THIS is Why I Have Roosters...Thwarted Hawk Attack
- Thread starter speckledhen
- Start date
Quote:
Go Roosters!
I lost my big rooster a couple of months ago to illness and the hawks have gotten a little bolder since. It breaks my heart because even on the day before he died he scared off a hawk with the last of his energy.
I always knew when the hawks were around because it was the same thing here. Hens hiding everywhere they could squeeze and Tank in the middle of the yard singin' "Bring it on!"
I hope you gave them lots of extra treats.
Go Roosters!
I lost my big rooster a couple of months ago to illness and the hawks have gotten a little bolder since. It breaks my heart because even on the day before he died he scared off a hawk with the last of his energy.
I always knew when the hawks were around because it was the same thing here. Hens hiding everywhere they could squeeze and Tank in the middle of the yard singin' "Bring it on!"
I hope you gave them lots of extra treats.
Unfortunately, my 2 lovely EE roos didn't do a thing to prevent one of my 12 hens from getting attacked by a hawk. In fact, they ran for cover with the rest of the hens - screaming like girls all the way!! They do, however, make sure no one is attacked by Canadian Geese. They have a HUGE reaction everytime a Canada Goose flies by!!
(My brave boys!!!
)
- Thread starter
- #26
6chickens in St. Charles :
Great story!
Do your two roosters get along with each other? Would they fight each other?
We're wondering whether to let some of our nice roobabies stay, we've heard some roosters will get along just fine.
"Going off like a fire alarm" is just right! Don't you love it?! Nothing gets past an alert rooster!
These boys can't be together without a fence in between. Suede was in his pen while the main flock was free ranging with Isaac. They can both sound the alarm, though. Suede is twice as old as Isaac so they didn't grow up together.
As far as them running away with the girls, they run with them, but they sort of herd them to safety, from what I've seen. Some of the girls run to the rooster and he needs to avoid the predator if he can do so and keep the girls safe. I do expect them to sound the alarm and try to get the girls to safety, including themselves, however, if the hawk had hit the ground or grabbed a hen, I'm sure Ike would have been on him immediately. I would only expect a rooster to engage a predator if he had no other choice. The hawk never caught anyone nor did he actually hit the ground or I think the scene would have been slightly different. If he hangs around, I may get a chance to see that happen, unfortunately.
Great story!
Do your two roosters get along with each other? Would they fight each other?
We're wondering whether to let some of our nice roobabies stay, we've heard some roosters will get along just fine.
"Going off like a fire alarm" is just right! Don't you love it?! Nothing gets past an alert rooster!
These boys can't be together without a fence in between. Suede was in his pen while the main flock was free ranging with Isaac. They can both sound the alarm, though. Suede is twice as old as Isaac so they didn't grow up together.
As far as them running away with the girls, they run with them, but they sort of herd them to safety, from what I've seen. Some of the girls run to the rooster and he needs to avoid the predator if he can do so and keep the girls safe. I do expect them to sound the alarm and try to get the girls to safety, including themselves, however, if the hawk had hit the ground or grabbed a hen, I'm sure Ike would have been on him immediately. I would only expect a rooster to engage a predator if he had no other choice. The hawk never caught anyone nor did he actually hit the ground or I think the scene would have been slightly different. If he hangs around, I may get a chance to see that happen, unfortunately.
- Aug 3, 2009
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Your boys did good, Speckledhen!
I LOVE keeping roosters-every flock should have them!
Nothing is more impressive to me than a rooster protecting his flock at his own peril!
I LOVE keeping roosters-every flock should have them!
Nothing is more impressive to me than a rooster protecting his flock at his own peril!
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We had a Red Tailed Hawk attack on Christmas Eve. One of my ladies, the Barred Rock, was dust bathing at the edge of the coop. All the others were foraging and doing chicken things - including the roos. The attack happened so quickly. I don't think any of them even saw the hawk coming. They all reacted and ran/flew like mad to the human house after he had hit - and under the porch/deck. Peggoty was nailed right there in her dust hole and started screaming like nothing I'd ever heard before. I was out of the house (in one slipper and one sock) running through patchy snow to rescue my poor Peg. I was practically touching that hawk before it would give up my hen but he did give her up and she has survived; with some pretty nasty holes, bruising, and half bald. (She's eating and drinking well and never quit laying although she wasn't able to get up to the high roost at night for a couple of days because of the hole in her thigh.)
These current roos of mine are really a pair of wusses. Perhaps we're all just a little too relaxed around here! Truly lovely boys but not an aggressive bone in their body. Not toward humans, each other, or predators, so it seems. The attack on Christmas Eve was our first issue with a predator and it really did happen very quickly. Perhaps they'll have learned from that experience and will defend their ladies better in the future. I know I have. I haven't been able to bring myself to let my flock of 14 out of the coop since!!!!! (And I am certainly Peg's hero. She actually seems to know that I saved her.)
These current roos of mine are really a pair of wusses. Perhaps we're all just a little too relaxed around here! Truly lovely boys but not an aggressive bone in their body. Not toward humans, each other, or predators, so it seems. The attack on Christmas Eve was our first issue with a predator and it really did happen very quickly. Perhaps they'll have learned from that experience and will defend their ladies better in the future. I know I have. I haven't been able to bring myself to let my flock of 14 out of the coop since!!!!! (And I am certainly Peg's hero. She actually seems to know that I saved her.)
BarnGoddess, I've had hawk attacks while I was outside......It is FAST. There is sometimes almost no time for even an alarm call. I was outside once and from the start of the dive (hawk was perched in a tall pine tree waiting and watching) to impact on the target bird was just about a couple of seconds. I still had my good hawk alarm rooster at the time and he was still in his first alarm with the hawk hit......They are bold and dangerous....I have been out in the yard for 2 separate attacks....neither was successful. I have also gone out when the hawk was just "hanging around". It is very bold.
I have found the best way to get rid of a hawk -- go outside with a camera. They HATE having their picture taken!!!! Aim that camera at them and they are gone!
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