Remember i was wondering why no attacks? Well....Hawk

[jmc]

It happened this morning, 9:05. I came out to check on the birds and saw a Cooper's fly out of the pen. He got the alpha drake. Darn it!

all other birds terrified and in the main shelter. so that makes 19 girls and now 3 males.

funny how this hurts.

just want you any who are interested to have this data from MA.

I see i am not the only one with hawk issues these days

 

[redhen]

Yeah... i'm in Mass also. Just had a hawk get one of my girls the other day too.
They are everywhere here..

 

[Frannabelle]

They're here everywhere in Michigan too. I don't know if they are Cooper's or Sharped Shinned, but I see them all day long, circling over head ..........

Eat a dang mourning dove!

 

[HathawayHens]

yup. we're having problems here in FL... just lost our first to a hawk, hadn't had a problem since we got them in the spring. I guess fall / winter is bad for hawks?

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

My chickens don't seem to even notice the hawk. I believe what one BYC'er told me, after one is taken the others will learn. Unfortunately, they have to learn the hard way. Just hope it's one of the Brown Leg Horns.

 

[OverEggstended]

Hmmm... our resident hawk gets birds from my feeders and pond area all the time, but ignores my chickens. Perhaps it is becase they are rather large?

 

[knjinnm]

Never assume hawks do not live in your environment. They nest on the ledges of tall buildings, abandoned buildings ...
It may take awhile but eventually they will discover your chicken coop.

 

[mdbokc]

Drive along the fields here. There will be one on about every 12-13 fence posts at times. It is creepy and fascinating at the same time when you see it.

 

[theFox]

Quote:
Well how come a hawk got to one of your birds?

 

[jmc]

actually, i can verify that it is absolutely NOT a Cooper's Hawk.

It was back this evening. It is a Buteo. I am pretty sure it is an immature Red Shouldered. I was a birder for years and i know it is no mature bird. We have Red Shouldered breeding here, as we are bordered on east and south by wetland/marshes.

It could be a transient, possibly a local hatch.

i know i'll see it again--probably tomorrow--for another look. But it ain't no slender, small Coopers. A Coopers would have had an awful time with this really tough, medium weight breed, alpha drake.