Will Hawks Attack With Someone Right There?

[memphis]

Yep...same thing happened to me. Heard the girls going crazy. Ran out the backdoor. My birds were huddled under a bush and a hawk (with wing span greater than mine) was on top of the bush trying to work his way to the girls. Ran out the door screaming and he just looked over his shoulder at me then continued trying to get to the girls! I think he gave me the feathered finger! Couldn't believe how bold he was!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Send them to arrest me. Their boss will step in to put such silliness to rest....

I agree with you but there are some people who were never sufficiently socialized when there mother was potty training them. Unfortunately there has to be some of these folks working for the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Never say never.

 

[scooter147]

It has happened to me several times. They have absolutely no fear of humans anymore. I'm convinced the redtails out number crows in my area. I see one just about every other telephone number driving to work.

 

[centrarchid]

I have lots of hawks and a good number of birds free-range about 8 months of year and always a few (about 10 this year) free-range full time. Losses to hawks are very infrequent. When losses occur it is usually with juveniles and or when birds do not have adequate cover. I also have adult (full size) roosters in the mix. If your flock is made up of small birds or female only, then do not free-range if you have zero tolerance for losses, otherwise you will get hit a lot harder than I do even though I likely have more hawks.

 

[scooter147]

I have funny story about a rooster and hawk. Actually I have couple but here is one. I was out one day saw my BR rooster run for the hedgerow. Once he got there he started giving the hawk warning call, not just once but several times one right after the other. I thought, you dirty rotten scoundrel you. Save your bacon first then warn the others.

 

[cochinator]

I have funny story about a rooster and hawk. Actually I have couple but here is one. I was out one day saw my BR rooster run for the hedgerow. Once he got there he started giving the hawk warning call, not just once but several times one right after the other. I thought, you dirty rotten scoundrel you. Save your bacon first then warn the others.

My BO rooster is a complete wimp. The thing attacks children and will fly into my legs repeatedly, but if a hawk comes around it runs for cover. It has had ample opportunity to save a hen from a hawk half it's size but did nothing. Does break up hen fights though, which isn't always a good thing, because watching two hens roll all over each other can be fun as long as they're not hurting each other.

 

[tofupup]

Yes. A hawk swooped down right in front of me and picked up a chick -- through a roof of hawk netting -- last week. Hawks do not care if you are standing right there; they will kill any bird that looks vulnerable enough.

 

[foamyownsyou]

I being a licensed falconer in the state of California own a red tail any raptor if given the opportunity will go after a chicken or other bird you are keeping but the best way to solve that is not to take matters into your own hands and shoot the bird because you can be fined up to $25000 and spend 5 years in jail and its just plain messed up so the best way to deter raptors it's to put a cover over your chicken pens and what best deters hawks is another bird of prey like a owl so don't hurt the raptor just know it came before you and buy one of those owl statues that deters pidgens it will work for a while just keep changeong it around and hold on centrarchid do not swat a protected bird of prey cause I will hurt you do not take his advice okay

 

[foamyownsyou]

Gywdiana, Oh my goodness!! I hope you're alright! That is frightening!

I had a hawk attack yesterday as well with myself outside 10 ft away from the fenced in area around the coop and pen. My presence was not a deterent at all. It swooped down and grabbed a hold of my blue polish Frieda. She suffered injuries , and is now staying at the vet for a two day observation and is thought to make a full revovery. Her little back is gashed and bare with another entry near her cloaca. The hawk missed her abdomen by centimeters. She's a lucky little thing. Just witnessing the attack was horrifying! I couldn't imagine being the subject. The vet was telling me that hawks are migrating right now so it's best to keep the girls in the coop. He suggested preventative measures by hanging reflective things from trees and getting a mannequin /scarecrow in backyard and perhaps a dog. Now I'm questioning the scarecrow.... I've never heard of a hawk landing on a person , but yesterday when it happened i was relatively still so i can understand how the hawk wasn't phased or aware of me. I'm going to hang a lot of netting in backyard soon, but now after hearing your story I may just go out with bells on too . Do you know what kind of hawk it was? I think this one was a juvenile red tail, but it was massive in size. Had a white breast. Take care of your head. So sorry to hear you were hurt!

It was a passage redtail hawk if it had a white breast hang reflective tape it works well raptors don't like it ( I'm a falconer)

 

[gwydiana]

Ive bought a pellet gun. that hawk is going down if it's anywhere near me or my chickens... I have every right to protect my chickens and myself.