Sparrow hawk

I have seen in the last  week or two a female sparrow hawk in the neighbourhood. When I went out to let the hens into the run this morning I found the wings and parts of the legs of one of the pidgeons that have been raiding the hens feeders of late.It looks like the hawk has left these part to make it lighter to carry the pidgeon away.
Has anyone heard of a sparrow hawk taking hens. I have black rocks, a sussex hybrid and the one that may be at risk an araucana

They take pigeons here and i stopped keeping little bantams because i was always worried for them.  I dont think they could manage a big hen altho the hens all go crazy when a sparrow hawk comes flying through.

I feel more relaxed about the sparrow hawks now that i have mainly  large fowl and they look wonderful when they come flying through the garden, stirring round bushes just like one of the red arrows.

But they do pluck the blue tits off the feeders just as if its a buffet table

G'day i would say it would noot take your chooks but any chick watch out!

We have had a pair of Sparrow hawks locally all the time we`ve had hens and they regularly take small birds (including one robin that was watching me digging   ) and collared doves and the occasional woodpigeon. Once i stood up from weeding and nearly got a hawk and dove chase in the face.

The larger female hawk has been known to sit on the fence 15 ft away from my hens (large fowl) and they took no notice of each other.

On Youtube there is a video of a spar killing a magpie and it takes a long time to achieve this at considerable risk to itself.

WARNING Do not watch the video if nature in the raw upsets you.

I think that only a very hungry hawk would take on a large hen.

Quote from: Tony H on March 10, 2012, 04:39

ooo didnt know we had birdies that big in england 

We have birds that will feed on sparrowhawks!

...same here. Karl stood and watched as a buzzard took off with a 3/4 grown ixworth cockerel