Will a silkie roo be able to fight off a hawk?

[mom2jedi]

Quote:
They actually were raised together for a while but have been separated for a few weeks at this point. They are the same age but I'm sure there's a size difference already. I haven't seen him since he left so I'm not sure about that.

 

[mom2jedi]

Quote:
That wouldn't work for me unfortunately. I don't have the space for a LGD. Our backyard is only 1/4 acre and the chickens are fenced to keep them off my patio/out of DH's garden and to give the kids a play area that is poop free, so the guard animal would have to live in the chicken run to be of any use which just isn't an option either.

 

[MuranoFarms]

Sorry about your little silkie!
I have 15 silkies and about a dozen standards. There are 3 silkie roos, but only 1 standard roo. The silkie boys will fight each other sometimes......but they have never messed with the big roo, and he's never bothered them! Usually they hang out in their separate 'packs', but today the big roo came to the rescue of the silkie hen when she was attacked. He's pretty much 'king of the chickens' here....I don't see why the same thing couldn't work for you.

 

[EricH]

a full grown red tailed hawk has a wingspan of 50 inches give or take. Its a huge bird that devours rabbits with ease. a silkie, unfortunately, or nearly any chicken would be a VERY easy, tastey meal.

 

[cat1994]

One of my roos kicked a hawks butt after the hawk missed him and hit the ground insted. The poor hawk didnt know what to do. The hawk did get away only after the roo toke a break from beating him. But he was a big roo not a lil silkie roo, and from what I hear silkies are not very mean, and my roo was a really mean roo.

 

[debilorrah]

You already have your answer, but I need to add that not only are they too small to defend themselves, but they are really stupid too.

 

[Lbrad7]

No roo and I do mean NO ROO is a match for a determined hawk. I have had so many roos taken by hawks through the years; one roo, two roos or ten roos on the lot, doesnt matter. From Black Giants to your Silkie...they all make a fine meal.

Take my advice..if you have a hawk problem, keep em up in a covered run unless you can stay with them.

Good luck to you...

 

[snowflake]

I have heard Guineas are good alarms, I have 2 roos 1 is an EE the other is a Lakenvelder, they do a good job of sounding an alarm, I have been out in the yard when I heard hawks(3) over head I looked around in a panic and there wasn't a chicken in sight, the roos had them all in hiding. we have not had a hawk get any of ours yet, but I have heard once they do they will be back for more. some times a good dog works well too.. Good luck.

 

[Liamm_1]

what is an LGD? thanks

 

[jhm47]

LGD = Livestock Guard Dog. And---no rooster that I know of would be of much defense against a full grown Red Tail Hawk. I've even had some of the really "game"types. Some of the toughest buggers I've ever seen, and they were not even close to a match for a killing machine like a hungry Red Tail.