Just dodged a "bullet".

[olefarmersdaughter]

Had just put my chickens away in the coop when a red tailed hawk came within 10 feet of my head. I'm thinking she'd been eying my girls from the neighbor's tree.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Wow!!! So glad there ok.

 

[olefarmersdaughter]

She's back....with reinforcements.........

 

[chickortreat]

It's good for that hawk that it was you and not me that it swooped at.

 

[nova022]

My neighbor free ranges her flock and has never had a loss to hawks even though I have seen them swooping over head. She has a large flock with at least eight roos. When a hawk comes near they sound the alarm and everyone dives for cover, except the roos. They stand their ground.

I am afraid to free range mine unless I am right there since they are young hens without a roo to protect them.

Glad yours are safe.

 

[olefarmersdaughter]

My neighbor free ranges her flock and has never had a loss to hawks even though I have seen them swooping over head. She has a large flock with at least eight roos. When a hawk comes near they sound the alarm and everyone dives for cover, except the roos. They stand their ground.

I am afraid to free range mine unless I am right there since they are young hens without a roo to protect them.

Glad yours are safe.

I don't have roos either (can't). I guess I'll have to be their roo..........

 

[chickortreat]

I have a RIR rooster named Fred and White Leghorn roo named Rufus. My other roosters are nicknamed "Remmy", "Mossy", and "Winny". They (the latter three) are far better at protecting the chickens than the former.

 

[olefarmersdaughter]

Well it happened again, this time my newly adopted RIR (ole girl) sounded the alarm and puffed up ready for a fight just like and old roo. Of course, my other 4 pullets were cowered in a corner. Maybe one doesn't need a rooster for protection, just a hen that's been around the block a few times.