[princesspoultry]

Hi,I'm just wondering...Has anyone ever had any trouble with hawks? I have some hawks and buzzards were I live and sometimes they circle my chicken pen.When ever I see one I always go out and try to scare it away. Everyone tells me that a hawk won't go after a chicken if they don't have a lot of landing space.I would love to know what people think about this.   Thanks!     Princess Poultry

[Aunt Sally]

Hmmm...  I've always heard that there are no raptors in this country that are dangerous to our chickens.

[princesspoultry]

Why would they circle my pen then??? :?

[ssatt44]

Here in Arizona I think they are after water not "take away". I have heard of someone who had a golden eagle go IN the hen house only to come a cropper with a VERY ticked off roo. I've only had real trouble from ravens/crows. I'm just glad the Harris's hawks range well south of here. They hunt in packs and will go to ground to flush prey (rabbits). I was THAT impressed however when I had a CONDOR pay a visit tho. :shock:

sharon in arizona

[gib_gib]

Chickens will often attract smaller birds and rats, these are more likely to be attract it, circling is not a problem.

but ssatt44 made me smile, the Americans do have a tendency to do it bigger and batter  

[ssatt44]

When a bird with a 2.77m (9.1ft) wingspan comes over you do tend to take notice!  :shock:  He was being "escorted" out of the territory by a VERY unhappy red-tail hawk. It looked like a fighter plane attacking a bomber. I'm full of envy of you guys with so few preds to worrry about. I'm told I live within about 5 miles of a lion's  territory :shock:  not to mention coyotes, bobcats, skunks, 'coons, owls and eagles  even those $%^ javalinas.


sharon (going out to check the girls)

[heifer]

I have seen buzzards take poultry from a local free range chicken farm, never noticed whether circling or not

[SOURIS]

I am sure I remember reading that hen harriers were so called because they ate hens! I may be remembering this dodgily - would have to check that point up .... regardless though I think that hawks are predators to be wary of and that's because my parents live in Wales where there are lots of hawks and whenever their chickens spots a kite or buzzard, or hears its cry, they go on the alert - make the warning noise to the other chickens and if they are out in the open then they dive for the nearest shrubs! I have never come across a successful hawk catching of a chicken but I think that Nature has obviously imbued the chicken with an innate knowledge of something sinister about hawks! I did once see a bird of prey flying along with a rabbit in its clutches and I don't think many hens are much bigger than this so I would beware. I suppose a lot depends on which bird of prey it is. Kestrels for example will never be a threat to a full sized chicken.

I should say here that I love birds of prey and am thrilled that they are more common now then they were several years ago. You can even see them quite often in London - although not so much buzzards as kestrels. Still fantastic. I have no time whatsoever for the horrid urban fox but lots of time for birds of prey - and even more time for chickens!!

[princesspoultry]

OK,Thanks everyone!

[Foxy]

Very interested in your lion ssat44, we dont have that many probs with predators here-but we do have serious problems with foxes here - apparently "lion poo" is a very effective deterrent - wondered if you've come across any? There again how much would it cost to post from Arizona (the poo not the lion!)  

[chicksforkicks]

in lousiana down here we  have a serious problemo with hawks. one lives in my back yard!! golden tail feathers. likes to eat squirrel. he also has killed one of my neighbors best laying chickens, which is why our pen is completly covered.
we have snakes here to but mostly just live around the ponds, thank goodness

[princesspoultry]

in lousiana down here we  have a serious problemo with hawks. one lives in my back yard!! golden tail feathers. likes to eat squirrel. he also has killed one of my neighbors best laying chickens, which is why our pen is completly covered.
we have snakes here to but mostly just live around the ponds, thank goodness

 
       Is your chicken pen big?Just asking because i have been told that a hawk doesn't have the landing space in my pen but my pen is pretty big....

[princesspoultry]

Very interested in your lion ssat44, we dont have that many probs with predators here-but we do have serious problems with foxes here - apparently "lion poo" is a very effective deterrent - wondered if you've come across any? There again how much would it cost to post from Arizona (the poo not the lion!)  

   I have a Border Collie so not many wild animals come in my back yard

[ssatt44]

I'm NOT, repeat, NOT tracking down a LION. The one up in Jerome has started breaking into houses to get at pet dogs. I'll bet the local zoo would be happy to supply poo of any sort...hmmm I wonder if could be marketed?  When I lived up in Flagstaff Arizona we had trouble with black bears coming in to houses via big dog doors...Honey, there's bear in the kitchen! :shock:  

sharon in arizona

[psipower]

Is your chicken pen big?Just asking because i have been told that a hawk doesn't have the landing space in my pen but my pen is pretty big....

I think buzzards don't like cover - they have not seemed interested in our chickens walking around among the trees and bushes - although there is a neighbouring open field full of peasants. Can't see whether they have cover since our delightful neighbour planted the border with (now 20ft high vs planning permission 6ft high) leylandii.

However, I remember in a much earlier converstaion muntjac saying the trees won't be a barrier to sparrowhawks. I have since seen a wood-pigeon being persued through the air between the trees by a hawk. And I remember a sparrow sized bird being taken to ground in front of me when we had even more trees (On open ground area/veggie plot about 20ft by 60ft)! So I would assume things upto pigeon size might be at risk from hawks!

PS. Anyone got a supply of viruses or something that attack leylandii? and why haven't you released huge quantites into the open already?