Peregrine Falcons

[haylee]

I just recently started letting my six 7 week old chickens out in our yard. We have a really big yard with plenty of cover, and I watch them when they're out. We have a bunch of nesting falcons in the woods near our house and I was wondering if falcons could take away a chicken at the size they are. I really only hear the baby falcons calling around dusk and the chickens are in by then. These falcons, the little gopher that lives under their coop, and my killer manecoon cat are really the only pests that hang around the yard.

Have any of you had problems with falcons or is it only hawks that I should worry about?

 

[centrarchid]

Birds nesting in your woods are likely hawks of some sort. Only falcons I know of that nest in trees are merlins and American kestrels and neither likely to go after even 7 week old chickens. Determine raptor ID. If Coopers, red-tailed or in you neck of woods goshawk then you have a threat. Other species seem not interested in chickens or simply too small.

 

[haylee]

Birds nesting in your woods are likely hawks of some sort. Only falcons I know of that nest in trees are merlins and American kestrels and neither likely to go after even 7 week old chickens. Determine raptor ID. If Coopers, red-tailed or in you neck of woods goshawk then you have a threat. Other species seem not interested in chickens or simply too small.

I think they are some kind of falcon, they aren't hawks. I looked into some bird calls and they really sound like falcons and they are pretty small. I hope they aren't a threat! Thank you for the info!

It helped a lot!

 

[mohawkbrian]

Centrachid is right. Hawks of most species are a threat. Even a female sparrow hawk could be a threat but your main hawk issues are with members of the genus buteo. Accipiter hawks are also a problem. As for falcons the only ones which would think abput taking a chuck are gyrs but they will not be found in your area

 

[haylee]

Centrachid is right. Hawks of most species are a threat. Even a female sparrow hawk could be a threat but your main hawk issues are with members of the genus buteo. Accipiter hawks are also a problem. As for falcons the only ones which would think abput taking a chuck are gyrs but they will not be found in your area

I know, I've heard so many horror stories about hawks

I sure hope they aren't hawks

, I'll totally look into it and try to match them up. Thanks for the info!