Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: Vickie & Richard on October 20, 2008, 11:04

Title: Red Kites - The Bird of Prey Kind
Post by: Vickie & Richard on October 20, 2008, 11:04
My girls were free ranging at the weekend and we are lucky enough to have red kites flying around our area.  One came over the garden and completely freaked my girls out, they very quickly went into finding and i very quickly put them back in their run.  Could a red kite hurt ot kill my girls?
Title: Red Kites - The Bird of Prey Kind
Post by: Bodger on October 20, 2008, 11:10
They are mainly carrion eaters, but both they and buzzards will take pheasant poults, I'm virtually 100% certain that they wouldn't tackle a full sized chicken.
Title: Red Kites - The Bird of Prey Kind
Post by: Kate and her Ducks on October 20, 2008, 11:43
My aunt had one of her bantams killed by a bird of prey. She said it was a red kite but not an expert so she could have been mistaken. I don't know much about birds of prey but I wouldn't have thought there were many (?any) in the UK that could take a full sized chicken.
Title: Red Kites - The Bird of Prey Kind
Post by: Bodger on October 20, 2008, 11:58
We are lucky enough to have lots of peregrines around us. They will take wild ducks and in medieval times were flown at things as big as herons.
Title: Red Kites - The Bird of Prey Kind
Post by: Roughlee Handled on October 20, 2008, 12:45
Well I live in the Forest of Bowland and guess what is the sign of the Forest of Bowland.........................a Hen Harrier  hope what they eat is not in the name.
Title: Red Kites - The Bird of Prey Kind
Post by: rainie on October 20, 2008, 14:52
We have red kites around us to. Apparently they only take dead stuff and small things like mice etc. But, they circle above my run. Never been down though, I think they are probably looking for the mice that live near chickens?  I never trusted them when i had chicks though.  There was a bird (not sure what sort but medium sized) nesting in a nearby tree to us, and they used to go bonkers and chase it away, the kite didnt really put up a fight at all, and just flew away.
Title: Red Kites - The Bird of Prey Kind
Post by: Aunt Sally on October 20, 2008, 16:16
This is a good article about Red Kites.  What a fabulous bird they are.  I frequently see them as I drive up past Oxford way.

http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/features/red-kite2.asp
Title: Red Kites - The Bird of Prey Kind
Post by: chickenlady on October 20, 2008, 17:15
we had a peregrin falcon land in the tree behind the run on sunday morning! all the girls froze and stayed like that for a good 5 mins then one by one they all ran back to the coop, was a little worried although it looked like a juvenile and had been chasing a pigeon (it missed!)
Title: Red Kites - The Bird of Prey Kind
Post by: Vickie & Richard on October 20, 2008, 18:21
Quote from: "Aunt Sally"
This is a good article about Red Kites.  What a fabulous bird they are.  I frequently see them as I drive up past Oxford way.

http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/features/red-kite2.asp


Oxford isn't too far from me, about 30-40mins.  We are lucky enough to have these beautiful birds around here as the RSPCB released a few pair in the Haddenham area a few years ago.  They are amazing birds.
Title: Red Kites - The Bird of Prey Kind
Post by: tiptopchickendon on October 20, 2008, 21:18
Quote from: "Vickie & Richard"
Quote from: "Aunt Sally"
This is a good article about Red Kites.  What a fabulous bird they are.  I frequently see them as I drive up past Oxford way.

http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/features/red-kite2.asp


Oxford isn't too far from me, about 30-40mins.  We are lucky enough to have these beautiful birds around here as the RSPCB released a few pair in the Haddenham area a few years ago.  They are amazing birds.


Drive down to Princes Risborough, Stokenchurch through to Watlington...There are loads of them flying about.

Was out at the weekend down by Linford Lakes in MK and noticed 4 of them soaring above, looks like they are travelling northwards. Impressive birds
Title: Red Kites - The Bird of Prey Kind
Post by: nnbreeder on October 21, 2008, 00:27
That is one beautiful raptor. The Kites that we have around here are about a foot long totally and consume bugs, mainly grasshoppers. I got a close-up look last summer when one was hit by a car and I picked it up and turned it over to the Wildlfe Dept. so it could go to the rehabbers for recovery.