Swarm!

[Critter Crazed]

I didn't know which place to put this in but I thought everyone on this thread would like this story.

Ever since my silkie chicks became a week old I have been taking them outside for about an hour each day because it's been so nice out!

I was sitting in the grass just enjoying them putzing around when I realized I forgot to look up at the sky for any predators because we have a ton out here. I look up and there HAD to be like at least 10 hawks or something circling around us! I was like HOLY CHEESE. They were getting close too! So I started putting everyone back into their "bus" and I looked up and there was only like one left... I brought the babies inside and they were gone.

I was like "NO EATING MY BABIES!"

I can't believe those birds did that though! Has this happened to anyone else?! I had my chicks in this hamster play pen I have from when I had a hamster. It's pretty big but the chicks were all near me. I wonder what would've happened if I walked away for a sec...

I wish I got a picture of it. There was at least 10, no exaggeration.

 

[Mahonri]

Amazing how that can happen.

 

[WilczenskiFarm]

That is crazy - I will remember that one!

 

[Boondachs]

Hawks? Are you sure they wern't Turkey Vultures?

 

[Chicken Ninja]

I have a story about hawks, however quite the opposite from yours.

So I was just sitting there, playing with my flock in the yard, when all of a sudden they all froze, almost instantly, at the same time. Then, they took off running, and basically jumped into our shrubs. I looked around, and saw that there was a hawk flying above. They had seen it before I did, and hid from it.

I was proud of them, but also mad because it took forever to get all of them out from under the vegetation.

 

[candad]

Sounds like turkey vultures. They tend to group up like that. They won't get the chickens. They like things that are already rotting.
If the wing tips curled up at the end, then it was vultures. Hawks wings stay flat with the wing all the way to the tip.

 

[jupitergirl]

I bet the swarm was turkey vultures. I heard that if you take baby chicks and pass a hawk shaped sillouette over them they will run for cover. It is genetic, I guess, to run from hawks!

 

[Boondachs]

look like this?

 

[Critter Crazed]

Quote:
Very well could be! I always just called them hawks. I never really payed much attention. Actually I think they were now that you say that. Big and black.

Edit to say: Now I feel stupid! They were turkey vultures! I remember because I saw a swarm before and my dad told me they were turkey vultures. Duh

It was still freaky! Haha.

That's why my chicks didn't freak out. I always thought they did like someone said from genetics. Hah! Chicks are smarter than me sheesh.
I wonder why they swarmed around us then? I mean they were really circling around us...
Maybe they heard the peeping and thought someone was hurt?

 

[desertcat]

When they're not looking for food, they like to ride on updrafts. Kinda like a roller coaster for soaring birds.