- Sep 18, 2014
- 25
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Hello, everyone. I have some quick advice for all of you.
Get a rooster, it's as simple as that. I know you may be hesitant because roosters can be mean and noisy, but when I say they are worth it, I mean it. Hopefully after this story, I can sway your mind.
Last week, the morning started out as normal. I got up around 6:30, let the chickens out for the day, refilled their water, and checked their food. After that, I went upstairs as normal. Around 9:00 A.M., I was sitting on my computer chair, when I heard the rooster making some strange noises. He was making a 'ba-cock" noise, and I knew it sounded kind of off, so I let it go for about two minutes. After I kept hearing it, I eventually I gave in and looked out the window.
On the deck was sitting this bird, it was the same size as one of the hens. I looked a little closer, and realized in fact, this it was not a hen. It had sharp claws and yellow feet. Its head was partially white with a curved pointy beak. I was so shocked at that moment. It seemed so surreal, because I had read about hawks attacking chickens before, but I never thought in a million years that a hawk would be after my flock.
I bolted downstairs and ran onto the deck and the hawk took off. As he was taking off, I heard one of my hens let out the loudest screech in the world and I thought for sure she was gone. When I went over the fence to check on her, she was hiding by the basement window. She looked extremely scared and stressed out. I picked her up to find that there were no claw marks of any kind on her. I believe that the hawk scared her when it flew overhead, because she was trying to hide.
One last part I must add about the rooster. I found what looked to be hawk feathers spread all across the yard. There were probably 50 hawk feathers and about three rooster feathers. I didn't witness anything, but I think he attacked the hawk and scared it onto the deck railing.
Long story short: If it weren't for the rooster, I most likely would have been there too late, and the hens would have been killed.
Get a rooster, it's as simple as that. I know you may be hesitant because roosters can be mean and noisy, but when I say they are worth it, I mean it. Hopefully after this story, I can sway your mind.
Last week, the morning started out as normal. I got up around 6:30, let the chickens out for the day, refilled their water, and checked their food. After that, I went upstairs as normal. Around 9:00 A.M., I was sitting on my computer chair, when I heard the rooster making some strange noises. He was making a 'ba-cock" noise, and I knew it sounded kind of off, so I let it go for about two minutes. After I kept hearing it, I eventually I gave in and looked out the window.
On the deck was sitting this bird, it was the same size as one of the hens. I looked a little closer, and realized in fact, this it was not a hen. It had sharp claws and yellow feet. Its head was partially white with a curved pointy beak. I was so shocked at that moment. It seemed so surreal, because I had read about hawks attacking chickens before, but I never thought in a million years that a hawk would be after my flock.
I bolted downstairs and ran onto the deck and the hawk took off. As he was taking off, I heard one of my hens let out the loudest screech in the world and I thought for sure she was gone. When I went over the fence to check on her, she was hiding by the basement window. She looked extremely scared and stressed out. I picked her up to find that there were no claw marks of any kind on her. I believe that the hawk scared her when it flew overhead, because she was trying to hide.
One last part I must add about the rooster. I found what looked to be hawk feathers spread all across the yard. There were probably 50 hawk feathers and about three rooster feathers. I didn't witness anything, but I think he attacked the hawk and scared it onto the deck railing.
Long story short: If it weren't for the rooster, I most likely would have been there too late, and the hens would have been killed.
