Wondering if little hawks/falcons will bother full grown chickens?

[ellieroo]

I view small hawks as training tools for my free ranging chickens! Have never lost a banty or larger chicken to hawks.My husband on the other hand has racing pigeons and has lost a few.If the hawks come thru when the young birds are first out they can get picked off because they haven't learned DANGER DANGER.So we are always glad to see sharpshin merlins and kesterls show up. Did watch a crow once try to grab a banty chick but the hen launched herself just in time and knocked them to the ground and baby was safe! Brave hen.

 

[Chihuahuamom444]

Ohhh boy do they Ever kill chickens, I had a Very small hawk last spring, I think a coopers hawk, he was 1/3 of the size if that, of my chickens and killed several. I couldn't keep him out, I have a huge fenced yard and covered the entire area with strong netting and he still got em. I am dreading this spring because he may come back, he disapeared and could come back any time. The first night he went right in my coop and killed two and the others he got during the day outside and only one he ate some, the others he just killed and left them. I had the chance to get him and messed up, he had his leg caught in the netting and was still chewing on a rooster. I was making calls and trying to figure out what to do with him and he got himself free, but he was caught for at least an hour...Ugh I will never get that chance again, but be careful because they are very sneaky and can fit thru anything.....If anyone has any ideas how to deter him I'd love to know !

 

[ellieroo]

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Coopers are not small they are second to goshawks in size and will take chickens. am sorry you lost some of yours.We had a coopers fly in the pigeon coop and go after a bird sitting on its nest.Did not know my husband could still run that fast but he got there and saved the bird.

 

[desertdarlene]

I'm not sure, but I think you might have peregrines there and they can take out a large chicken, I've seen photos of them killing fairly large birds.

 

[RareBreedFancier]

Very interesting, seems to be quite a mix of 'They'll be fine' and 'No way, they'll eat them'. I guess I wouldn't know till I try it.

I suspect the first batch of roosters heading for freezer camp will be the 'test subjects'.

I had planed to let them range to minimize fights and let them find some of their own food in the paddock. They will have the best chance of not being taken and standing up for themselves if they are harassed. If they are I'll have to lock them up.

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Coop looks a lot like my local birds. Very close to their size too.

Thankfully I have no problem with Ravens, I have a whole family of Magpies that live in the trees on the drive and are EXTREMELY territorial. They have accepted my adult chickens live here and don't bother them though so that makes me happy.

I assume they would go for chicks and eggs if given that chance so I've made sure they've never had the opportunity.
Here is one in action (Not my pic) 'Magpie chasing Brown Goshawk' Very impressive!

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Your right, we most defiantly have peregrines, haven't seen one of those here thankfully. They would guarantee the chickens didn't get to free range.