Hawks?

[ThreeOfSeven]

My hens use to free range in my yard. Then last year, the hawks (red tail hawks and smaller ones too) discovered them, and I lost 2 hens. They now spend their days in a chain of two covered outside pens and a large open outside pen (that has netting overhead). I miss having birds in my backyard. So, my question: Are geese safe from hawks? Or should I get some goats? <smile>

 

[Chickinie]

Hawks usually only kill what they can carry away. They won't attack bigger things because they'll loose their kill if something comes and disturbs them.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

So, the bigger the goose, the better. And, of course, protect the hell out of them when they're young. Thanks!

 

[Chickinie]

I was going to mention if you have eagles around their... But, I looked it up, it's apparently rare for them to take on a goose. Geese are pretty feisty.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

We do have eagles, but they pretty much stay on the other side of our island. Although, I thought I spotted a very large, white headed, raptor-type bird flying overhead a few weeks back.

Thanks for the input. I'll keep researching and maybe when goslings are available again …

 

[Miss Lydia]

Eagles an hawks will kill an eat something they can’t carry off . Go to you tube also we’ve had members post of finding their duck slaughtered by a hawk that stayed right on the ground @DuckyDonna lost a Runner to a Falcon right in her pen. Geese can alert but they get killed just like other prey. When a red tail came into our fenced area the geese were just as terrified as everyone else only reason I knew any thing was happening was my rooster. I found my ducks an geese literally so scared they were pressing on the gate wanting out.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Eagles an hawks will kill an eat something they can’t carry off . Go to you tube also we’ve had members post of finding their duck slaughtered by a hawk that stayed right on the ground @DuckyDonna lost a Runner to a Falcon right in her pen. Geese can alert but they get killed just like other prey. When a red tail came into our fenced area the geese were just as terrified as everyone else only reason I knew any thing was happening was my rooster. I found my ducks an geese literally so scared they were pressing on the gate wanting out.

I have to agree with you insofar as the "carry away" rule. After getting attacked and killed, the hawk didn't try to carry the carcass away, and we didn't know about the attacks until we did a head count, which I did often when they were outside.

Well, I was hoping … I have to say, Mother Nature is not very logical. I have plenty of rabbits in my yard, especially at dusk, and I don't see them flying away in the talons of a hawk. <sigh>

 

[Miss Lydia]

I know one got my little OEGB last year and we have plenty of rabbits too.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

I always thought of wild rabbits as God's buffet. I guess hawks don't see it that way.

 

[DuckyDonna]

@Miss Lydia is right! That falcon flew right into the one area of my run that did not have netting over the top. It killed my big drake and was standing over him eating him right in the run near the pens which is actually under the barn roof! It just stood there and looked at me as if to say "what?".

Birds of prey are very bold. I've got all kinds of them around here who aren't shy about scaring the crap out of my ducks. They'll sit in the trees and do low flyovers at any time and even if I'm out there with them. The whole top of my run is welded wire so they aren't getting in that but they'd sure like to.