Within seconds hawks were above us.

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I have my girls in an enclosed run since I have dogs and don't trust them. I pen the dogs and let the girls free range on occasion. Yesterday I put the dogs up and let the girls out. Within seconds crows were making a huge raucous. Then a huge hawk came screaming through the sky. The crows were working together to get it out of their territory. Then suddenly another raucous across the road and a huge turkey vulture was on the hunt. Again, the crows were on it!! Now, I have heard how chickens take note of such activity and will run & hide from hawks. Not so!! Maybe three hens ran into the coop, the rest just continued as if nothing was going on, including the rooster! We sat down there to discourage any hawks from taking a chicken off into the wild blue yonder. Do I have the only chickens with no natural instinct???????

 

[emys]

Well, we haven't exactly selected for brains in the last few decades.

 

[Annabella]

Were they being bird brains? Or were they feeling safe because you as the "head rooster" were there
keeping them safe by being on the lookout!!

 

[Kittymomma]

Next time try giving a warning squack of your own. If they are still just hanging around after you, the head roo has sounded the warning I'd have to say that they're on the bird brain side of things and shouldn't free range without supervision.l

 

[Mahonri]

Only breed and hatch eggs from those who ran to the coop.

 

[thegoldengirls]

I don't know that chickens always see the hawks coming. Me and my girls were out with our hens one day and a hawk landed in the tree right above our heads.
We hurried and gathered them.. afraid that the hawk would go for the ones further away from us. Darn chickens only started running to get away from us...LOL.
I imagine the hawk got a good show.. and finally just left.

 

[MMPoultryFarms]

I think you need to have a hawk kill one first (not saying let one kill it just saying) my birds never ran for shelter since I was always in the yard with them running screaming at the hawks the second I let my guard down and a SSH killed my guinea and attempted to fly threw the hen house fence. Now my birds act like there in vietnam if they even see the shadow of a huge dragonfly there hitting the trenches and running for the barraks. OMG OMG you should have seen my yard today when the Crop duster was spraying the wheat fields for worms it was truly a priceless moment.

 

[Pelican49]

Quote:

and good point

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Quote:

You painted a very vivid picture.
My mom has parrots who are never outside. They get quiet and try to be small when they see a shadow of a hawk overhead. I just thought it was a natural instinct.

 

[JOSEYWALES]

Shotgun anyone? Forget the chickens and take care of the hawk. Easy for me to say where I am at no one would ever know. Best of luck!