Interesting everyone. I have had only one experience years ago with a hawk actually getting a chicken, and it was a silkie and the hawk was small (I caught him chowing down on her on the other side of the barn) Not sure what I will do, what I do not want to do is contain my flock inside or even inside a fenced covered area. They are out and about, and that's what I prefer for them. Of course, at night they are secured inside their coop.

I am here most of the time, and the 2 hawks left once I went out into the yard and gave them the stink eye, hee hee. I will keep an eye out for them and figure something out.

 

[1000yearoldeggs]

Just had a close call today with a cooper's hawk. I usually let my chickens out for a bit to free range, but I've been having trouble keeping them off the road so I have to keep a close eye on them.

Well anyway, I went inside for a few minutes and came back out to find all my chickens huddled under our big Christmas tree out front and a hawk flying away just a few feet above them. I knew we had some in the area, but I haven't seen them come near our land. Luckily, I'm almost done with a moveable run, so I won't have to worry as much about either of these things any more.

I know he was after my chickens, and they're full grown, heavy chickens. Be cautious, and don't feel bad about cooping them up in a run. I'd like to free range, but it's just not safe. Hopefully the movable run will work out better.

 

[dutchbunny83]

I've never had geese, but I hear they are mean.
A friend of mine has huge bruises on her legs from the gander biting her every time she feeds them.
When we got a tom turkey our hawk attacks stopped, not sure if it's coincidental, but he's SO annoying! gobble gobble gobble!

 

[An Sun]

My husband wanted to get a goose to help protect our chickens, especially from the neighbors dogs. Is this a good idea? But, my thought is, don't geese mate for life, so would have to get a pair?

I suppose a pair might be necessary, if your intent was for more than protection...If their role is strictly protecting the chickens, then their mating practices would not be relevant.

As to the Hawk question, as far as as I know a hawk is perfectly capable of carrying off a full size chicken, but they will make the kill regardless, if they can. Mind you, I am fortunate enough not to be speaking from personal experience, merely from secondhand accounts.

 

[WingsWhitetail]

Had a Coopers hawk try and fly off with one of my full grown Mallard drakes once, he made it a little ways down my driveway with me chasing and yelling at him. Don't know if I scared him or the duck was to heavy, but he made it about 100 feet and 20 feet up before he dropped him. Duck was fine, just stuck really close to us or the dog when we were outside after that. Now, our deer are right next to the ducks and chickens and we have had no problems with hawks or owls. Still had a mink get in and take out 6 chickens and 6 ducks in one night. But he isn't a problem anymore.

 

[stuckinthecity]

Hawks don't always fly off with their catch, so they will take prey almost as heavy as they are. I got right up to this one in my backyard - and I live right in town - and took several pictures of him while he dined on the bird he caught.

I just had a hen killed the other day by a TINY hawk. There was no way he could get off the ground with my girl.

 

[dragonack]

hmm I don't know but the other day a hawk killed my smallest :/ she was an Americana but she was very small

 

[BillM2]

Read the information on this link. Hawks are predators protected by federal law. You might want to shoot one, but the consequences aren't worth it. They do a lot of good keeping rodent populations down - which carry ticks and numerous tick borne diseases such as Lyme.

Interesting reading here:
http://icwdm.org/handbook/birds/HawksOwls.asp

 

[Blooie]

Read the information on this link. Hawks are predators protected by federal law. You might want to shoot one, but the consequences aren't worth it. They do a lot of good keeping rodent populations down - which carry ticks and numerous tick borne diseases such as Lyme.

Interesting reading here:
http://icwdm.org/handbook/birds/HawksOwls.asp

I shoot them, but only with my camera, as you can see by the photo I posted.

 

[DesertChickens1]

I had a couple hawks wipe out half my flock when I was getting started (only had eight hens at the time). And boy did they try to get the other four hens. After three days of having to shoo them away every couple hours I got my BB gun and only pumped it twice and hit them in the butt. It didn't puncture them but they never came back after that.