Fearless Red Tail Hawk (graphic)

[matte]

Our rat terriers would not stop barking this afternoon. Walked out and saw a huge red tail hawk in one of our outside pens. The dogs were not more than ten feet away, but couldn't get in. It didn't fly until it saw us.

This was a full-grown Lavender Orpington rooster......Picked the bones clean. Obviously, this was an earlier kill that we had not noticed, probably yesterday's. The fact that the carcass was still there probably saved some of our others from being killed today.

 

[thebanthams]

Yes Hawks will do that . Hopefully next time you can put nets up so it wont happen again.

 

[redsoxs]

Wow! That is frightening! Hope you can deal with this rascal when he comes back for seconds!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

You are likely dealing with a rascal and a rascalet, because besides this being the apex of the hawk migration cycle, now is also the time of year that hawks pair off. That is quite a lot of chicken for just one hawk to eat at one table. BTW, the female hawk can be twice as big as the male.

 

[gino100]

Last winter we came home to see a red tailed hawk in our driveway eating a rabbit. After pulling in, and standing with in 5 feet of it, it never stopped eating. Didn't seem to care one bit we were right next to it. After it was finished it simple flew away. Weirdest thing I've seen living in the suburbs.

 

[soler]

it is odd it wouldn't have carried it away over a day - is it possible you are dealing with two different predators? and the hawk was scavenging the corpse? they will def do that. Ie a racoon or opossum dispatched the rooster at night, then the hawk stripped the carcass?

 

[pjchick]

I agree that there might have been two different predators. Hawks will carry their prey away. Looks like they were scavenging .

 

[GotCoop]

I love my chickens...but also have a respect for the hawks. They have grabbed a few mine...I have a lot more netting protecting feed and water areas...but still balance the threat vs the ability to free range, will always be a trade-off. Last spring I walked away from 8 week olds in my garden for just a couple of minutes and returned to find a hawk standing on a cockrell tearing up the carcass. I just about walked up to it before it left. I also had one fly into the barn and get caught flying in the rafters, took me awhile to chase him out the open doors. Its a balance, love nature and also love my chickens.

BTW, was out one morning letting the horses out of the barn when a new hampsire hen went zooming by leaving a trail of feathers, I turned around to see a fox hitting the brakes as it came around the corner of the barn. I found three large piles of weathers where they struggled. I've always heard foxes take a chicken without leaving a trace (unlike a hawk) but this one must have been less than proficient at his craft. Up to that point the hen was nameless, but the bald backed hen will be forever known as "foxy".