I live in the city of Atlanta and my wife called me yesterday and said a hawk swooped into our tiny back yard while she was watering the plants with the chickens, and grabbed one of our 12 week old pullets. Ripped a good amount of feathers out but my wife said she kicked the hawk off our pullet. I asked her to say that again and she said the hawk did not want to leave so she kicked it. She said it flopped about a minute then flew up into an oak tree which is in the yard next door. After a few minutes the hawk flew off. Will hawks attack full grown standards as well? The one that was ruffled is an Easter Egger. Wife said all 7 would not come out from under the bushes along the fence, even when tempted with watermelon and crickets, their favorites.
I am not saying they will not attack a full size chicken but once mine reached bantam size the hawk stopped attacking mine. I lost 6 before they got that big though. Not sure if the chickens got smarter and watch/hide now or if the hawk gave up on the larger ones. The last one I lost was not taken only the head and internals were missing. 5 before that only a pile of feathers remained.
Quote:Not likely a gyrfalcon. You are too far south unless it belongs to a falconer. It maybe a juvenile of one species or another. Sometimes juveniles a little tough to ID unless you are familiar with hawks. Most likely candidates in your area for attacking 12 week standard size chickens are red-tailed hawk and Coopers Hawk. Another possible but you are still a bit south for is the goshawk. Flocks of juvenile and females only make more tempting targets for hawks.
Wow. Just minutes ago the same thing happened to me. I have a flock of about 20 or so birds. I hear a cry, maybe 12 feet from where I sat, and right next to my dog, to see this massive bird standing proudly atop one of my young bantam roos. I threw a bagel (it was the closest thing I could grab, and he attempted to take off with my bird... Into the trees it disappeared...and my little guy is wrapped in a shirt under a heat lamp. I see no blood, and he has since stood up, but he won't open his eyes. I imagine he is terrified. It took a good scare to get my larger bantam hens to run from under the bush and into the coop. It was amazing to see - but quite sad.
I actually am a wildlife nut and know a bit about hawks and falcons. This one was a falcon, but I am not sure which one. I was told today That it's to early for certain migratory falcons to be in the area but not 4 miles or so by the way the crow flies, there are Peregrine falcons which either just fledged or are about to fledge in down town ATL. I guess it is not to far fetched but in any case, I have been watching out. If it was a peregrine, it'd be the second time I ever saw one in the wild. The coloration was very similar to that of a gyrfalcon which is why I thought it might have been one.
