Rip Mufasa

[Elmochook]

I was talking to my neighbor tpday and she told me one of her roosters was attacked but all the predator took was his head? What does that sound like, if it was a hawk wouldn't it have carried off the whole bird? I have also seen a large possum recently around here.... ?

Just curious about what i should be on the look out for to protect my birds? They only free range with my supervision.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I was talking to my neighbor tpday and she told me one of her roosters was attacked but all the predator took was his head? What does that sound like, if it was a hawk wouldn't it have carried off the whole bird? I have also seen a large possum recently around here.... ?

Just curious about what i should be on the look out for to protect my birds? They only free range with my supervision.

It sounds like how other members have described the hawks dine and dash tactics to me. Usually it is the head and neck. I have never experienced this personally, but am so sorry to hear about your neighbors loss. I wish you the best.

 

[Elmochook]

Ugh thats a shame. What a waste... :'( i have seen 2 very large hawks at the back of my property so im not surprised.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Ugh thats a shame. What a waste... :'( i have seen 2 very large hawks at the back of my property so im not surprised.

The other reason I am suspecting a hawk, is raccoon and opossum kind of view chicken like potato chips, they usually aren't happy killing just one.

 

[Elmochook]

The other reason I am suspecting a hawk, is raccoon and opossum kind of view chicken like potato chips, they usually aren't happy killing just one.

I'm fairly sure it happened in the day time but i didnt ask when, possums and coons hint at night right?

 

[Elmochook]

Hunt

 

[AllenK RGV]

I'm fairly sure it happened in the day time but i didnt ask when, possums and coons hint at night right?

exactly!

 

[AllenK RGV]

If you have noticed a "pair" of hawks they are probably "Harris Hawks" those are the only known pack hunting Texas hawks I am aware of. And yes HArris HAwks are on the large size for Hawks.

 

[Elmochook]

I can't wait till spring is here and the hawks move on about their business.i know they are just doing whats natural but ughhh.

Ive only ever noticed red tail hawks but i could be wrong. I will look up harris hawks. One was in the tree of my neighbor on the left and the other in my biggest tree at the back of my property, i only have 1 acre... I ran outside when I saw them yelling and hitting my rake on the fence and it didnt make them budge. I have all my runs fenced in but i think i need to invest in bird netting.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Ugh thats a shame. What a waste... :'( i have seen 2 very large hawks at the back of my property so im not surprised.

We had a what my wife tells me was a "Road Hawk" crash into our house two weeks ago and stun itself trying to get at our birds. I did swear it was a peregrin falcon because it was so small. It didn't matter it managed to recover before the dogs got to it. But just a reminder to myself I am no expert at raptor identification