Fearless Hawk

[av8torcrj]

So tonight just like the past few weeks I go out about an hour before sunset and let my bantams out of their run to get some exercise and a chance to catch some bugs. I'd just opened the door and all the birds had come flooding out and were gathered at my feet all excited to be free. Suddenly there was this explosion of feathers.. Birds flying everywhere squawking crazily. Out of the corner of my eye I had seen something zip by my head and off through the bushes. I thought it was just one of the chickens but quickly realized it was a hawk that had literally snagged a bantam practically out of my hand. I ran over and found the hawk with the partridge Cochin in its talons in the grass about 50 feet away. I hollered at it and it tried to fly away with he chicken but dropped it instead. I thought it was dead.. Limp and not moving..a little blood was on my hand. Slowly it perked up and eventually over a few minutes appeared to recover. Minutes later the hawk was terrorizing a wire cage full of silkies right at the front door of my house. The thing was fearless. I couldn't believe a wild bird would practically snatch a bantam out of my hand. Lesson learned. Something is always after my stuff!

 

[sumi]

Good heavens! I'm glad to hear you managed to save your chicken (how is it doing now?). You are going to have to make a plan with that hawk before it causes serious damage.

 

[shmccarthy]

That's pretty scary, I'm glad your bantam is okay!! I have never heard of a hawk being that unafraid of humans. The hawks where I live don't even think about coming close if there are humans outside. I agree with sumi, I would develop a game plan to make sure that hawk doesn't come back before it can do some damage. :/

 

[av8torcrj]

That's what I thought... I don't let the birds out unless I'm with them thinking that my presence will be a deterrent to predators. I couldn't believe it, and it happened in an ablsolute blurr of a flash. Amazingly the bantam appears unharmed. Hes eating,drinking and acting totally normal. I think he was in shock from the hit when I picked him up. I really thought he was going to die in my hands but amazingly no. It's so irritating. I don't feel like I can visit with my birds out in the open any more.

 

[BlueJayFarm]

Very scary! We have had hawk and falcon problems. Recently a falcon killed my Lacie under the trees. They don't like being in the open b/c of avian predation, but still are vulnerable even under low trees. Our solution: we got a rooster! Maybe that is something you can try??

 

[laurelandcheryl]

So scary! A hawk killed 2 of my chickens! :C the first time they were out of their run, but the second time the hawk found a way through the netting over their run! It makes me sad!

 

[BlueJayFarm]

but the second time the hawk found a way through the netting over their run! It makes me sad!

I recently heard a story about that! A hawk dove right down, tucked its wings, went through the hole, grabbed a chicken and flew away. Very athletic!!

 

[laurelandcheryl]

This one ate half of it in the run and left it there when I scared it away! We weren't home when it happened but I went out right when we got home, but I was too late:,(

 

[RedJungleFowl]

Well to solve my problem i will always have a stick or something i can swing to protect my flock so when the rooster sounds the call i just look up in the sky and find where it is then i will trow some small rocks or something in the air to make it look scared of me or i will just wave my broom at it then it flys away.

 

[av8torcrj]

All my birds are bantams and while there are certainty roosters in the bunch (not mature yet) I doubt that will make much difference to this predator. Years ago when I had pigeons they were relentless at snagging them off the barn roof and its not the first time my chickens have fallen prey to hawks, just not one so bold. It's just like the deer in my garden. I'm surrounded by 1000s of acres of things to eat but for some reason the things I grow are first on the menue. But alas I was involved Cornel University nest watch program this season whereby you monitor wild bird breeding activity on your property and document accordingly. Predation of the eggs and hatchlings was astonishing. I don't see how a wild bird ever makes it to adulthood.