Chicken Hawk SwoopsDown On Chickens

[Barnyard Dawg]

Yesterday evening I was cutting a tree down with my chain saw, I took to a minute to clean it; my wife was raking up some leaves when all of a sudden the chickens scattered. A chicken hawk had scooped down and scattered the chickens, when I observed the commotion I had my back to them, all I saw was the chickens scattering every direction and the hawk was on it way, it was quite the sight. The chickens then took refuse under the bushes and trees until dark then went to the hen house.

 

[chickflick]

Way too close!!! I had one that swooped thru the yard and scattered the chickens. Just the other day, one was hovering over my chicken run. Time to put up netting!! I put up a temorary tarp till hubby comes home to help. Guess food for hawks is in short supply cuz they are sure keeping an eye on my chickens! And I'm keeping an eye on them!
Keep those chickies safe!

 

[skatcatla]

That happened to me a couple months ago as well. It was a juvenile Cooper's Hawk, and at first, all I saw were spots soaring close to the ground. My first thought was, "holy cow, Derby (my Barred Rock) is actually flying!" A second later I realized it was the juvie hawk, swooping down on the chooks. They scattered, hid and froze, and the hawk swooped around and into a tree. I threw a couple rocks at it and it took off.

Now if I let the girls free range, either myself or the dog has to be with them.

 

[Juliechickens]

Hey you are lucky he didn't catch one of your birds. A hawk got one of my birds recently and it's very quick and awful when it happens. I would do everything you can to protect your birds. Be ready next time! It's a awful feeling to go outside and find a hawk sitting next to one of your favorite chickens dead. Be ready! Julie

 

[Mini_Dachshund]

i had a hawk kill my favorite silkie a week ago

and we can't afford to put netting up over the run yet. but every one in my family was outside and so were my dogs, the thing that alerted us was our rooster, he just started giving off a strange call we hadn't heard before. the chicken hawk kept hanging around and we had to shoot it. poor thing it was a beautiful bird. but what else could we do?

 

[cadman68]

I really feel for ya, i have been fighting a loosing battle for about a month now. And even after covering about 80% of my pen over the past weekend to my suprise he got another one yesterday.

 

[broncbuster07]

Killing any bird of prey is a violation of federal law. I don't agree with the law but that's just the way it is. I'd be careful who you tell about killing that hawk. I lost an mature Australorp hen to a hawk on Sunday. It hadn't even started eating it yet. It must have killed it just before I walked outside. First chicken I've lost in a long time and the first adult chicken I've ever lost to a hawk. They usually leave the adults alone. Who knows what my next course of action will be? I'm not telling.

 

[NS2A]

Quote:
Shoot.

Shovel.

Shut up.

 

[broncbuster07]

That's right!

 

[seedcorn]

I have bantams and hawks are a MAJOR problem. Do those of you with standards have a major problem or do they tend to leave them alone since they are larger than the hawks?