Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Marie2020]

Hawk vs Kitten

As we are onto hawk discussions and google has told youtube, this video came up today. Crazy!

Protective species or not, hawk and chips would make a nice meal

 

[ChicoryBlue]

A farmer oddly had a hawk sitting on a perch in his enclosed chicken run yet w/all the chickens in the run the hawk did not go after one hen ~ just stupidly stared at them ~ not enough flight space for it to swoop & grab w/its talons in flight. I believe that may be why hens run to the trunk of a tree to interrupt a hawk's flight space near the tree base?

Ah are you picturing a hawk swooping in, grabbing with it's talons and then it keeps flying, carrying off it's prize? Kind of like catching a fish out of a pond?

Yes, a Cooper's or Sharpshin will will try to grab a little bird that's perched on the end of branch, if it can catch it by surprise, or it has gone into shock and can't fly to escape. That may be an in-flight attack.

But just jumping down on prey, a controlled fall / leap down from a branch, is very common among these hawks and others around here, big and small. That's how they catch snakes and lizards, rodents and grasshoppers, and ground birds like chickens (we also have ruffed grouse and turkeys here). Only if the prey is small enough will they try to fly up with it to eat it once it's killed on the ground.

In an attack I witnessed, a huge Red-Tail flew down (more like a controlled drop with some horizontal travel) from above, landing on Butters' tail end, as she saw it at the last minute, ran and squirmed that it didn't get a good grab on her. But she ran into the electric fence, as she wanted to go in a straight line away from the hawk.

I was running over there at this point, but the Red-tail was unperturbed by me, walked up to her and began a ground attack, jumping on her. She kept flapping and fighting and I yelled, but the hawk wasn't paying any attention to me. I was very close when the hawk finally hop/flew up to the back of a chair, but it really wanted / needed this meal and hesitated. It finally decided it would leave when I was going over the fencing.

This particular hawk was hungry and determined. I was dense, stressed and not thinking straight about these attacks (this was the second one), and it later succeeded in killing another poor hen before I learned enough how smart hawks are, finding a way around aerial protection, and how chickens are going to respond. Multiple shelters, escape places and hidey-holes are not enough when the attack is from above and the hen doesn't see it coming in the first place (this is why smart wary hens and roosters help). And the fencing against ground predators (fox, coyote, bobcat, bear) works against the whole situation once the predator is in.

 

[Marie2020]

Ah are you picturing a hawk swooping in, grabbing with it's talons and then it keeps flying, carrying off it's prize? Kind of like catching a fish out of a pond?

Yes, a Cooper's or Sharpshin will will try to grab a little bird that's perched on the end of branch, if it can catch it by surprise, or it has gone into shock and can't fly to escape. That may be an in-flight attack.

But just jumping down on prey, a controlled fall / leap down from a branch, is very common among these hawks and others around here, big and small. That's how they catch snakes and lizards, rodents and grasshoppers, and ground birds like chickens (we also have ruffed grouse and turkeys here). Only if the prey is small enough will they try to fly up with it to eat it once it's killed on the ground.

In an attack I witnessed, a huge Red-Tail flew down (more like a controlled drop with some horizontal travel) from above, landing on Butters' tail end, as she saw it at the last minute, ran and squirmed that it didn't get a good grab on her. But she ran into the electric fence, as she wanted to go in a straight line away from the hawk.

I was running over there at this point, but the Red-tail was unperturbed by me, walked up to her and began a ground attack, jumping on her. She kept flapping and fighting and I yelled, but the hawk wasn't paying any attention to me. I was very close when the hawk finally hop/flew up to the back of a chair, but it really wanted / needed this meal and hesitated. It finally decided it would leave when I was going over the fencing.

This particular hawk was hungry and determined. I was dense, stressed and not thinking straight about these attacks (this was the second one), and it later succeeded in killing another poor hen before I learned enough how smart hawks are, finding a way around aerial protection, and how chickens are going to respond. Multiple shelters, escape places and hidey-holes are not enough when the attack is from above and the hen doesn't see it coming in the first place (this is why smart wary hens and roosters help). And the fencing against ground predators (fox, coyote, bobcat, bear) works against the whole situation once the predator is in.

Hawk nuggets and chips Hateful vermin.

It makes so mad how these creatures are permitted to kill our pet's and are still protected.

 

[fuentemoon]

Forgot to post photos this morning
Almost

Always fluffy butt

 

[BY Bob]

Protective species or not, hawk and chips would make a nice meal

I could do that for sure.

 

[BY Bob]

Ah are you picturing a hawk swooping in, grabbing with it's talons and then it keeps flying, carrying off it's prize? Kind of like catching a fish out of a pond?

Yes, a Cooper's or Sharpshin will will try to grab a little bird that's perched on the end of branch, if it can catch it by surprise, or it has gone into shock and can't fly to escape. That may be an in-flight attack.

But just jumping down on prey, a controlled fall / leap down from a branch, is very common among these hawks and others around here, big and small. That's how they catch snakes and lizards, rodents and grasshoppers, and ground birds like chickens (we also have ruffed grouse and turkeys here). Only if the prey is small enough will they try to fly up with it to eat it once it's killed on the ground.

In an attack I witnessed, a huge Red-Tail flew down (more like a controlled drop with some horizontal travel) from above, landing on Butters' tail end, as she saw it at the last minute, ran and squirmed that it didn't get a good grab on her. But she ran into the electric fence, as she wanted to go in a straight line away from the hawk.

I was running over there at this point, but the Red-tail was unperturbed by me, walked up to her and began a ground attack, jumping on her. She kept flapping and fighting and I yelled, but the hawk wasn't paying any attention to me. I was very close when the hawk finally hop/flew up to the back of a chair, but it really wanted / needed this meal and hesitated. It finally decided it would leave when I was going over the fencing.

This particular hawk was hungry and determined. I was dense, stressed and not thinking straight about these attacks (this was the second one), and it later succeeded in killing another poor hen before I learned enough how smart hawks are, finding a way around aerial protection, and how chickens are going to respond. Multiple shelters, escape places and hidey-holes are not enough when the attack is from above and the hen doesn't see it coming in the first place (this is why smart wary hens and roosters help). And the fencing against ground predators (fox, coyote, bobcat, bear) works against the whole situation once the predator is in.

 

[Sylvester017]

Ah are you picturing a hawk swooping in, grabbing with it's talons and then it keeps flying, carrying off it's prize? Kind of like catching a fish out of a pond?

Yes, a Cooper's or Sharpshin will will try to grab a little bird that's perched on the end of branch, if it can catch it by surprise, or it has gone into shock and can't fly to escape. That may be an in-flight attack.

But just jumping down on prey, a controlled fall / leap down from a branch, is very common among these hawks and others around here, big and small. That's how they catch snakes and lizards, rodents and grasshoppers, and ground birds like chickens (we also have ruffed grouse and turkeys here). Only if the prey is small enough will they try to fly up with it to eat it once it's killed on the ground.

In an attack I witnessed, a huge Red-Tail flew down (more like a controlled drop with some horizontal travel) from above, landing on Butters' tail end, as she saw it at the last minute, ran and squirmed that it didn't get a good grab on her. But she ran into the electric fence, as she wanted to go in a straight line away from the hawk.

I was running over there at this point, but the Red-tail was unperturbed by me, walked up to her and began a ground attack, jumping on her. She kept flapping and fighting and I yelled, but the hawk wasn't paying any attention to me. I was very close when the hawk finally hop/flew up to the back of a chair, but it really wanted / needed this meal and hesitated. It finally decided it would leave when I was going over the fencing.

This particular hawk was hungry and determined. I was dense, stressed and not thinking straight about these attacks (this was the second one), and it later succeeded in killing another poor hen before I learned enough how smart hawks are, finding a way around aerial protection, and how chickens are going to respond. Multiple shelters, escape places and hidey-holes are not enough when the attack is from above and the hen doesn't see it coming in the first place (this is why smart wary hens and roosters help). And the fencing against ground predators (fox, coyote, bobcat, bear) works against the whole situation once the predator is in.

I'm so sorry you lost a hen to a hawk. So traumatic & DH & I brace ourselves year after year of any chance visits in our yard. Can't imagine losing a sweet bird so tragically.

I've surmised every owner has different experiences & opinions about hawk varieties which also seems to depend on environmental conditions as well. We certainly all do our best as owners to give our poultry the best chances for survival.

I hate House Sparrows but our hens do recognize Sparrow alarms & any silence in the air or absence of pesky Sparrows chittering or hopping on the ground also puts our hens on instant alert. We've had generation after generation of older hens teaching younger ones the art of awareness & hiding.

Any way you look at hawks it's a cr*p shoot what will happen when a hawk visits. We've had plenty Cooper's hawk visits in 14 years w/no loss so far. But the House Sparrows are a terrible invitation to fledgling Cooper's. We continue to hinder backyard aerial space of predators but its up to the hens to do their diligence at being aware/hiding since we are not zoned for roos as flock protection.

Hawk Tx ~ one of our 3 thick thorny Pomegranate trees that Cooper's refuse to enter or sit in

 

[Sylvester017]

RUN CLYDE!!!!!! RUUUNNN

I’m coming hang on!

Holy Dinah every day is a circus here, and that ruckus is NOT your normal squabble, or killer bunny, or some other perceived danger.

This is all out pandemonium, I am running through the barn, I am sure I stepped on a few chickens, the birds are running to the barn.

I am trying to get out my temporary gate (guess what’s getting fixed first thing tomorrow), I dropped the 2x4 with a crash birds rushing to get inside - me rushing to get outside because there is a black silkie just a whirl with flashes of white breast, GEORGIE?!!! No! RUN CLYDE I screamed as I tripped over terrified chickens ‘RUN!’

My running towards him scared off the hawk, which flew up into the Poplar tree, I screamed at it and generally caused my own commotion. And then I saw poor Georgie all terrified standing under the trees there. I ran over and picked her up cuddling her and glanced around, no Clyde.

In a scramble I ran around looking for chooks, Clyde was in the barn, one of the youngest chicks was outside the barn under some the shrubs with a few others still causing a big commotion.

I had to go searching for the rest of the youngest chicks, one (the one grey Icy) was outside the new fencing I put up, she ran towards me some could lift the fence for her to crawl under. Finally saw the other grey Patches, and lastly Little Mouse was in the barn.

Once everyone was inside I did a head count. Couldn’t find Fluffy, ran around frantically until I remember the little cubby on the ledge and there she was snoozing the brat!

Once everyone was accounted for I picked up Clyde and checked him over, he seems ok, we had a bit of a cuddle and I told him what a brave velociraptor he was fighting off a hawk while everyone else ran for the hills! He sure can fight, that little chickie can! Silkie Ninja Chicken
View attachment 3968096

Next thing to do tomorrow is to trim back everyone’s coiffe so they can see.

What a friiiiiight!!!! TG they were all accounted for! You & my DH today both of you looking for hens after chasing off a snoopy Cooper's! 2 broody Silkies were brooding in coop nests unaware of anything so DH wasn't worried about them. & the 3 older hens (1 Dom & 2 oldest Silkies) hid well under patio junk. But our littlest youngest Blue Silkie Betta was hiding better than any of them. She took the longest to find.

I detest the House Sparrows that are invitations for hawks but at the same time the Sparrow alarms alert our hens to immediately hide.

 

[Sylvester017]

All this talk of hawks I think has tempted the fates!

We were thinking the same thing today since Autumn Cooper's visits are rare here! W/ no roo for our flock we have to rely on our hens' diligence to be alert/hide.

 

[Sylvester017]

TY!!!