Small hawk

[LauraSac]

This morning, I heard what sounded like a small hawk and then I noticed a fairly large nest in a tree that is on the property line between our back yard and our neighbors. Just as I was looking up at it, a small hawk flew out, maybe a Sharp Shinned, or possibly a slightly bigger hawk, but still not that big. I didn't get a good enough look at it to ID it, but will try better tonight.

I thought that was pretty cool, but I want to make sure my girls are safe. My Rhode Island Reds are 20 and 21 weeks, so quite a bit bigger than the hawk. They're in an enclosed run mostly, and only free range when I'm home. They don't really like to free range unless I'm out with them. If I head inside, they head back to the run. But do I even need to concern myself with a small hawk? If it were a Red Tail or another large hawk, I'd definitely worry having it nesting in my yard, but not sure about this size. It seems like the song birds, of which I have plenty, would be the ones in danger.

What do you think?

 

[roosterhavoc]

Yes definitely. Usually the smaller hawks are worse than the red tails. Coopers, sharp shinned etc.. The size of the chicken doesn't always matter. A lot of time the hawk will stand on a chickens neck and pin it to the ground while it spreads it wings to maintain balance while the bigger chicken tries to fight it off. The hawk usually wins. They will eat it right there most of the time. Could be a young red tail.

 

[nan4848]

I would worry, especially if it is a sharp shinned or cooper's, but if there is plenty of smaller prey around I would think the hawk would go at an easier/smaller target first that can be carried to the nest. But you never know.

Oh, and a Sharp shinned will go places a larger hawk will not. Size of the chicken does not matter. Just youtube hawk and chicken coop/run.

 

[LauraSac]

Yes definitely. Usually the smaller hawks are worse than the red tails. Coopers, sharp shinned etc.. The size of the chicken doesn't always matter. A lot of time the hawk will stand on a chickens neck and pin it to the ground while it spreads it wings to maintain balance while the bigger chicken tries to fight it off. The hawk usually wins. They will eat it right there most of the time. Could be a young red tail.

Glad I asked! Like I said, they're never outside on their own. Even if I just go inside for a minute, they head back to the run, so I don't even bother trying to let them free range on their own anymore. The run is covered with corrugated panels and quarter inch hardware cloth for the "sun roof" so they're safe in there.

I would worry, especially if it is a sharp shinned or cooper's, but if there is plenty of smaller prey around I would think the hawk would go at an easier/smaller target first that can be carried to the nest. But you never know.

Oh, and a Sharp shinned will go places a larger hawk will not. Size of the chicken does not matter. Just youtube hawk and chicken coop/run.

I hope they go after the rats that have been eating my tomatoes. I will go out there after work with my binoculars to see if I can ID it. It flew out fast and I wasn't prepared for it, so it's possible it's a falcon, but the wings are usually a giveaway with falcons. I don't know that a falcon would be any better.

 

[LauraSac]

Could be a young red tail.

The tail was barred, so I don't think it was a red tail. It was gray, too, which is why I thought Sharp Shinned, but I was looking at a listing of hawks in Northern California, and Merlins popped up as a possibility. They're gray with a banded tail too. The wings didn't look like a falcon, but it was flying away from me, not above me.

 

[Rocky Rhodes]

Any hawk of any size can take down a chicken, and will usually stop hunting wild prey if domestic birds are available. I would coop my birds if I were you. Young nestling hawks need a lot of meat to grow to adulthood, that's probably why they chose to nest near a ready supply. Good luck!!

 

[soydo]

Those kind of hawks- sharpshins and coopers IMO are the worst ones on poultry, especially little or young ones. Birds are a big part of their prey so chickens just are a natural thing for them to go at. Be careful as they hunt by surprise, hiding and watching or swooping through trees and brush with lightening quick reflexes to change direction and pounce on a bird before it sees the hawk and can react. They make regular paths so they can memorize the twists and turns. Unfortunately that means they can make the coop or yard with poultry as part of their regular rounds plus their surprise method can be devastating on chicks.. they are relentless in coming around and even mothers lose their chicks because many times they just don't see until too late...

They can be extremely bold, swooping down in full presence of people. The good thing is, most of them really go after the little ones only and largely leave the big full grown chickens alone. But a few do go after even a fully grown RIR.

As for youtube there is one of a captive coopers or sharpshin? flying through a hole in wall with normal and slow speed. It is admittedly amazing to see. But it is also sobering to realize the coop and run had better be proofed real good(as it should be anyways).

 

[LauraSac]

Any hawk of any size can take down a chicken, and will usually stop hunting wild prey if domestic birds are available. I would coop my birds if I were you. Young nestling hawks need a lot of meat to grow to adulthood, that's probably why they chose to nest near a ready supply. Good luck!!

Thanks. I only have two girls, so my supply is limited! My slightly older one just started laying this week and the other looks like she'll start any day. I'd hate to lose them.

 

[LauraSac]

Those kind of hawks- sharpshins and coopers IMO are the worst ones on poultry, especially little or young ones. Birds are a big part of their prey so chickens just are a natural thing for them to go at. Be careful as they hunt by surprise, hiding and watching or swooping through trees and brush with lightening quick reflexes to change direction and pounce on a bird before it sees the hawk and can react. They make regular paths so they can memorize the twists and turns. Unfortunately that means they can make the coop or yard with poultry as part of their regular rounds plus their surprise method can be devastating on chicks.. they are relentless in coming around and even mothers lose their chicks because many times they just don't see until too late...

They can be extremely bold, swooping down in full presence of people. The good thing is, most of them really go after the little ones only and largely leave the big full grown chickens alone. But a few do go after even a fully grown RIR.

As for youtube there is one of a captive coopers or sharpshin? flying through a hole in wall with normal and slow speed. It is admittedly amazing to see. But it is also sobering to realize the coop and run had better be proofed real good(as it should be anyways).

Thanks. My run and coop are pretty secure. The run is all 1/4 " hardware cloth, and I buried a skirt of hardware cloth around the perimeter, (except for the side against my garage which is on a cement slab). I put heavy pavers on top of the skirt and buried brick inside the run. Probably overkill, but I'm paranoid. I've had them since March and nobody has even tried to dig. I'm in an urban neighborhood, so raccoons, possums and hawks are the only predators (though we had a mountain lion come in from the river a few weeks ago, though that was the first time ever, so I don't think it will ever happen again). I knew I'd never want them to free range when I wasn't home, so the run is pretty big for just two. I didn't let them free range for a couple months, which is probably why they're so cautious. The run is their safe zone.

With all the rats we've had this summer, I think they'd find a way in if they could, but the only droppings have been on top. I feel good about that. I was going to put rat traps in the garden this weekend because they're eating my tomatoes, but now I don't know if I should leave them for the hawk?

 

[soydo]

Wow you started off better than the usual newbie.

Wouldn't worry about rats for the hawk as they are primarily nocturnal, hawks don't hunt at night. Sometimes seeing rats during daylight means there are so many rats they're getting a little desperate and starting to compete with each other for food.