Yikes! Low Flying Hawk!!

[corvidae]

Evidently, the local hawk population has scoped out my chickens and decided they might make a nice meal. While we were out in the yard doing some weeding this afternoon, a Cooper's hawk jetted in about 2 feet off my son's head, nearly scalped a friend who was standing near the coop, and swooped around the coop before taking off again. There were four of us our there and, of course, my coop and run are totally enclosed, so no danger to my pretty Welsummers. But, jeez, I've never seen a hawk get quite that bold with that many people around, and I used to be a falconer! Usually they will hang out a little higher up than that! Guess this one was feeling a tad peckish. So to speak...

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I had one fly into the side of my bobwhite coop before he realized it was there. Right now I've got a pair of Redtails, a few sharpies and a Bald Eagle. I don't live far from the NC Raptor Center where they rehad and release birds who have been injured

 

[WKYChick]

I watched 2 different hawks come into our yard on separate days, an American Kestrel he took off with a mouse and another hawk that I couldn't identify he took off with a sparrow, medium size/grey on back and wings. We also live near the highway and we have seen a pair of red tails and a single red shoulder hawk but not in our yard.

The smaller hawks seem to be more bold, the house we sold in town, we had a pair of hawks tag team a squirrel on our front porch, it was amazing to see them sitting there right in front of you.

 

[BrattishTaz]

I have a Cooper and a few juvenile bald eagles that do not hesitate to buzz us when we are outside. My daughter has actually had to "hit the deck" to avoid one.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

Coopers are SO bold... had one go after a roo of mine who probably out-weighed him and go in and out of a large bush to try to get another hold on him! RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME NOT 5 FEET!

 

[Two Creeks Farm]

I have 2 mating pairs of redtails, and atleast 2 pairs of coopers here. So far, they have been staying in our clear cut and have their sights set on a neighbor who raises doves and pigeons. Our birds free range so we know sooner or later they will be a target but ist a fact of life I guess. Alot of human presence helps, but I agree, those coopers are brazen!

 

[georgiagail]

I live across the street from an older two story apartment/condo complex. Came home from work one day to see a hawk standing on their law eating a squirrel it had caught. My truck was no further than a dozen feet away and I sat watching it.

Eventually it flew up into a low handing branch on a nearby tree. I parked my truck and walked up the driveway to watch it further. Renters were coming and going, some walking within 10 feet of the hawk (never looking up to see it) and it just kept on with its dinner.

We have a pair of owls that have raised babies in our area for several years. I once opened the window on my upstairs bathroom and there one sat, not six feet from me, eyeing a flight of canaries I had placed outside. He calmly watched me and I watched him.

Gail

 

[Bengalcats1]

Those coopers hawks are bad news, they did a number on my poor chickens last year, my run was netted and still he managed to get inside and kill, I didnt know what was doing it until his 3rd trip back he got caught in the netting and was Still chewing on a rooster 3X his size with me standing there looking right at him. Hawks are my biggest problem, But I now have Many crows that eat here every day and they seem to keep the hawks at bay , for now anyway, but I didn't have any this spring which is when they are at their worst.

 

[galanie]

My hawks are feeding on the doves that the chicken food attracts. I thought they were after the chickens but they aren't, they are attacking the doves. Whew. I know they won't attack the grown orps but I have some 3 month old ones that while too big to be carried off, still might make a tempting target.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Quote:
I completely agree. I choose to free range my birds as well. There is a lot of cover for them to get under. I just can't see them being locked up 24/7. I have a crazy rooster who wants to do battle with even my CattleDog. I'm sure the hawks have seen that crazy fool and aren't sure about messing with him, lol.