watch for hawks with rain? wind?

[thedoors5to1]

so im guessing its less likely to have an encounter with a hawk when its raining or windy? right? im guessing unless they are really hungry they wont be hunting... any ideas?

 

[redhen]

goood question....

 

[scooter147]

A light rain will not slow them down but a hard driving rain will. Gusty windy days in which the wind is around 20 mph or higher makes it difficult for them strike their prey so they are less likely to actively hunt unless they have not eaten for a day or two.
This is per the World Bird Sanctuary here in suburban St. Louis.

 

[Bunnylady]

I just lost a young Barred Rock hen to a hawk this morning. We'd had a front come through earlier, and though the rain had quit, it was still pretty breezy. This is the fourth chicken this particular hawk has taken in about 2 weeks. His plumage tells me he's a young bird, so maybe he doesn't know he isn't supposed to be able to hunt under those conditions! But, considering that what he's doing is the raptor's version of shooting fish in a barrel, maybe it isn't really "hunting" anyway!

 

[kayri]

I'm sorry about your barred rock. They are always my favorites. I was just wondering the same thing about whether I could let my girls out from their netted area if it was really windy or rainy.

 

[wildorchid053]

we had 3 bald eagles circling low yesterday.. had to rush and grab chickens and put them into the garage.. when they left we moved them back into the run.. garage was the closest thing to hide in lol. they were screetching and circling about 50' above.. really pretty and it was very windy out 40 mph winds. they left soon after..

 

[thedoors5to1]

it almost always seems like they arent around when its windy. but with this gusty front coming in with so much rain today they seemed fine, i checked on them often and didnt see or hear the cry of the hawk, they were playing in the water gushing from the gutters...

Bunny lady sorry to hear about your barred rock. i almost lost my duck the other day, a hawk had her by the leg and we managed to scare it off.

 

[cappy]

Don't count on rain keeping hawks away. I have a pair that sit on my fence to watch for grubs, especially when it rains. Sometimes they look like drowned rats they are so wet but it doesn't stop them. Strong wind will play havock with their soaring and diving but they will still try.

Ken