Integrating a cockerel into a flock of mature hens

[Leahs Mom]

Chickens everywhere are doomed.

 

[islandgirl82]

Chickens everywhere are doomed.

Incredible! Thank you for sharing!!

 

[Sylvester017]

Chickens everywhere are doomed.

Hawks may be able to fly through incredible obstacles but picking up a full-grown chicken at the same time would be a real challenge -- which is probably why our Cooper's Hawk prefers a no-obstacles open area to talon ground prey. Catching small prey birdies in trees during flight would be considerably easier than picking up a heavy full-grown chicken in the brambles and branches. At least our Cooper's Hawks don't bother the hiding hens in doghouses, under lawn furniture or lean-to's, etc. He/she's never challenged a ground fight with any of our hiding hens so far in 5 years. I've never had raptors larger than the Cooper's and only once saw a small Owl so I can't speak about the bigger hawks which we don't have. Also, we've discovered our large neighborhood Crow flock keeps the Cooper's out of the neighborhood. I love the Crows for keeping the Cooper's away and the Crows never go after our hens or veggie crops either. Now, if we had chicks or ducklings, I'm sure they'd be easy prey for ANY aerial attackers including Crows.

 

[islandgirl82]

Quote:

Hawks may be able to fly through incredible obstacles but picking up a full-grown chicken at the same time would be a real challenge -- which is probably why our Cooper's Hawk prefers a no-obstacles open area to talon ground prey. Catching small prey birdies in trees during flight would be considerably easier than picking up a heavy full-grown chicken in the brambles and branches. At least our Cooper's Hawks don't bother the hiding hens in doghouses, under lawn furniture or lean-to's, etc. He/she's never challenged a ground fight with any of our hiding hens so far in 5 years. I've never had raptors larger than the Cooper's and only once saw a small Owl so I can't speak about the bigger hawks which we don't have. Also, we've discovered our large neighborhood Crow flock keeps the Cooper's out of the neighborhood. I love the Crows for keeping the Cooper's away and the Crows never go after our hens or veggie crops either. Now, if we had chicks or ducklings, I'm sure they'd be easy prey for ANY aerial attackers including Crows.

I think you've been very lucky not to have lost any of your birds to your local hawk. I hadn't either. You are correct in that a hawk would be unlikely or unable to carry off an adult chicken, however, they will and do tear them to shreds right where they've killed them on the ground. I do have an abundance of hiding areas for my flock but I also have a large yard with one area being very open and free of obstacles so I can enjoy my view, the dogs have an area to run around and we can set up outdoor games when my children and I want to. Given that I choose to free range, I risk losses to predators but that risk remains true just by keeping any type of prey animal. My birds are still very loved and well cared for. My first predator loss in years happened inside my coop - the one place a flock should always find safety. It's only a matter of time for all of us, no matter how many hiding places we provide or how secure we think we keep them. A truly determined predator will be incredibly patient and may stalk their prey for days, learning their habits and waiting for just the right moment to strike. This is nature. I hope you continue to have the good luck you've had and that you never have to experience the sorrow, anger and frustration that comes with losing one in such a way.

 

[lazy gardener]

Last summer it was a Northern goshawk that took 3 of my adult birds. I'm guessing that those birds about doubled the hawk in weight. He ripped the birds to shreds. And when I scared him off, he came back a few hours later to finish his meal.

Island Girl is right. It's only a matter of time before any chicken keeper experiences loss to a predator. Short of keeping them locked up tight in a Fort Knox style pen where they never get to interact with the real world, predators will find your flock. And even the supposed most secure coop/run may eventually fall victim to the more aggressive attack. Don't know many coops that would withstand a bear or a mountain lion.

 

[speckledhen]

Chickens everywhere are doomed.

That was the coolest thing!

 

[aart]

Whenever folks talk about trees/woods shielding chickens from BOP, I think of that video.
Bushes too, have seen video of a BOP walking into a coop thru an open door to attack.

 

[Sylvester017]

I think you've been very lucky not to have lost any of your birds to your local hawk. I hadn't either. You are correct in that a hawk would be unlikely or unable to carry off an adult chicken, however, they will and do tear them to shreds right where they've killed them on the ground. I do have an abundance of hiding areas for my flock but I also have a large yard with one area being very open and free of obstacles so I can enjoy my view, the dogs have an area to run around and we can set up outdoor games when my children and I want to. Given that I choose to free range, I risk losses to predators but that risk remains true just by keeping any type of prey animal. My birds are still very loved and well cared for. My first predator loss in years happened inside my coop - the one place a flock should always find safety. It's only a matter of time for all of us, no matter how many hiding places we provide or how secure we think we keep them. A truly determined predator will be incredibly patient and may stalk their prey for days, learning their habits and waiting for just the right moment to strike. This is nature. I hope you continue to have the good luck you've had and that you never have to experience the sorrow, anger and frustration that comes with losing one in such a way.

Thank you - I continue praying for continued good luck too but always taking more steps to provide covers for the hens. Nocturnal city Raccoons and Possums are another issue in our suburbs and decided to get a heavy-duty new Barn Coop with heavy dog kennel-type wire run with predator eyes flashing for nighttime safety. We've kept the patio light on nightly for 5 years too which seems to deter wildlife. So far so good. The Crow population has been increasing the last two years. Don't know it it's because of our drought situation (now in its 5th declared year in our State) or if it's just natural selection, or whatever, but as long as those Crows keep populating our neighborhood we haven't had a Cooper's around. I have seen Cooper's before not 5-feet from my hiding hens and will not go after them in plain sight. Something's got to be said about Cooper's not wanting to engage in covered ground combat. We're already on the lookout for a 6th doghouse to add. Now, next Spring, during breeding season, we will be especially careful about a Cooper's mother hunting to feed her chicks because Spring brings out all the wildlife needing to feed their young. In a way I look forward to a Cooper's hen going after the field mice in the highway brush near our house.

As for views or having a pristine backyard, having 5 doghouses, a popup canopy, a couple plywood lean-to's, compost bin, raised garden beds, trash bins, container plants, etc, doesn't lend itself to the ideal backyard "view" LOL but my chickens have a plentiful supply of hiding places. I may put cedar lawn furniture in the center most open area that will still look somewhat nice and not spoil the backyard looks too much. After remodeling the backyard with new patios and block wall, been so busy with getting the paver stone work done and reconstructing a broken raised garden bed haven't had much thought to aesthetics of late. Have had to partition the chicken yard by half because haven't been able to work on the "open" area. Why are house repairs NEVER done - ugh! On top of outside chores we got our new Cuckoo Breda juvenile by USPS yesterday and she's taking a lot of time socializing during quarantine.

 

[Birdydeb]

Hawks may be able to fly through incredible obstacles but picking up a full-grown chicken at the same time would be a real challenge -- which is probably why our Cooper's Hawk prefers a no-obstacles open area to talon ground prey.  Catching small prey birdies in trees during flight would be considerably easier than picking up a heavy full-grown chicken in the brambles and branches.  At least our Cooper's Hawks don't bother the hiding hens in doghouses, under lawn furniture or lean-to's, etc.  He/she's never challenged a ground fight with any of our hiding hens so far in 5 years.  I've never had raptors larger than the Cooper's and only once saw a small Owl so I can't speak about the bigger hawks which we don't have.  Also, we've discovered our large neighborhood Crow flock keeps the Cooper's out of the neighborhood.  I love the Crows for keeping the Cooper's away and the Crows never go after our hens or veggie crops either.  Now, if we had chicks or ducklings, I'm sure they'd be easy prey for ANY aerial attackers including Crows.

The crows have been chasing away theCooper's Hawk that was eyeing my run. He was a juvenile for sure and I never thought he could carry off a grown hen but if he decided to be gutsy and fly into that run...well, that wasn't gonna be pretty. Not to mention he would have been stuck in there no doubt. We normally have Red Tails which are a lot bigger hawk....and the Red Shouldered and eagles back in the spring.

Amazing video....cool for sure. I greatly admire raptors, I just don't want them to get my chickens.

 

[islandgirl82]

[quote name=

The crows have been chasing away theCooper's Hawk that was eyeing my run. He was a juvenile for sure and I never thought he could carry off a grown hen but if he decided to be gutsy and fly into that run...well, that wasn't gonna be pretty. Not to mention he would have been stuck in there no doubt. We normally have Red Tails which are a lot bigger hawk....and the Red Shouldered and eagles back in the spring.

Amazing video....cool for sure. I greatly admire raptors, I just don't want them to get my chickens.

How has your integration been going? Have the new girls settled into the flock yet?