Maine

[striperon]

From time to time I have seen a kestrel flying above the trees and roosting in the trees around the open lawn. Today the chickens were free ranging and I heard a lot of frightened cries from them. As I made my way down the stairs, a kestrel was on the stone step just outside the storm door. He flew away quickly. It took me awhile to get the chicks rounded up and into their run. They had hidden in the landscaping and would not come out, in fear. Their instinctive reaction for survival was encouraging.

The kestrel is not as large as the roosters, but certainly more fierce. It looks like the chicks' free ranging days are over. I will have to find a way to give them some room, with a cover that keeps out the hawks.

 

[chickenneighbor]

Since a redtail hawk killed a BO in my yard, we keep an ear out for the crows - they always go nuts when the hawk comes around and are a good alarm system for one of us to go outside and scare off the evil raptors! Hope your crew stays safe.

 

[Widget]

From time to time I have seen a kestrel flying above the trees and roosting in the trees around the open lawn. Today the chickens were free ranging and I heard a lot of frightened cries from them. As I made my way down the stairs, a kestrel was on the stone step just outside the storm door. He flew away quickly. It took me awhile to get the chicks rounded up and into their run. They had hidden in the landscaping and would not come out, in fear. Their instinctive reaction for survival was encouraging.

The kestrel is not as large as the roosters, but certainly more fierce. It looks like the chicks' free ranging days are over. I will have to find a way to give them some room, with a cover that keeps out the hawks.

Kestrels are my favorite bird of prey. One named Copper was the first BOP that I handled while working as a zoo keeper in Chicago. She was great.

 

[CoopChick719]

From time to time I have seen a kestrel flying above the trees and roosting in the trees around the open lawn.  Today the chickens were free ranging and I heard a lot of frightened cries from them.  As I made my way down the stairs, a kestrel was on the stone step just outside the storm door.  He flew away quickly.  It took me awhile to get the chicks rounded up and into their run.  They had hidden in the landscaping and would not come out, in fear.  Their instinctive reaction for survival was encouraging.

The kestrel is not as large as the roosters, but certainly more fierce.  It looks like the chicks' free ranging days are over.  I will have to find a way to give them some room, with a cover that keeps out the hawks.

Your hawk sighting makes me wonder if the bird I saw the other day was a hawk. I saw some type of bird fly away from the coop as I approached it the other day. It might have been white & tan. Not sure. I just know it wasn't one of the crows who are usually hanging around.

 

[striperon]

Usually the crows sound the alarm here, too. Yesterday they were not around.

 

[buckabucka]

Break out your life rafts! :/

 

[IZZYBELLA]

Break out your life rafts!

Ugh. Not looking forward to this, but trying not to complain!

Widget: Lovely pics a few days ago. (I'm just catching up.)

Re: birds of prey... I don't know what kind I'm seeing, but there are two quite large birds that just glide along high up in the air. The chickens go crazy and run as fast as possible right back to the coop when they come out! I agree about the crows...they are very helpful at sounding the alarm and it always amazes me how the chickens really do take cues from them.

 

[dowgirl71]

Ugh. Not looking forward to this, but trying not to complain!

Widget: Lovely pics a few days ago. (I'm just catching up.)

Re: birds of prey... I don't know what kind I'm seeing, but there are two quite large birds that just glide along high up in the air. The chickens go crazy and run as fast as possible right back to the coop when they come out! I agree about the crows...they are very helpful at sounding the alarm and it always amazes me how the chickens really do take cues from them.

Same here with the "large birds." This morning, there were 3 circling around across the road. A friend said he thought they were young eagles. Thankfully, my girls were in their covered run and the owl statue was on duty.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

How did everyone make out with the biblical rain?

We have so much mud here, and half of (what was left of) our driveway is in the road, but we made it and it's finally not raining today!! I took the dry opportunity to restore peace to the kingdom by sending the extra roosters to freezer camp this morning.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

How did everyone make out with the biblical rain?

We have so much mud here, and half of (what was left of) our driveway is in the road, but we made it and it's finally not raining today!! I took the dry opportunity to restore peace to the kingdom by sending the extra roosters to freezer camp this morning.

We had a trellis with a monstrous trumpet vine on it topple over... too top heavy for the wind and mud. The chickens were not pleased to be indoors for so long!