Hawk!!!!

[newchickenmom33]

So this morning I saw a hawk perched on the top of the chicken coop. It was about half the size of my 8 month old chickens and I thought it was fine. I yelled for my husband to look. He yelled get that hawk away from the birds from up stairs. So I opened the door and it flew away. We put the dogs outside to deter it from coming back. We are currently building a larger coop so we took all the wires roofing down to make space. The enclosure there were in was 12ft by 8ft.. connected to their soon to be old coop. This building coop project has taken 3 weekends... I’m hoping it’ll be done this weekend! Will a small hawk kill a full grown chicken?

 

[DobieLover]

Yes, a small hawk can kill a full grown chicken.

 

[silkiemother]

usally theiy will not try unless theiy are desperate or the chickens are bantams or small chickens and I know this because we had a small hawk get into our coop and are roo ,along with my dad,got rid of the hawk.and a rooster can be helpful if a medium sized hawk comes after chickens.

 

[newchickenmom33]

Yes, a small hawk can kill a full grown chicken.
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That hawk looks very big. We live in the city and this is the first time in 4 months I’ve seen one. I hear las often but haven’t seen one. We will have to get it covered soon or leave them cooped up.

 

[DobieLover]

That hawk looks very big. We live in the city and this is the first time in 4 months I’ve seen one. I hear las often but haven’t seen one. We will have to get it covered soon or leave them cooped up.

That isn't a big hawk. It's a Cooper's. Are you sure you didn't see a falcon or kestrel? They are small.

 

[newchickenmom33]

I don’t know what it was. My husband said it was a hawk. It was simply looking at them and hopping back and forth on the roof. It didn’t cross my mind it was going to attack them. Since there is 7 of them I would guess the chickens would win. It was small though... less than 9 inches tall.

 

[DobieLover]

I don’t know what it was. My husband said it was a hawk. It was simply looking at them and hopping back and forth on the roof. It didn’t cross my mind it was going to attack them. Since there is 7 of them I would guess the chickens would win. It was small though... less than 9 inches tall.

The chickens would run like hell to try to avoid being dinner. They wouldn't fight a raptor. A rooster likely would as they are genetically programmed to protect their hens and will, and often do, fight to the death for them.
A raptor strike even if unsuccessful, can cause your chicken a nasty potentially fatal injury.

 

[Feathers Brady]

Hi new chickenmom!
Here where I live is a hot spot for Hawks, kites and eagles, owls etc.. They'll swoop in and out of our property daily so theres no way I would free range here. hardware cloth and heavy shade covers for our run.
I don't know of hens ever winning an attack by predator birds. Good luck to you.

 

[HenHouse4Life]

I would definitely be weary of whatever it was, where there's one there's sure to be more.... and now they'll be back. That was a little close for comfort.

 

[True Patriot]

Small Hawks can cause big damage. A cheap temporary solution would be drape plastic bird net over top of the open area. Hawks prefer attacking from above, if they don't think they can usually they don't try. I've used it before, around $20 for a 7foot by 150 foot roll.