Hawk

[real_redhead]

I thought eagle too, have searched the net and can't find anything that's close in color, contractor said it was a Hawk and a big one too. saw it fly over the other day, did let the girls out or a little this weekend but was worried sick. Keeping close eye, girls are mad but I rather be safe than sorry.

 

[real_redhead]

Definitely a hawk, saw a stuffed one like the one hanging around my yard at the Science Musuem this weekend. Hawk is here everyday. Poor girls haven't been let out much and when they are only when we are able to stay in the yard with them. This morning when I was giving treats they heard a crow and freaked out all ran under the coop...even when I was giving raisins. Felt sorry for them but it was kinda funny to see them run.
Hope this Hawk leaves soon!

 

[woodmort]

If the crows keep mobbing it, they will eventually chase it away. Hawks don't like that kind of company. What really surprises me is that a redtail could catch a peregrine, must have been a young one as they could, normally, fly circles around most other hawks.

 

[crappiefisherman]

We had a similar thing happen here at home and chickens ran. We have a rottweiler mix that doesn't care for turkey buzzards so she tends to alert the chickens.

There are six species of hawks nest in Virginia: red-tailed, red-shouldered, broad-winged, Cooper's, sharp-shinned, and the Northern harrier. Yall also have a peregrine falcon and the American kestrel.

Best of luck. We get ospreys here in North Texas from time to time.

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Quote:
I've decided I like the hawks. Now I understand why birdwatchers watch birds. I can't help it: "Was that the Harrier all grown up?" "Did that RedTail moult?Is that a more mature color? Or is this another one?" "THAT's not the Coopers, what happened to the Coopers? Did that one get the Coopers?"

I put this cover on my run, but its too hot. So now I wonder if one of those small fast hawks with the razor sharp black talons might poke a few ventillation holes in the top for me:

Like this guy, still don't know what he is, too small for a redtail but too slow for a Coopers' or Sharpshinned:

Lately, we have one visitor who's huge, dark grey shoulders/wings/tail and white with no speckles on the front, about as big as the bald eagle hen who usually visits. It might be migrating south along the Fox river here in Illinois, but its been about 3 weeks we see it. Is it the Harrier's, all grown up that we used to call FooFoo? But FooFoo had tan freckles all down the front. Things that make me go, hmmmmm......

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

I do love the stripey patterns on the underside of their wings when they swoop close.

Unfortunately for them, they're no match for our Silkies. Both the Silkie rooster and hen are extremely territorial about birds, they fight like ninjas, its surprising to see. But there it is.

Past two years, we have smeared peanut butter on top of a birdfeeder pole in our backyard. Two squirrels met their fate that way. They never even saw the hawk coming. Technically, THAT's a birdfeeder, too. We were glad to be rid of the squirrels who were gnawing a big hole in our house!

 

[Mattemma]

I ID my hawks by their sounds/calls. Mine are red shouldered hawks.

 

[real_redhead]

Still can't figure out what kind of hawk it is but it is pretty big, it's the talk of the neighborhood now. Not a red-tailed. Very light on chest and under wings and tail. I never minded them until I got chickens which seems like everything likes to eat. Was at my neighbors last night watching the VA Tech football game with the ladies (the men were at the game!) and everyone has seen the hawk and is amazed at how pretty it is and how it's been hanging around so much.
When it was sitting on the run I asked my husband why he didn't take a picture...of course I got the look like are you crazy I was saving your chickens! I would have taken the picture then chased the hawk away.
My girls are afraid to free range, came home today at 3pm to take a conference call and figured I'd let them out and souls sit with them, took a while for them to come out, they were apprehensive then ran to the die of the house and hid under the contractors saw horses that are covered. Took several minutes to coax them back to the coop ( got them finally with ome bird seed).

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Quote:
But don't believe for a second that your presence will deter the hawk. I don't see any evidence that birds of prey even notice humans. One tried to nab a hen right at my feet. One, we released from entanglement in our pheasant netting, it circled right back to try to land on a chicken through the side fence. One got away from Silkie attack, hen was attached to the back of it's head, it landed on the roof of my car, turned around and called to the chicks in their voices, as if "all is well, come out in the open again" not 4 feet away from me.

Really, I like hawks, they're cool and magnificent and all that, but maybe their brains are wired for predation only. They don't seem to think the whole picture through. You'd better keep brooms around out there if you're planning to protect your chickens from the hawks. You'll need something to push and swat with.

And maybe a camera at the ready to snap its picture!

 

[toomanypeeps]

We are southcentral Pa and have had a few run-ins with a leucistic(sp?) red-tail hawk. I thought it was a snowy owl the first time I saw it, so I called the local Audobon Society. They showed up with a spotting scope and found out that it was a "white" red tail. Very cool, yet I ended up getting rid of my call ducks because I didn't want to pen them and he was too good at killing them when they were out.