BYC Café

[DobieLover]

Sorry to hear about you father in law, Cap.

Thanks for the coffee, Dobie!

I've lost three chicks in the last two days. Decided to take the remaining chick away from the mom in the big coop. Was quite sad really, but I didn't think it'd be there when I got home tonight if I didn't. Also, locked up the 2 month old pair (was 3 ) and left the other five with mama's (3 hens raising 5 chickies). Brahma mama is down to one as well, but it's a pretty good size. When she weans, it will be locked up with the others. It seems I was falsely accusing the barn cats of treachery...I left for work this morning to see a hawk sitting on the run roof

Do the hawks typically leave the adults alone and target the chicks?
Sorry to read you lost so many.

 

[sourland]

Do the hawks typically leave the adults alone and target the chicks?
Sorry to read you lost so many.

Cooper's hawks are pros at snatching chicks while on the wing and flying off with them. They will kill larger birds, but in my experience prefer chicks as they can fly off with them.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Morning all thanks for the coffee needed it made myself a pancake no banty eggs in bit when I make them for me usually use a banty egg so anyone want one there is extra batter need to clean the coops but taking morning slow think we all are as the fair all that walking yesterday did us in a bit need to have a scone yet

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Do the hawks typically leave the adults alone and target the chicks?
Sorry to read you lost so many.

I've never had a problem with hawks before. We always have a ton of ravens around our property, which will get little chicks once in a while, but they keep the hawks away. Haven't had nearly as many ravens as we normally do. I think this particular hawk may have had trouble with a full grown chicken. Looked like a juvenile.

 

[pennyJo1960]

We have no ravens out here know we have hawks see them flying around but they never have come here knock on wood we have a ton of cover for the chickens always had a good crower to warn them also

 

[DobieLover]

We have no ravens out here know we have hawks see them flying around but they never have come here knock on wood we have a ton of cover for the chickens always had a good crower to warn them also

We have hawks flying over multiple times a day. Finally had one take a shot as I saw it flying out of the pen but it didn't get anyone. They all made it to the chicken bush or the run with the solid roof. Two boys now on the lookout.
The cockerel, Captain, is starting to improve in the "roosterly duties" department but so far has nothing on Fabio. I like Fabio for the flock and Captain for me. He's still super nice to me. Has never shown the slightest sign of aggression. And he's getting seriously gorgeous so the eye candy is nice too!

 

[Shadrach]

Sorry to hear about you father in law, Cap.

Thanks for the coffee, Dobie!

I've lost three chicks in the last two days. Decided to take the remaining chick away from the mom in the big coop. Was quite sad really, but I didn't think it'd be there when I got home tonight if I didn't. Also, locked up the 2 month old pair (was 3 ) and left the other five with mama's (3 hens raising 5 chickies). Brahma mama is down to one as well, but it's a pretty good size. When she weans, it will be locked up with the others. It seems I was falsely accusing the barn cats of treachery...I left for work this morning to see a hawk sitting on the run roof

That's not a good day.
Don't the hens defend their chicks?
I saw Knock backing down a hawk earlier today. The hawk perched in a tree close by. Knock sent the chicks to cover and stood about a meter away from their hiding place in full battle order. Knock would I believe be something of a challenge for a hawk.

 

[Shadrach]

We have no ravens out here know we have hawks see them flying around but they never have come here knock on wood we have a ton of cover for the chickens always had a good crower to warn them also

Good cover is half the battle.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

That's not a good day.
Don't the hens defend their chicks?
I saw Knock backing down a hawk earlier today. The hawk perched in a tree close by. Knock sent the chicks to cover and stood about a meter away from their hiding place in full battle order. Knock would I believe be something of a challenge for a hawk.

They seem to for the first couple of weeks and then get a bit lazy (maybe comfortable is a better word) about it. Not sure my chickens have ever seen a hawk, I don't know if that's why or if they were just too far away from mom to matter. The chicks will get 20-50 feet from the hens when they are wandering about the yard. I would think the gander would be more likely to back a hawk down, but who knows how far away he was when it happened.

You have quite a few hawks around, don't you?

 

[DobieLover]

My egg basket today!
I've never collected this many.
There are 2 new layers in there. I found the brown pullet egg at 10 o'clock in their water bowl! Talk about not being prepared for what was happening.