R.I. R and Egyptian team up.

[scooter147]

I have posted before that I have a coopers hawk that has been in the neighborhood for a couple years now (at least I think it is the same one) and frequently gets his meal at my wild bird feeder and much to my pleasure it is usually a starling (see my other post on how much I hate those things).
Anyway, it was such a beautiful day yesterday I was out raking up the final batch of leaves when I hear my rooster give out the hawk warning call. Then the girls chimed in with their loud warning calls.
I saw the coopers hawk on the ground, I stood and watched and my one and only RIR and one and only Egyptian came tearing out of the hedge row wings out, neck feathers out and heads down right at the hawk. He didn't stay long.
I probably shouldn't jinx myself but in the two years or so I have seen this hawk and I usually see him every day I am home he has not taken a single chicken nor have I seen him go after them, his sticks are always at the wild birds.

 

[birdsofparadise]

That must have been hilarious to see a fayoumi go after a hawk. They say they are feisty little birds. But the RIR? Other than squawking like mad, Iʻve never seen them charge like you describe. Apparently, this hawk had finally worn out their last nerve. Glad no one was hurt and hopefully they will all live in peaceful harmony. Yeah, right!

 

[ebonykawai]

LOL, my RIRs go after my dogs!! HA!!! A hawk is nothing for them!

 

[scooter147]

I love my Egyptian, she literally caused the feathers to fly from this same coopers hawk last summer when it dive bombed her chicks, she hit it head on, no fear!! she definately has very strong survivor skills. I usually have to flush her out of the pecan tree at least once a month as she decides she wants to roost outside. She actually roosts on a 6 inch ledge in the rafters of the coop. It is about 8 feet from the ground and she flys right up to it, no problem, it is the highest point in the coop.
She is a excellent broody, I have hatched and raised 4 sets of chicks with her. She has hatched every egg and raised all the chicks to maturity.
She is not afraid of anything when sitting or rearing her brood. She has no problem coming after me if I handle her chicks and they protest and she sends my two dogs running with their tails between their legs if they get too close.

 

[scooter147]

The hawk part of my above post, I had just set this hen and chicks outside to get a little exercise and some free ranging and this hawk flew right past me to try and get a chick, brave booger.

 

[CarlaRiggs]

Well! I hope that hawk has learned its lesson for a while!!

Carla