What Kind of Hawk is this?

[deerman]

Coopers are about the size of a crow, where sharp shinned are small about size of a jay. Easy to get them mixed up. The smaller hawk can't take large chickens. Now the coopers do for a fact take 4 lb birds, I had them take full grown ringneck roosters. Even had them kill gamehens.

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

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I've seen the red-shouldered hawks around here kill and eat squirrels right in the middle of an open golf-course, as people drove by on golf carts. If the hawk is hungry, then it won't matter if it's a big 'ol orpington. I did some research and cooper's are known to tackle things much bigger than they are, and birds are their specialty. I'm not saying it will happen, be keep on the lookout.

 

[wingznut76]

I posted this before, but still relevant I think. Not sure if Cooper's or Sharp Shinned but thought Sharp Shinned.

 

[desertdarlene]

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That wasn't one of your chickens it was eating, was it? I don't know of many pure white birds south of the tundra other than domestic ones.

 

[Mattemma]

I was able to ID my hawks by their calls.I have red shouldered hawks.Sometimes I mix them up with the red tailed one,but the call gives then away.

The turkey vulture was easy with its red bald head.

 

[wingznut76]

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That wasn't one of your chickens it was eating, was it? I don't know of many pure white birds south of the tundra other than domestic ones.

No, No chickens were harmed during filming

. I think it was a dove from the neighbors feeder

That's the problem with feeders, they tend to keep some birds in an area longer than normal.

On a side note had a red tail and a coyote nosing around the last two days. The coyote will soon be history the hawk however will hopefully move on before long.

 

[Xenia's Chickens]

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I'm having a problem with a Red-shouldered hawk that is terrorizing my free-range flock (Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshire Reds and Black sex-links). Last week I heard a big commotion in my yard. When I got outside, I saw the hawk taking off from my lawn. One of my hens was hiding under some shrubs next to the house, about 15' away from where the hawk was, the others were cowering under a different shrub in front. This hen has a tendency to wander away from the rest of the flock, making her a sitting duck (pardon the pun, I couldn't resist) for a hungry hawk. Two days later, I again heard the chickens squawking and got outside just in time to see the hawk taking flight behind my barn. The chickens were hiding in the barn, and none were hurt. This morning he was perched on my bluebird box. Fortunately, the chickens were still in the coop. It seems that he isn't planning to give up any time soon.

Given that Red-shouldered hawks are quite common in the woods behind my yard, should I give up on letting them roam? When I open the gate in the morning, they all run out like a bunch of shoppers the day after Thanksgiving. I really hate to keep them "cooped" up.

 

[moondog425]

S S S .

Xenia's Chickens :

Quote:
I'm having a problem with a Red-shouldered hawk that is terrorizing my free-range flock (Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshire Reds and Black sex-links). Last week I heard a big commotion in my yard. When I got outside, I saw the hawk taking off from my lawn. One of my hens was hiding under some shrubs next to the house, about 15' away from where the hawk was, the others were cowering under a different shrub in front. This hen has a tendency to wander away from the rest of the flock, making her a sitting duck (pardon the pun, I couldn't resist) for a hungry hawk. Two days later, I again heard the chickens squawking and got outside just in time to see the hawk taking flight behind my barn. The chickens were hiding in the barn, and none were hurt. This morning he was perched on my bluebird box. Fortunately, the chickens were still in the coop. It seems that he isn't planning to give up any time soon.

Given that Red-shouldered hawks are quite common in the woods behind my yard, should I give up on letting them roam? When I open the gate in the morning, they all run out like a bunch of shoppers the day after Thanksgiving. I really hate to keep them "cooped" up.​

 

[Lbrad7]

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If you honestly believe that a Cooper's hawk can't take a full grown standard size chicken and that your roo would have killed it had he been able to get to the hawk, you are in for some serious heartache and a lot of dead birds. If they have a bantam and a full size bird, they will obviously take the smaller bird but when standard sized birds are all thats on the lot, they will take them with no problem and eat them on the spot. For you to say that they will not eat a grown bird on the ground because it's too "hazardous" is rediculous. That is EXACTLY where they will eat the bird. Birds of all species eat on the ground knowing that they can fly away if danger should arrise.

For you guys to keep telling people new to the hobby that hawks cannot or will not bother their full sized birds is irresponsible and you are going to cause them to lose birds when its totally unnecessary. They can make the educated decision to let their birds free range knowing that they will lose some to hawks but those who have chickens as pets...it can be extremely painful to walk out and see that pet split open in a ring of feathers.

If hawks are commonly in your area....cover the run! You will be glad that you did.

 

[deerman]

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Have to disagree, they got the nickname chicken hawk. Years ago for taken chicken from small farms normal size.

Ringneck pheasant are not small, seen them kill and pick then up to top of the coop