Hawk attack

[Sweetlilbaby]

Yesterday I had both my dogs out in the yard with my chickens. You'd think that would prevent a hawk from even thinking of coming after the chickens. But suddenly there was a huge commotion in the corner of my property where the pullets were dust bathing. Chickens running away from the corner and dogs charging the corner. I was freaked out thinking my dogs caught a chicken. It got away from them (missing a few feathers) and flew up on the fence for a minute. It was a hawk.

What are the chances that it will come back after that experience? and am I a horrible person for wishing the dogs would have killed it?

 

[sourland]

Not quite certain where you are located, but it may have been a juvenile on it's migratatory journey. Such birds are unschooled, hungry, and depending upon where they were reared - unafraid of humans. Will it e back? Maybe, but if not this bird there will be others if you are on a migratory flyway. Some will think you a "horribleperson" for wishing that your dogs killed it - NOT ME. Keep your eyes open for the next couple of months. There will probably be more.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

Not quite certain where you are located, but it may have been a juvenile on it's migratatory journey. Such birds are unschooled, hungry, and depending upon where they were reared - unafraid of humans. Will it e back? Maybe, but if not this bird there will be others if you are on a migratory flyway. Some will think you a "horribleperson" for wishing that your dogs killed it - NOT ME. Keep your eyes open for the next couple of months. There will probably be more.

I live in Washington state (western WA). I think we might have hawks year round but not sure. Just really freaked me out. I'm use to hawks. Typically they will fly around above for a while then take off cause it's not worth it with the dogs there.
I love nature, and wild animals. But they need to keep away from my pets!
We only free range the chickens when the dogs and I are out there. I thought that would keep them safe. I am not going to free range them for a few days while I settle back down from that attack

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

My chickens need to pay more attention. Usually when there is a something around like a cat they'll go hide under one of the dogs.

 

[centrarchid]

Sometimes hawk will attempt capture when dogs present but is likely not considering dog's presence. Dog can make it so hawk does not get away with booty after all that work so that in itself will make hawk reconsider future attacks on your flock. With hawks I am concerned with (Red-tailed and Coopers hawks), the dog is clearly interested in catching them. If he (dog) does catch one then I will not be surprised or upset. Those hawk species are abundant and the dog is not likely to be able to repeat such regularly. The dogs, despite not stopping attack you observed from being intiated still reduce the frequency of such attacks. You are trying to limit losses and in that I think you are doing well. Losses might pickup a lot if you did not have dogs.

 

[Kansas Prairie]

My main RIR rooster rushes everyone into the barn/coop when he hears a hawk sound or sees a shadow. Lately the doves are migrating through here, my rooster is so paranoid he rushes everyone in because of the harmless doves. When the temperature drops the doves will move on South and the rooster will calm down.

If I need the chickens to quickly come in from free range and go in the coop during the day, I can use a hawk call and they will run in. Hawk calls are used for hunting hawk's prey.

The hawks are over populated here. I don't get upset if the dogs kill them.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

My main RIR rooster rushes everyone into the barn/coop when he hears a hawk sound or sees a shadow. Lately the doves are migrating through here, my rooster is so paranoid he rushes everyone in because of the harmless doves. When the temperature drops the doves will move on South and the rooster will calm down.

If I need the chickens to quickly come in from free range and go in the coop during the day, I can use a hawk call and they will run in. Hawk calls are used for hunting hawk's prey.

The hawks are over populated here. I don't get upset if the dogs kill them.

Sadly I cannot own a rooster I know roosters are really good at controlling the flock and keeping them safe. My chickens usually listen when i say "Go home" they'll run to their kennel (with a covered top). I didn't see the hawk at all. It had to have been watching quietly from in some trees.