Big B... I wouldn't bother a bird that is not bothering you. Another will take it's place and it might not be as disinterested. I have never had a problem (to my knowledge) with a red tail, and I would hesitate. To look at them, they are certainly capable of killing a chicken and I am sure they do, but I would hesitate. For me, it has always been the Cooper hawks. Now, the cooper hawks,(to me) are vermin. They are thick as starlings around here. They reduce the wild bird population relentlessly. By the end of the winter, they are gaunt, spooky looking serial killers. I understand all the blather from some individuals as to their beauty and necessity. I believe you can have too much of a good thing and they need thinning out like any other. I guess when Owls were more numerous, the owls would take them as they perched in the dark. (We need more owls!) But round here, they seem to operate with impunity. When I had pigeons, (which I gave up because letting them out was like ringing a dinner bell for the coopers) they would reliably swoop in within 15 minutes of me letting the birds out. Often times much sooner. They are amazing flyers. I have seen them stop and plunge vertically through tree branches to grab a pigeon. It is legal to shoot some raptors if attacking your livestock. I probably wouldn't harm a red tail even if it did. They do have to eat. And they usually eat squirrels and rabbits.
The bird that killed my hen was half the size of her victim. I could not see too well on my video as the action was far out from the house where the cameras are mounted, I can say the thing fluttered up and down and reminded me of a bat. When it returned I think it saw me sitting on my porch. It seemed like it was looking right at me from the tree. It is aware of me generally I know. My neighbor said he witnessed it swooping through and clapped his hands to make it fly off the roof. This thing had been perfecting it's technique and it did. If nothing else I was going to make sure it did not get a meal out of it. But it seemed to know I was there from the way it approached. It was very hungry which I was counting on. I think it misjudged the distance of my effect. They are smart. Very smart. (some are not that smart... usually the young ones). It approached the carcass right before dark and I imagine it would have ate for a bit and was apparently not averse to flying in the dark. They have large orange eyes. Something else I did not know. It did not attack stealthily. It terrorized the flock until it separated a cornered hen. I think in a more open area it would have had a harder time than it did up against my shop wall. I moved the carcass about 10 feet for better visibility and that did not deter it.
The way it operated (this bird) I think it could probably kill any chicken. A chicken is defenseless and panicked. The hawk latches onto it, pinning it against the wall and knifing it with it's talons and bleeding it. Tearing into it while it is still alive. Natrure is cruel. But I am part of nature too. And I have no qualms about playing my part in nature. What I saw on the tape made me rethink how they attack chickens. (I am well versed in how they attack pigeons).
The bird that killed my hen was half the size of her victim. I could not see too well on my video as the action was far out from the house where the cameras are mounted, I can say the thing fluttered up and down and reminded me of a bat. When it returned I think it saw me sitting on my porch. It seemed like it was looking right at me from the tree. It is aware of me generally I know. My neighbor said he witnessed it swooping through and clapped his hands to make it fly off the roof. This thing had been perfecting it's technique and it did. If nothing else I was going to make sure it did not get a meal out of it. But it seemed to know I was there from the way it approached. It was very hungry which I was counting on. I think it misjudged the distance of my effect. They are smart. Very smart. (some are not that smart... usually the young ones). It approached the carcass right before dark and I imagine it would have ate for a bit and was apparently not averse to flying in the dark. They have large orange eyes. Something else I did not know. It did not attack stealthily. It terrorized the flock until it separated a cornered hen. I think in a more open area it would have had a harder time than it did up against my shop wall. I moved the carcass about 10 feet for better visibility and that did not deter it.
The way it operated (this bird) I think it could probably kill any chicken. A chicken is defenseless and panicked. The hawk latches onto it, pinning it against the wall and knifing it with it's talons and bleeding it. Tearing into it while it is still alive. Natrure is cruel. But I am part of nature too. And I have no qualms about playing my part in nature. What I saw on the tape made me rethink how they attack chickens. (I am well versed in how they attack pigeons).
