We Are At War!!!!!!!!

[centrarchid]

Until 30 minutes ago (~ 5:45 PM CST) I had 13 female and 3 male 3-week old dominique chicks from Cackle hatchery. A Coopers Hawk-male-adult, took one of the male chicks from front yard, and flew downhill into woods of backyard with his squalling catch. I could hear nuthatches mobbing something in woods which I assume to be the hawk dismembering and consuming MY bitty! I hope the hawk chokes on a tibia! Chicks at risk have access to a 2" x 4" wire-mesh cage but failed to use it when counted. I am standing guard until dark to prevent hawk from taking seconds, then I confine chicks to hawk proof pen. Hatches will be battened down on larger flocks because I think the hawk will attempt larger size birds next. Darn chicks forgot about hawks intrusion after just 5 minutes. I wish my game flock would mingle more with extremely vulnerable chicks. I would at least give hawk pause. Next year I am going to try and make a rooster or two broody to see if he can make hawk think twice.

 

[Lbrad7]

A roo may give a Cooper's hawk pause in an attack but if you have Red Tails, they had just as soon eat him as one of the girls. A big roo is more bang for his buck and no problem at all for him to take out.

Sorry for your loss. I hope that is the last of your problems with that stinkin hawk.

 

[centrarchid]

For some reason red-tails never attacked our games chickens in a free range setting if there was more than half a dozen adult birds. I think they may have presented a red-tail with health risk if it stayed on ground too long with struggling prey. I have seen games flog a grounded red-tailed and the hawk did not fair well. When the same kind of hawk is in tree they are scared of it.

It would be interesting to make some life-like red-tail dummiy to see how reliably the roosters might flog it. Conditioning might make for a group of roosters that might successfully give the hawk some lip if it presses issue.

 

[centrarchid]

Coopers hawk came through again today about same time as yesterday. More vulnerable chicks were cooped up so he harassed the 14-week old flock of 20 dominiques. About 1/3 of those dove into 2 foot tall fescue and tucked their heads and rest went under coop. Hawk left without a catch this time. The bigger birds about half again as heavy as the hawk so if he did catch one, flying off with it would not be possible.

 

[beachchickie]

It won't stop him. Especially a young male. He will keep trying.

 

[Barred Rocks forever]

if your looking for a bird to be able to stop them i hear geese work well agenst them

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
It is an adult resident male with experience based on neighbor's word. Seems partial to smaller chickens it catches alone or my bitties.

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
Closest neighbor does have geese and he claims same. Geese for me not option since they will interfere with my desired pond operation. They muck it up. This year I will take losses. Nest year a livestock guarding dog and more adult roosters will be in place as well as adequate pens.

 

[muddyhorse]

in one week the hawk got 35 of my neighbors barred rock chicks.

at home depot they have bird netting a 14'x45' roll is 19.00. I have bits of shinny stuff dangleing from the net to discourage the bird from crashing in to it.

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
Muddyhorse,

I might give the bird netting shot. It would enable chicks to roam a bit so as to stay in good feather. Netting I know works at keeping herons out of my ponds. Just a pain in butt to setup.

Muddyhorse, where in Missouri are you?