Raptors, Raptors Everywhere!

[Aunt Angus]

I knew there were hawks, kites, and kestrel in the area, but I've never seen them in my immediate neighborhood... until today!

I heard weird bird noises about noon today. My BO makes ridiculous noises when she lays, so I thought it was her just being obnoxious. Then, a couple of hours later, I heard it again. I went out to see if my BO was in trouble, and I saw not one, not two, but THREE hawks about 300 yards from my house. It looked as though there were 2 males arguing over a female. The magpies were all in a tizzy trying to chase them off, which was the source of the hullabaloo. I think they were Cooper's hawks. I put my chickens back in their run pronto!

Then, a few hours later, I was doing some yardwork in the front of my house, and I saw 2 red tailed hawks flying waaaay up over the property next to us. And then a turkey vulture flew over. Move over, Alfred Hitchcock: it's bird-mageddon out here all of a sudden!


What the heck is going on? Mating? Hatching? It's been ridiculously nice this weekend (70's and lots of sun). Does that have something to do with it? Or is it always like this in early spring, and I'm only noticing because I now have chickens?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We always have lots of hawks, and vultures flying over during the warmer months. Colder months they are mostly absent. Very seldom do they bother my birds. Others have nothing but troubles from them.

It is breeding season and birds are returning, so expect to keep seeing them about for months to come.

 

[Aunt Angus]

We always have lots of hawks, and vultures flying over during the warmer months. Colder months they are mostly absent. Very seldom do they bother my birds. Others have nothing but troubles from them.

It is breeding season and birds are returning, so expect to keep seeing them about for months to come.

I probably just paid them no mind because I didn't have chickens this time last year. Goodness.... Made my chicken-adoring heart go all aflutter, I tell you what.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Like @oldhenlikesdogs said, it’s breedibg season. They’ll settle down around the middle of summer.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Like @oldhenlikesdogs said, it’s breedibg season. They’ll settle down around the middle of summer.

Good to know.

VERY good to know.

 

[Alaskan]

They can be VERY bold.

If you are not standing right next to your hens... I would keep the hens under lock and key.

 

[Aunt Angus]

They can be VERY bold.

If you are not standing right next to your hens... I would keep the hens under lock and key.

That's my plan. They are not happy, but that's just too bad.

 

[Alaskan]

Can you mow the lawn and give them grass clippings? Or a big pile of leaves to play in?

Or you could buy a bale of hay and put it in the run... just take off the strings but leave it in a block. They will have so much fun trying to break up the bale and make a mess.


Just some ideas to keep them from going stir crazy.

 

[Banditschickens]

Get some old logs small enough for you to be able
to move after about a week or two. Boy do the birds
love it when I move there logs..lol worms and all kinds
of things they love to eat.
I have the fun of watching attack chickens then.

 

[Sequel]

Good to know.

VERY good to know.

Just remember to go through your closet and find some "Scare Kates" lol