My chickens killed a hawk?!!! Or a falcon? or something! *grapic pics!

[geebs]

Oh and I almost forgot.. Bigger bird in air... Vulture

 

[smarsh2]

Hippiechickens is correct. Immature Cooper's Hawk almost certainly killed by the large species of hawk. Either could have killed your chicken. A crow only harrasses in numbers and never kills hawks.

 

[redhen]

Thanks for all the info guys!

I made another thread in the coop forum/section about how to cover my run with bird netting...
Any advice how to stop this from happening again...?

 

[Cetawin]

Redhen...actually the big one circling is most likely Mother. That young one looks likes a spring baby so not quite a year old yet...she will hunt with her kids for up to one year. I could not see the young ones tail clear enough to tell you if he was in transition already or not so I am guessing at the age by the chest markings, wing barring and size. They have 1 - 3 babies usually and usually only 1 survives to a year old. Unlike eagles who mate for life, hawks do not stay together year round nor always have the same amte, they meet each year in the same place and nest in the same place. They get killed in fences and by cars a lot...simple reasoning...their eyesight. While they have a keen eyesight just as the eagle, the hawk is a target fixator unless other raptors, especially eagles. Example: a mouse in a farmer's field....a hawk will see the mouse move, target the mouse and dive for the kill...never seeing the farmer on the tractor in the same field, never seeing a fence or the scarecrow 20' away....all it sees is its target. The main reason the Redtail Hawk is the most accurate killer of the raptors. Now that same scenerio but the eagle see the mouse. The eagle sees the mouse, the farmer, the fence the scarecrow and etc...it evaluates all aspects of diving for the target and as it does so, it watches all other moving things around the target. Making it also a lethal predator and less likely to fly into that fenceline and break its neck or get tangled up. They are amazing creatures and I love them but not around my birds.

If there is no mark on the hawk, I bet your roos hit him and broke the neck...they most likely would have jumped him from behind.... If it is any comfort to you, your girl was most likely dead before the carnage began...most likely the hawk broke her neck as that is where they strike and how they kill....or the back.

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
Yep... a hawk afraid of chickens is great. Up to about 5 years ago I had a few hawk losses a year.... I free range on acreage without fences and accept this as something that happens. I was outside one summer and this hawk was hungry. It tried to grab my broody's only chick and as all the birds turned to run to safety, the broody turned around for her chick and attacked the hawk. Hen flogged the hawk once and the hawk flew off for about 15 seconds, caught sight of the chick again, dove down for try two, and broody flogged the hawk good enough that they did a tumble before the hawk flew off. Didn't have a single hawk loss till just this past winter when my best guess is the hawk who had this as their grounds was replaced by another hawk who was not afraid of the chickens. All the while the battle was going on, my 11 lb rooster was screaming his head off clucking in the woods.

To get a flighted bird, I'd summarize the chickens would have had one lucky shot. I'd be inclined to say the larger bird of prey did in the juvenile.

 

[LilDucky85]

I'm sorry for your loss. I know how it is to have those favorite few. I'm always worried something will happen to my favorite ducks.

On a happier note, I had to watch the end of your video like 3 times because the goose attacking you was hilarious!!

I'm sorry, Ive just never seen an attack goose before, and the way you responded was the funniest part.

As far as the netting, you could always attach it from the fence to the top of the coop. It could work that way since the coop is pretty much in the center.

 

[annie3001]

Wow!
watched your video! scarey!!!!!

 

[pride&joy]

Did you or can you still examine the hawk carcass ? If it has wounds on it you could maybe determine who did it? I have coopers hawks here in Homestead FL we live not 5 miles east of the Glades and see coopers hawks hunting doves over my property all the time. I had 4 completely free range chickens for years they sort of moved in to the goat barn. No we have more chickens and brooders full underway. We have balloons, ribbons and are going to get some of those robotic owls. My Anatolians will bark and lunge at the hawks if the perch within sight of them. I am getting some netting to cover lg yard

What video?

 

[NateinFL]

Redhen, I'm so sorry to hear about your favorite chicken getting taken, that's why I keep my emotions out of having chickens because as soon as I get my favorite and spend lots of time with it, something bad happens to it

The CDs hanging from the trees did not work for me, but others have reported success.

And yes, that is a young Coopers Hawk. The theory of a larger hawk killing it off seems logical. The larger hawk prolly finished eathing the prey b/c alot of meat looks missing for that little hawk to have eaten.

 

[redhen]

pride&joy :

Did you or can you still examine the hawk carcass ? If it has wounds on it you could maybe determine who did it? I have coopers hawks here in Homestead FL we live not 5 miles east of the Glades and see coopers hawks hunting doves over my property all the time. I had 4 completely free range chickens for years they sort of moved in to the goat barn. No we have more chickens and brooders full underway. We have balloons, ribbons and are going to get some of those robotic owls. My Anatolians will bark and lunge at the hawks if the perch within sight of them. I am getting some netting to cover lg yard

What video?

Hi! I made a video in the coop forum/section. Showing how my run was set up and asking advice on how to get bird netting over my chicken run,(so this dosent happen again..) because its such an odd/large shaped run. She metioned the video because in the video my goose decides to use his super stealth skills and attack me..

maybe i will examine the body of the hawk... (or make hubby do it...LOL ) thanks!​