Broadwinged Hawks- threat?

[77horses]

It’s that time of year again in New England when the broadwinged hawks have returned from their migration. We have a pair that returns every year and nests in the woods right behind our house (and, right behind our chicken coop).
I’ve heard some people say smaller hawks like broadwings aren’t a real threat to (adult) chickens. I’ve heard some people say any sized hawk is a threat if they’re hungry enough.
I’ve never had a broadwing take any of ours, but we do have an enclosed run and when they do freerange, it’s only when someone is out in the yard with them to “supervise.”
But we did have one close call, when I left them to freerange on their own for just a little too long, and when I came back outside, the flock was nowhere to be found. I went searching all over the yard, and during my search, noticed a broadwing sitting low on a branch nearby. It took off once I got too close. I eventually found all my flock members, unharmed (most were hiding in the leaves and bushes and came out from hiding once the danger was gone). I don’t know if the broadwing tried to attack any of them or if it was just scoping them out and they all scattered to hide instinctually (which is what they do anytime they merely see a plane in the sky).

Anyways, are broadwings really a threat to adult chickens?
(We do have a smaller Silkie hen- slightly larger than bantam size- that would be my biggest concern). I’d like to hear your input or if you’ve had any experiences with your own flock with these beautiful (but questionable) raptors.
Thanks!

 

[Nimure]

From working with raptors I've honestly found very few to be much of a threat to chickens, as chickens commonly outweigh hawks! Even a big female red tail only weighs about 3 pounds.

Broadwings are smaller hawks, like red shoulders, they eat a lot of mice, snakes, frogs, etc. Not to say they can't take a chicken, or chicks, but they would not be a hawk I'd be all that concerned about. Coops and red tails would concern me more, with coops being less of a threat imo to adult birds than young ones. I have seen red tails take chickens, though it's typically the young, inexperienced, and starving birds that go after larger prey.

 

[77horses]

From working with raptors I've honestly found very few to be much of a threat to chickens, as chickens commonly outweigh hawks! Even a big female red tail only weighs about 3 pounds.

Broadwings are smaller hawks, like red shoulders, they eat a lot of mice, snakes, frogs, etc. Not to say they can't take a chicken, or chicks, but they would not be a hawk I'd be all that concerned about. Coops and red tails would concern me more, with coops being less of a threat imo to adult birds than young ones. I have seen red tails take chickens, though it's typically the young, inexperienced, and starving birds that go after larger prey.

Hmm good thing we don’t have any other hawks around here that I’ve seen. It seems Broadwings, Barred owls and the occasional bald eagle are the only birds of prey around here.
Overall I guess I wouldn’t trust a Broadwing because you never know when one might just be brave enough to go after an adult chicken. Also, I do remember our neighbor once telling us (when we first moved into the area a couple years ago) that someone down the road had chickens and several of them got taken by a Broadwing hawk. Hard to say how accurate that story is, but better safe than sorry I’d say!
In fact, we just had a Broadwing perching on a low branch about 10ft from the coop this morning. Wonder if they were scoping out a potential meal.
Thanks for the response!