We live in semi-ruralness and frequently see hawks or falcons overhead. Ealier this year I chased off a hawk that flew about 2 feet overhead of one of our bantams by clapping my hands, yelling loudly and running at it.
Today, DH and I were outside and a hawk swooped down and tried to snatch a 12 week old white silkie that was only about 8 feet away from me. (Now granted the little white silkie looks like hawk-bait as she seems to stand in the middle of the yard for the better part of the day.) But the hawk tried to snatch her while she was right next to me. For those of you who think that a hawk will not try to take a chicken that is right next to you, think again. And unless you are close enough to it you won't be able to do anything.
I had a piece of rubbermaid/tupperware in my hand because I had just dumped it in the compost pile. I only saw the hawk out of the corner of my eye and then instinct took over. I chunked that tupperware at the hawk and hit it. That got it's attention and gave me a second to start to lung at it which really got it's attention and it let go of the silkie to pay attention to me. The silkie ran under a bush and the hawk flew off.
Just like others have posted. Big old pile of feathers all over the place from the silkie. We put her up and she looks unscathed but shaken. Although I looked for wounds I cannot find any but there are places where the feathers look messed up. Kinda hard to tell with those fuzzy silkies.
All other chickens went on lockdown back to the coop. DH and DD's helped round up everyone.
That silly old hawk came back a minute later and did a flyby on the pen. We were still out and chased it off.
Now I am considering a larger pen. Funny thing is that everyone but the silkie has been free-ranging all week long while I have been at work. What are the chances that we caught the one attack?
If silkies are like fluffy cats, that one only has 8 lives left.
Today, DH and I were outside and a hawk swooped down and tried to snatch a 12 week old white silkie that was only about 8 feet away from me. (Now granted the little white silkie looks like hawk-bait as she seems to stand in the middle of the yard for the better part of the day.) But the hawk tried to snatch her while she was right next to me. For those of you who think that a hawk will not try to take a chicken that is right next to you, think again. And unless you are close enough to it you won't be able to do anything.
I had a piece of rubbermaid/tupperware in my hand because I had just dumped it in the compost pile. I only saw the hawk out of the corner of my eye and then instinct took over. I chunked that tupperware at the hawk and hit it. That got it's attention and gave me a second to start to lung at it which really got it's attention and it let go of the silkie to pay attention to me. The silkie ran under a bush and the hawk flew off.
Just like others have posted. Big old pile of feathers all over the place from the silkie. We put her up and she looks unscathed but shaken. Although I looked for wounds I cannot find any but there are places where the feathers look messed up. Kinda hard to tell with those fuzzy silkies.
All other chickens went on lockdown back to the coop. DH and DD's helped round up everyone.
That silly old hawk came back a minute later and did a flyby on the pen. We were still out and chased it off.
Now I am considering a larger pen. Funny thing is that everyone but the silkie has been free-ranging all week long while I have been at work. What are the chances that we caught the one attack?
If silkies are like fluffy cats, that one only has 8 lives left.
