Scariest moment yet..... hawks!

[mamachicken888]

Well, my money is on the hawks, not vultures. They were very low, and circling the chicken run. They didn't like the lawn rake when I flailed it at them - they may have thought it looked like a huge wing. I'm still reeling from the experience. Amazing how protective you can get of those little chickens.

 

[coopncottage]

Thanks for the info in this thread. This is one of my worries--we had a pair of red-tailed hawks that nested in the huge spruce next to our house, and constantly hear owls calling as well. We have an enclosed run, so I feel they are safe there, but I like to let our little flock (7 hens) free range during the afternoon, and now I'm not sure about that. Our small yard has large trees on each side, with branches that overhang the area (not sure if that's good cover, or a launching spot for predators), and the girls can get into the run any time, but I'm thinking I'll pull out our old cedar picnic table as an additional hiding spot. Though, knowing the girls, they'll use it mostly as a spot to sit on top of

.

I've been keeping them in the run until noon because I work in the morning, then letting them free range in the afternoon... now I'm thinking that timing is off.

Debbie
http://coopandcottage.blogspot.com/

 

[christineavatar]

That's where I think I'm lucky. We live on swamp land and there are no trees for the hawks to hide in wait. I saw one just the other day sitting on a branch a good distance from my yard. I could watch it trying to decide how he could get one of those chickens. I sat there what was at least 30 minutes staring down at my birds but it finally gave up. I think it quit because it couldn't get enough of a vantage point to launch an effective attack.

 

[Chick1043]

I was just putting away my girls and right after I grabbed the last hen I hear screaming birds from over me!! Aaah!! Four (okay sized) hawk!! That was about a month ago. Haven't seen a hawk since! Luckily!

 

[gophert]

Here's a quick way to tell a vulture from a hawk: vultures hold their wings in a V, not flat, and tip and waver back and forth as they soar.

My money's on vultures, too, just because large groups of them often kettle up together and fly low. Hawks...you rarely see more than two at a time.

 

[harveyhorses]

Rarely? It seems like they are all passing through on their way south, I have been seeing three and 4 at a time for the past month or so. and I DO know the difference. taking the season and migration into account it could be either, but don't rule hawks out because there was more than one.
My girls are getting really tired of little to no free roam time. They have been helping me get my raised beds ready for winter/fall crops, they really like getting between the beds.