Hawks, hawks and more hawks....

[jessica117]

We had the chickens out free ranging while we were out in the yard working today and this is what started circling overhead. A couple swooped in close enough to see that they're red tails. We counted 16, only managed to get 15 in a picture.

Needless to say, the chickens got put up REAL quick.

I have NEVER seen that many hawks at once. NEVER! I don't know what I'm going to do. We lost 4 pullets and a 10 lbs. rooster last year and we only had about 2 hawks in the area (at least that was all I saw at one time.)

 

[pixiechick]

It's like an Alfred Hitchcock movie! My chicks and I are scared-- real scared!

 

[Buster]

Are they hawks or vultures? They remind me a lot of turkey vultures circling.

 

[jessica117]

Quote:
The ones that swooped in were defiantly red tailed hawks. I ran arms a flailin' across the pasture to scare them off and they came back with reinforcements.

 

[seminolewind]

Me too, looks like vultures. I first thought my "hawks" were hawks, turned out they were vultures. I'm not sure that hawks travel in groups like that.

 

[kinardmommy]

We have a local hawk that has not come after our chickens YET, I keep a close eye out and my own reinforcements nearby. I have never seen that many together at once. I actually didn't think they were a "flock" type of bird. That is very unusual if that is what they were.

 

[jessica117]

Quote:
They're not supposed to, but last year my 2 hawks hunted together. One day I was outside when one swooped in to get a pullet, then right behind it came the other one to get another. That's when the coop got built.

 

[Bi0sC0mp]

best way to deal with hawks dont free range or you will lose some... the way i look at it the price of chickens theses day i wont even take a change on losing one so i dont free range to much of a risk and heart ache

 

[jessica117]

Quote:
The only time we free range is when we're out there to keep track of them. We learned our lesson last year. I just can't make myself keep them cooped up. I have just become much more aware of the sky when they're out pecking around.

Jess

 

[dacjohns]

Little late for migration. Wonder if they we just catching some good air currents.