[coppermaran]

Has anybody else lost some chicken pullets to the hungry sparrowhawk. Worse still i saw the dam thing perch on the chicken run fence and drop down and take a 6 week old light sussex.Never seem to be bother by the Buzzards and there are lots of them here in Nottinghamshire even seen a hobby now and again All seen from my allotment 

[nerdle]

So sorry - must have been awful! Its my biggest fear.

[8doubles]

Woodpigeon size is about as big as a spar will take.

The local pair have left my hens alone but did kill and eat a collared dove in front of them which freaked them out.

[Stewart P]

Have seen a sparrowhawk pecking over the last remains of a wild bird (?wood pigeon?) in our old garden which is about 500m away (as the hawk flies) from our current garden.  It is a concern when the new hens free range around the garden but what can you do? We let them free range at weekends but keep them in the run during the working weekdays.  My risk assessment is that fully grown ex-bats are likely to be too big for a sparrowhawk and that the garden is adequately protected from daytime attack from a fox, but I'm inexperienced so could be wrong with this.  Its a bit like having teenage daughters - balancing being overprotective vs letting them socially free-range after assessing the risk (my 2 are now young adults and seem to have survived).

Just some thoughts rather than a proper answer so don't know useful this post is.

Hope it doesn't happen again to yours.

[nerdle]

My girls free rnaged from 8 weeks - we were lucky. Cats found out about them too until I did extra cat proofing.

[helens-hens]

Woodpigeon size is about as big as a spar will take.

The local pair have left my hens alone but did kill and eat a collared dove in front of them which freaked them out.

I know mine have had to witness this a couple of times, again with (I think) wood pigeons being the victims. The last time it happened they were out free-ranging and it took quite a lot of persuasion to get them back up the other end of the garden where the house & run are, they were that scared.

I don't think they pose a threat to grown, healthy hens and I have noticed that the girls are quite vigilent and spot them early .... along with airplanes thousands of feet up in the sky etc etc !

[barley]

I have lost a hen to a buzzard 

have seen sparrow hawks take a thrush and woodpecker - they would probably manage a small dutch bantam if they tried 

[madcat]

Collared doves do appear to be a favorite of sparrow hawks.  Only the local female can manage a wood pigeon - the male seems to be too small.

[nerdle]

In the summer I put garden chairs and sunbeds everywhere protect my little girls as they roamed beneath.  Came home to fimd them covered with poo - they been sunbathing!