I nearly had a heart attack! My first predator sighting....

[Quail_Antwerp]

Had quite the scare today! Kids were sitting at the table eating when the boys yell, "Cool! An eagle, Mom!"

I was like, "What?!"

I mean, we don't have eagles around here! So I jumped up and looked out the window to see A HAWK! and he was standing on the ground as bold as brass not 30 feet from my back door!!

So I ran out the back door and every single chicken was under the van and DH's truck, except for one Langshan rooster. That single Langshan rooster was challenging the hawk! As soon as my feet (stocking feet, since I didn't stop for my shoes!) hit the grass, the hawk flew off.

I then went back in the house, slipped on my shoes and went out to do a head count. Thankfully, no one was missing. WHEW!

Honestly, I very nearly had a heart attack when I saw that hawk!

 

[silkiechick05]

Wow! sounds like a close call!!

good thing your boys alerted you.



yeah, when you least expect it, the predators prowl!

 

[crobi13]

WOW that is a close call!

Good roo for standing up for his girls

 

[chickenshagg]

I recently had a hawk swoop down at my girls while I was standing there. I had just opened the gate and let everyone out to Free Range for a little while when as I turned to walk away I heard my rooster scream and then the girls started screaming I immediatly turned around to see a hawk swooping down at my girls not twenty feet from where I was. I saw him land on tree branch over the brush that the girls had run for cover in I went over and picked a walnut up off the ground and threw it at the hawk. I was right on target but unfortunately the hawk was a little quicker because right as the walnut got to him he jumped and flew away. I have not seen him since then but I am not counting on him not returning.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Wow, scary! Thank goodness everyone was alright.

Hope you gave that brave rooster a very yummy treat after that!

 

[gwennym]

kudos for that brave rooster for doing what he was meant to ........... sounds like he was one mad rooster!

he deserves a nice treat for that

Gwen

 

[vstoltzfus]

I am so glad everyone is okay. My heart still beats fast when I think about the first time a raccoon chased my hens. I, too, ran outside in bare feet, apron flapping, screaming my head off. Anything to protect the girls!

 

[lmblackburn]

I had a close call with a hawk yesterday too. I wonder if it's because the leaf cover is disappearing? We live in a hollow in the woods, so our chickens have pretty good cover most of the year.

I know I was surprised when all of the chickens bawked and flew for cover. I thought, what the heck was that about...then I saw a sharp-shinned hawk land in one of the trees. Those chickens sure can be quick when they need to be!

Hopefully, they continue to be safe...they free range all day and I do worry about them, but I know they are much happier this way.

 

[CHIC]

Dh gets the gun out whenever we see a hawk... If it comes down to the hawk or my chickens, the hawk has to go, no time to give it a chance to come back. That sounds aweful, I know, but they are part of the family.

 

[miss_jayne]

somebody needs to borrow my coal shovel...just so they feel better!