**Graphic** First chicken loss

[TARDIS37379]

That looks like a hawk killing. They can be a patient and effective predators.

 

[My2butterflies]

I think everyone is right about it being a hawk. I kept everyone locked up yesterday. Today I let my baby guineas out under supervision for an hour and my adult guineas had a few hours to roam. Right after putting the little ones away I heard the adults sounding off and looking up. Sure enough this guy was circling about the chicken coop and run. He stayed up there for a couple minutes before moving on.
I stuck close to the adult guineas after that and stayed outside with them till they were ready to coop up.
Everyone will be cooped for the next couple days. Hopefully this guy won’t stick around.

 

[Vickischics]

My heart is sad for your loss. I hope you refrig the carcass and catch that predator the next day when it returns. Away with that Predator. .

 

[cmom]

I think everyone is right about it being a hawk. I kept everyone locked up yesterday. Today I let my baby guineas out under supervision for an hour and my adult guineas had a few hours to roam. Right after putting the little ones away I heard the adults sounding off and looking up. Sure enough this guy was circling about the chicken coop and run. He stayed up there for a couple minutes before moving on.
I stuck close to the adult guineas after that and stayed outside with them till they were ready to coop up.
Everyone will be cooped for the next couple days. Hopefully this guy won’t stick around. View attachment 2328391

That looks like a vulture to me. We have them flying over us all of the time but they don't bother my birds.

 

[My2butterflies]

That looks like a vulture to me. We have them flying over us all of the time but they don't bother my birds.

Vultures are not common in my area. I’m not really sure how common they are in Minnesota, but I’ve never seen one here.
Our top and abundant birds of prey are hawks, bald eagles, and great horned owls.

When I was down in Florida last Nov I saw all the vultures you guys have, it’s crazy! They are as common as our grackles are!

 

[cmom]

We have them too. Maybe an eagle. It doesn't appear to be a hawk to me. Good luck and have fun...

 

[centrarchid]

Looks like a Bald Eagle. Tail even looks white in image.

 

[cmom]

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/turkey-vulture
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_vulture

 

[My2butterflies]

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/turkey-vulture

Huh, we are considered being in their common breeding zone. I never knew that! I wonder why I never see them here? Maybe my area with open fields and small tree groupings isn’t their ideal nesting area?
Thank you for that!

Looks like a Bald Eagle. Tail even looks white in image.

You might be right!
We had two balds that hung around last year. They may have nested somewhere nearby.

 

[centrarchid]

I have Turkey Vultures and Bald Eagles fly over routinely for most to the year. Turkey Vultures become very sparse during coldest part of winter. The Turkey vultures used to disappear entirely during winter months. We are also starting to see Black Vultures although still rare where I live, they are becoming increasingly abundant where I work. That said, when they are soaring, they are not a threat. Same goes for soaring hawks. They usually do not hunt while soaring, they either traveling or displaying while soaring, with exception of vultures. Even eagles hunting from wing are not more than just above tops of trees. Hawks I see hunting are at tree-top level or lower, unless hovering into wind.