Within seconds hawks were above us.

[itsalladream]

Quote:
You've got my first post. I've been lurking for quite some time as I was planning on waiting till I was closer to getting chickens before registering, but I just had to register to say that this absolutely cracked me up!!!

:

 

[Debbi]

Quote:
Except for the Feds that probably peruse these links now! Shooting/harassing raptors is a Federal Offense!




Knock Kneed Hen , your chooks are probably used to being in a covered run, and have become complacent with the things that fly overhead. I know mine have! They used to duck when a dragonfly flew over, now they will just stand erect, look at the hawk, then go about their business. I have had Cooper's hawks divebombing the place every morning, during the day, and early evening. The chooks know they are safe in the covered run. It's raptor migration season right now, so you will have a lot of hawks checking out the chooks! If I were you, I'd keep them in the run! Develop their "protection mode" when the threat is not so high. Also, Turkey Vultures won't hurt your live birds, they feed on carrion (dead stuff). JMHO

 

[MMPoultryFarms]

Quote:
You've got my first post. I've been lurking for quite some time as I was planning on waiting till I was closer to getting chickens before registering, but I just had to register to say that this absolutely cracked me up!!!

:

 

[geebs]

Just a note: Vultures do not hunt... They only eat dead things.

 

[elieugene6]

Quote:
You've got my first post. I've been lurking for quite some time as I was planning on waiting till I was closer to getting chickens before registering, but I just had to register to say that this absolutely cracked me up!!!

:

itsalladream!

To the original poster, yes you definitely need to try and learn to duplicate the roosters threat warning so that you can do it yourself. My rooster is fairly good about warning but with all the trees I have he sometimes doesn't see the hawks himself. I have learned to do a crappy impression and even though it stinks they all listen to me and if I do it my roo tends to pay even more attention and sometimes he will do it then as well. Kinda funny thing is the 3 roos in the roo pen will do it as well and despite the fact that they don't range with the others, the hens do take note of them making the sound. Also the more they free range the better their instincts will become. Mine were totally dumb the first few weeks and now its been 3 months and are much smarter. Now if I could just teach them that cars warrant that sound as well we would be good.

MMPoultryFarms that is hilarious, I can just visualize it and nice to be the first laugh of the morning.

Edited because I forgot something.

 

[JOSEYWALES]

Quote:
Except for the Feds that probably peruse these links now! Shooting/harassing raptors is a Federal Offense!




Knock Kneed Hen , your chooks are probably used to being in a covered run, and have become complacent with the things that fly overhead. I know mine have! They used to duck when a dragonfly flew over, now they will just stand erect, look at the hawk, then go about their business. I have had Cooper's hawks divebombing the place every morning, during the day, and early evening. The chooks know they are safe in the covered run. It's raptor migration season right now, so you will have a lot of hawks checking out the chooks! If I were you, I'd keep them in the run! Develop their "protection mode" when the threat is not so high. Also, Turkey Vultures won't hurt your live birds, they feed on carrion (dead stuff). JMHO

I was not going to shoot or harass the "raptors" I use my shotgun to fire environmentally safe non lethal nets which would gently bring the bird safely to the ground where i would place him or her in a velvet cage and transport him by bicycle 200 miles north to the forest where he or she could live safely with all of the other chicken killing animals. I would never harm a helpess living creature especially one so majestic as a "raptor" even if it was going to attack and kill my animals. I say a prayer every night for the safety of "raptors" around the world and I ask for forgiveness for anyone evil enough to hurt any living creatures (except chickens of course).

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

We've got some stand-up comics on BYC!

Love a good laugh first thing in the morning

@ Debbi: Thanks for the input. Makes total sense. Also, I've wondered about the turkey vultures and someone local told me that they would kill my birds. Good to know that's not true. My neighbor shoots the crows as he doesn't want
them chasing the hawks away (ground squirrels are a problem in my neck of the woods).

@ Elieugene6: Can I get a video of your best alarmed rooster impression??

I'm afraid this is my first flock & am clueless.

@ MMPoultryFarms: Do I get to choose the hen the hawk takes? I didn't let my favorite hen out . . . felt guilty not letting her enjoy being out but would be devastated if she were killed. I got extras because I expected some loss from
predation, but now that I've gotten to know the girls I have a hard time taking the chance something could happen to them.

 

[MMPoultryFarms]

Quote:
So far only lost guinea's the dive bomb on the hen house landed in a fence in the beak. How ever there really wiping out the guinea's I wish we could pick which birds What I do is let all my roosters free range in the daytime. some of my birds cant stand any flying birds. I have a Dark Cornish Rock roo who will Puff up and a Scissor Tail in a second hes just fruity I believe. My girls get there fenced in yard extended and repositioned for new green grass but they dont get to free range into the pastures. I have breeding birds separated from the rest of my flocks, So mainly Auction Birds and roosters get to roam my yard when hawks are in migration.