falcon attack

[animals1981]

are you sure it is a falcon? they dont usually attack birds on the ground they stay up high and hit pigeons in the air


you sure it is not just a hawk?

 

[animals1981]

yes P falcons are often monitored and followed by conservationists just like bald eagles the bird might even be mico chipped or tagged they study them like crazy, stay far away from the bird,.

 

[aswartzalso]

Peregrine falcon or coopers hawk. I hate auto correct. My bird man thinks it's a coopers hawk. I can't seen to get a picture. He's quick.

 

[chixmaidservice]

In my case, no, not absolutely sure it is a falcon- as it did not seem to have the cheek markings. On other hand, my search of hawks in Ohio did not turn up any ( including Coopers) that were all gray and white. All seem to have brown feathers somewhere, and my nemesis has no brown anywhere on him. Agree w/ o.p. that they are way too fast to ever get a pic of except w/ trail cam. Maybe an immature version of a brown hawk that is different colored- but this doesn't make sense as babies usually color to blend in w/ nest. So still left w/ falcon, and I am only taking defensive actions- have no interests in going on offensive and risking fines/jail. Besides, way too fast and small to make a good target.

 

[animals1981]

can u get some owl decoys and change them around every few days? life size should be big like a real great horned owl.

Hawks are not that smart no where near as smart as crows, so they can be fooled and they are terrified of owls which is their only real predator who love to eat them

but like crows hawks also mob owls during the day. Owls are even less smart than hawks and love to eat other predators like mink and skunks. They are still really successful probably because they can see at night and nothing dares predate their nests. They even eat racoons and cats.

ALso i know canada geese and egyptian geese will attack and kill hawks I dont know about domestic geeese they seem kinda slow. Wild turkey also? If you can get some birds to free range with your chickens that might be more aggressive and take an aggressive stance? Coopers hawks arent that big or strong something like a flock of peacocks plus guinea fowl wild turkey/geese should deter them once htey land they will get attacked.

I know ive seen a cat jump a coopers hawk that attacked a pigeon.

Red tails are more scary

 

[zazouse]

I tried and owl decoy years ago, the head is on a swivel and has marble eyes looks real to me ,but nothing is afraid of it not even my chickens

 

[farmshinder]

Could be a cooper as aforementioned, or even a marsh hawk... Colors vary for many birds.
Nothing will deter predators from above other than an enclosed coop and run. I had a marsh hawk jump down thirty feet from a willow tree onto one of my pullets last year. It was a horrible experience. Keep the birds safer rather than too happy.


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[Ole and Lena]

This is a Gyr falcon. Uncommon but present in Winter near the Great Lakes and East Coast. They are quite large, not very shy of humans and will attack larger birds. On their breeding grounds in the Arctic they are known to take mature Eiders and Snow geese. They will attack aerial targets or ground based birds and mammals much like a hawk. With the recent hard winters and late springs, I've been seeing them every winter in MN. A possibility based on the descriptions.

 

[Gallus Sapien]

To keep birds of prey away I use old CDs tied to strings across the yard (found that info here 2 years ago on some thread...it works). The reflections keep them away. However, my Grandpa used owl decoys...... just as someone above has suggested.

 

[MeaganDuf]

I am a falconer (a person who uses a trained bird of prey to hunt wild game) as well as a chicken owner. American Kestrels are too small to take down a chicken, so cross that off of the list. Your larger falcon species are aerial attack artist, so having them attack a chicken on the ground is more than likely not the case. Coopers hawks attack birds and can catch them on the ground, but a full grown chicken is quite the feat for a coopers hawk, so once again more than likely out of the question. You said that you live in Maryland. Check out the North American Goshawk. They are an accipter, larger than the coopers hawk, and when in adult plumage are grey and white. They are the bird and stunning to see. You face heavy fines if you kill this bird. I know its upsetting when a chicken is attacked and killed, I would lose my mind if mine were attacked and killed, but I live in the city and therefore they are not allowed to free range. Just remember that when you have a freen range flock that predators will take advantage of them. Its the vicious circle of life. Please let me know if it looks like a Goshawk. Hope this helps.