Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Tassels is THE boss hen. In the night when she turned into a banshee I wondered about giving the chicks to one of the other broodies, but they are low on the totem pole so I thought that might be asking for trouble.
I wonder how Piglet and Sylvie will react to chicks. Piglet went broody a few days after Tassels and Sylvie a week or so later.
I haven’t tried breaking either of them.

I have given chicks to bottom rung hens, it worked well. But my gang is used to chicks running around…

Maybe if this goes good make anotjer drive!

 

[RoyalChick]

Filtering Audobon to "hawk-like" and "New Jersey" gave me 16 birds. Listening to calls, it sounds rather similar to a Northern Harrier female. A juvenile Goshawk is also a maybe. Peregrines and Kestrels hit similar pitches, but don't match the rhythms.

I put ZERO filters in for looks of the bird beyond hawk type.

Northern Harrier from the Audubon Bird Guide https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-harrier

Hmm... I'm wracking my brain.

Depending on location lots of hawks have a lot of variation in color and pattern. Red tails won't actually always have red tails, and juveniles don't develop that red coloration until they get their adult feathers. There are a lot of subspecies of red tailed hawks. Krider's red tails are very pale, almost completely white sometimes. Harlan's red tails are dark, almost black. Here's the different subspecies in the US.

Red shoulders also have variations in color based on location/subspecies and juveniles are much paler on the belly than adults.

I'm not familiar with all the raptors of NJ. I'm guessing it's a Buteo hawk though. Possibly a juvenile red tail. They have a shrill, squeaky call like that. Listen to around 1:32 in this video and compare:

Thanks both.
I also have Red Tailed hawks - they have a more raspy cry and aren’t nearly as vocal.
I keep trying to notice distinguishing features when it swoops over me, but I am usually distracted by making sure the chickens are under cover.

 

[Ponypoor]

What kind of hawk?
Can anyone tell me what hawk this is from the sound? They have unfortunately moved in to the tree above the Chicken Palace and they shriek all day every day.
Ignore the video of the hippy curtain and the background clicking of broody Piglet. It is the shrieking sound I was trying to get.

It is white underneath and I haven’t noticed a red tail.
Red shouldered hawks are supposed to be very vocal, but I don’t think they are so pale underneath.

Do you think a Goshawk? It could be a youth calling for mama and dada.

 

[RoyalChick]

I have given chicks to bottom rung hens, it worked well. But my gang is used to chicks running around…

Maybe if this goes good make anotjer drive!

Can you spell e-n-a-b-l-e-r!!

 

[bgmathteach]

What kind of hawk?
Can anyone tell me what hawk this is from the sound? They have unfortunately moved in to the tree above the Chicken Palace and they shriek all day every day.
Ignore the video of the hippy curtain and the background clicking of broody Piglet. It is the shrieking sound I was trying to get.

It is white underneath and I haven’t noticed a red tail.
Red shouldered hawks are supposed to be very vocal, but I don’t think they are so pale underneath.

Sounds like a Sharp shinned or a Broad Winged hawk according to Cornell. (Wasn't sure if it is a juvenile....?)

 

[SimpleJenn]

We had a hawk in the backyard this morning, on the ground then went up into a tree over the run when I opened the door. Shreiked at my dog for a minute and then took off into the woods. Everyone is safe but poor Navy had a panic attack, the integration pen is just half wood/half wire without a proper "coop"
I may put them inside Riddicks coop tonight if I can.
Navy has kept her rank, and her sisters are glad she's back. "Aunty chocolate" and "aunty Delft" are especially fond of the babies, and Riddick is a proud papa.

I believe Gentle is also allowed around the babies, either her or Squatch.

Chicks in the insulated coop, they are settling in as well.

Finally, Diva is looking very grown up!