Scary.... Hawk tried to attack ducks

[Sue S]

This was the first time I had to deal with a hawk trying to get my ducks. I was in the shower & heard my dog Bacon barking aggressively, when I got out of the shower & looked out the window, I saw my ducks going into our big pond ( that was a first time they always go into the smaller pond, the big pond has snapping turtles in it, so they always avoid it ) as I looked closer I saw a hawk swooping down at them, I went running outside with a towel on my head & around myself, I live in the country, not many neighbors ( thank god !!!) The ducks were fine, the hawk flew away, I ran inside got dressed & heard another commotion & the hawk was back, it flew away again when it saw me running out the door ( dressed this time !!!! ) So, I put the ducks in the pen for the day. That's the first I saw or had a hawk messing with the ducks, will it be back or was in just passing threw????
Also, I talked to my " pop's" & he thinks it was a cooper hawk

 

[casportpony]

It might be back and some hawks will try to get full grown ducks.

 

[townchicks]

That's pretty scary. I would leave the ducks in their pen for a week or so to be safe. This is migration time, so hopefully it will move on, but it might linger for a bit. It also may swing back through in spring, so keep that in mind. Good dog, Bacon.

 

[Sue S]

Yes, Bacon is a very good dog, He's a Pomeranian put he thinks he's a big bad bear!!!! He's not afraid of anything!!! I'm planning on keeping the ducks penned for a couple days at least, even though it's very nice here today in Pa going to be in the 90's but they have a kiddie pool in the pen so the can still play in the water, rather be safe than sorry

 

[casportpony]

Yes, Bacon is a very good dog, He's a Pomeranian put he thinks he's a big bad bear!!!! He's not afraid of anything!!! I'm planning on keeping the ducks penned for a couple days at least, even though it's very nice here today in Pa going to be in the 90's but they have a kiddie pool in the pen so the can still play in the water, rather be safe than sorry

Sounds like a good plan!

 

[MissChick@dee]

Hawks!
Ya know I put CD’s in my trees and have only seen a hawk once. We have so many
Maybe wishful thinking but I swear haven’t seen them. Heck the used to taunt ME!

 

[Miss Lydia]

They will pick up small dogs to if the get a chance I keep close eye on my mini dachshunds when they are out.

 

[Sue S]

Will the cooper hawk try to take/kill my ducks???? My friend says since my ducks are full grown the hawks will not be able to fly off with them, they will go after something smaller

 

[Abraeri]

Will the cooper hawk try to take/kill my ducks???? My friend says since my ducks are full grown the hawks will not be able to fly off with them, they will go after something smaller

Your friend is probably right about hawks not being able to carry one off. Instead a hawk will basically land on top of the duck (happened to one of our ducks recently, thank God the claw didn't go through her neck and we saw her in time), and kill it right there and eat it. I think cooper hawks are smaller than the red tails we have here, but you never know what these animals will do when they are hungry.

 

[MissChick@dee]

We have a Hugh female who nests every year about 2 acres from my house. I don’t especially worry about her she’s an experienced hawk and I’ve seen her hunt the pastures. I don’t believe SHE would try for my hens they are plus size ladies. Her Babies are the ones who come to my yard they are inexperience enough that they would try to kill and eat from the ground. It’s ridiculous how brazen they get. Honestly the CD’s did seem to help. Or perhaps Momma chased them off from her hunting grounds.