OMG that pair is a set of Falcons

[Habibs Hens]

For the last 3 years of living in my new place i seen almost daily a set of birds far far in the distance and way up high in the sky

i always thought they where a pair of tame Hawks kept as pets

i thought this as where i used to see them flying was around about above a local park and they alway flew there in circles

so i thought the owner is proberly flying them for a bit

I have had chicken now for just over a months and since having them i seen this Bird start to fly way up high above my garden

Well Today i got the Fright of my Life and not just for my chicken but for my children

I was out making repairs to the chicken coop so i decided to let them free range as i was gonna be out there with them

my kids came out too as they enjoy playing and chasing the chicken

I told my daughter to watch the chicken as i went into kitchen with has a window that looks onto the back yard

i was standing my the sink looking out the window and to my horror the Bird Now confirmed to be a Falcon Came swooping down

it was only 6 feet in the air and i ran out side and it swooped away

It wasnt frightened of my kids although never has came when i been out there, what if it tryed to grab my kids

now i know it cant lift my kids but it would have seriouly hurt my kids with its talons whilst attempting to


Grrrrrrrrrr im so annoyed now and looks like free range is gonna be minimal

 

[Habibs Hens]

Actually after a bit of research and compairing what i saw it could be a Kestral or a Hen Harrier

although still from the falcon family

 

[sourland]

I doubt that your children are in any danger, but monitored free ranging of your birds is a good idea. How big a problem are flying predators in Europe. On a recent trip there ( 12 days) all I saw was one pair of buzzards and one 'falcon like' bird.

 

[Aschenfire]

A kestrel?? They are not big enough to be a threat to anything bigger than a small rodent or songbird. They are no threat to humans >.<

 

[Habibs Hens]

This thing was big

in the sky it looked big and thats why i always thought it was a Hawk

and when it swooped down it looked rather large

and the fact it made an attempt says to me it wants my chicken


kestrels are all over Britain all year round but i must admit in all the years and i'm 31 this is teh first Bird of Prey i seen in UK flying wild

for that matter first pair i seen in my neighbourhood

 

[speckledhen]

A kestrel is a fairly small bird, about the size and shape of a Mourning Dove. It's the smallest falcon in America. Doubt it would be a threat to a grown chicken, unless there is some other type of kestrel I'm not aware of. A Merlin looks similar, but is slightly larger.


I've seen a kestrel chasing a songbird through our trees. I can't see it killing a standard size chicken, but maybe someone who knows more can comment.

 

[Habibs Hens]

i can see how these birds are small but they are opertunistic and maybe not take my chicken away due to weight but it sure can kill one in an attempt to take it

and the one i saw was big

i would say the size of large bantam chicken

and my pullet has only started laying so around 22 weeks and they are small

and oen breed is a white star which is 19 weeks and fully grown she is ment to be small

 

[Whittni]

I've had that fear before, but then I started wearing a gardener's hat so I wouldn't look like anything from above.

 

[Nambroth]

Your children are in no danger-- the only reason birds of prey attack people at all is if we are approaching their nesting sites and they are worried the chicks are in danger.

If it was a kestrel, nothing except a baby chick would be in danger. A kestrel wouldn't even attempt a bantam (adult) on its hungriest day. Kestrels are just too small.

It is hard to offer advice without knowing what species you are dealing with, I am sorry! Until you confirm the species of raptor, perhaps limiting free range is wise.

If it is a falcon, is there any chance it was attempting to prey on a wild songbird in your yard? Falcons generally are not interested in chickens, but do enjoy preying on wild birds.

 

[hennyandpenny]

a kestrl can a nd will kill chicks i recently lost 4 chicks to a kestrel. if they are a bout half the size of the adults i would think larger birds would take them. but when they are still pretty small chicks(can still put your hand around it to when they stand as tall as your hand) make sure the area is COMPLETELY covered or you will lose a lot of birds. also i have had my standard sized hens chase the kestrel