The Buckeyes will stand and look out an open door but they don't go out without me there either. It might be different if the coop was back near the lilac bush & the door opened up to that with the netting in place, but they have gained a great deal of caution over the events of the summer.
1. A presumed large Red-tail without tail markings pinned Butters under thorn bushes in April but no one was physically harmed before DH chased it away
2. My horrible screw-up: in May an unknown hawk attacked around the canopy netting, hitting Butters and injuring her before she presumably squirmed away, then killed Queenie. I wasn't out there with them.
3. Around August a big Red-tail attacked Butters (again. Butters is vulnerable!) when I was standing in the doorway of the house a short distance away and they were outside of the covered aviary greenhouse frame. It missed and I ran at it as it jump-flew to try to pin her against the fence. I drove it away.
4. A very large hawk, very white underneath without a strong tail mark, lurked on a big branch way up in a tree near the runs, watching. No one was out of the runs and I was with them. Everyone stood stock still, there didn't seem to be time for them to hide. I tried to see what they saw. I couldn't find it until it took off and swooped low over us, while all the hens took off up into the coop to hide.
They (and I) have a caution hard-earned.
hospital a few days, and rest
