YVW. I lost several layers who liked to forage in the brush - thick brush, almost hedge-like - along a fenceline to a hawk. Sadly, I think they felt safe because the brush was thick. I also had one drop down into a net pen that wasn't covered and kill a hen. The hawks tend to rip up the throat/crop/breast area. Lessons learned the hard way.This is good to know. I had no clue they could do this and also had no clue how else he would have done it.Thank you.
Oh my gracious. That was some feat. Awesome article on your daughter.
The Coopers Hawk (yours was an adult based on what little I could make description) is partial to hen / immature only flocks and will pursue those into cover. Otherwise too many assumptions made by many parties on this one.
Thank you. I was hoping you’d chime in. I only wish I had your experience and wisdom.
You get the experience by keeping your eyes open seeing many instances like you just reported. For short term I would pen your birds unless under direct supervision. Hawk hunting late in day and not getting to actually eat after all the work is not likely to bring the hawk back unless it has already established a successful track record with other flocks in your area. Coopers in your area should already be moving north so you may be dealing with a resident. Very soon my residents Coopers Hawks will be letting the migrants know they are not welcome.
This has me a bit confused. Did you mean that the hawk WOULD likely be back unless he was able to successfully find another meal?
If you are in the hawks breeding territory and it is experienced at getting chickens in it, then what I said above is bunk (not likely to be accurate).
Understandably so. Yesterday evening, exact same time as the previous night’s attack, there was a hawk flyover. Didn’t seem to be hunting, just passing over.
