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Barnyard Buddies:  A hawk! At night??!!!!!  |
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momdrinkstea
True Blue Farmgirl
180 Posts
Elizabeth
Ozark
AL
USA
180 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 25 2010 : 9:12:40 PM
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We had a hawk last night, sitting on the coop.
I scared it off when I went out to the car to get
groceries in. It was 9:30 PM, dark outside.
This morning, one of our chicks was outside the
penned area (A-frame coop), injured. I brought it in
to nurse it, it has gashes on its back. Hubby saw the hawk
in a nearby tree. At 11 PM tonight, he saw it sitting on the
A frame again, but scared it off. I peeked out the window
at 12, saw it sitting in the tree above the A-frame - AGAIN!!!!
Never saw it around in the daytime -
ANYONE EVER HEAR OF HAWKS HUNTING AT NIGHT?!!!
-Greenhaven Gardens
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein |
Edited by - momdrinkstea on Jul 25 2010 10:12:45 PM |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2010 : 9:28:12 PM
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The hawk may have been injured and couldn't hunt, which would explain why it was sitting on the A-frame and hunting at night. Might I suggest that you're not looking deep enough into nature?
Cindy
"There is more to life than increasing its speed". Mahatma Gandhi
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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momdrinkstea
True Blue Farmgirl
180 Posts
Elizabeth
Ozark
AL
USA
180 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2010 : 9:55:14 PM
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Next door neighbors have had chickens taken by a hawk lately, and 2 kittens as well.
I'm sure it was this one. Never had a problem with them before, I've seen them fly over,
but not this close or so persistent. How am I supposed to protect the chickens??!!!
It actually knocked the A-frame sideways, and that's how the chick got out.
-Greenhaven Gardens
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein |
Edited by - momdrinkstea on Jul 25 2010 10:14:43 PM |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2010 : 04:16:28 AM
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So glad that your husband "Scared it off".
cindy
"There is more to life than increasing its speed". Mahatma Gandhi
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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southerncrossgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
631 Posts
Gena
Harmony
NC
USA
631 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2010 : 04:57:44 AM
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That is scary. Do you think the hawk may be injured? That may change the way you look at the situation. If it isn't injured then maybe you could shoot a gun up in the air a few times until it gets the message. Of course, you'll scare your chickens also. Is there a place you could shoo the chickens into before you shoot the gun?
I am just thinking out loud. I have 26 2 week old chicks. I already worry about something happening to them when it is time to put them out!
Good Luck!
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2010 : 10:00:40 AM
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A hawk at night? Something is really wrong for a hawk being active at night, I would call your local fish and game warden, and ask their opinion. I too would think it must have some sort of injury. Killing most hawks is a federal offense, and just wrong in my opinion. Stake down your A-frame so it can't be moved, and make sure your chickens are in at night. The hawk is just trying to survive, and doing what he has to.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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momdrinkstea
True Blue Farmgirl
180 Posts
Elizabeth
Ozark
AL
USA
180 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2010 : 10:06:20 AM
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Hubby did shoot at it, but he must have missed because it wasn't on the ground when he went to look.
I hope that was enough to scare it away! What do you do to protect your chickens from hawks? They're already in a coop!!!! Anyone else know what scares them away? I've heard shiny things (like CD's) hanging up frighten them off. I have LOTS of chickens, all the small ones are in A-frames, and the large get cooped in at night.
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." -Albert Einstein |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2010 : 10:18:07 AM
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Birds of prey are one of the many reasons that my chickens are not free range, they are in very large coops , with an indoors. The outside runs have wire tops on them, so nothing can get in. I do not know of anything you can put out to scare them away, but here where I am, you don't want to, cause they help keep down the rodent population. I have several differant types of hawks here, along with eagles , plus Great Horned Owls, and I love them all, they all are a very importent part of nature and the eco-system.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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4HMom
True Blue Farmgirl
720 Posts
Kelly
Montana
720 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2010 : 11:43:51 AM
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Our outdoor run is covered with wire too...for the same reason as Teresa...I welcome the aerial predators because they help to keep the rodent population in check. She's also correct that virtually all birds are protected by the International Migratory Bird Treaty, making it a felony to kill, injur, or harrass them. That being said, the hawk isn't acting "hawk-like", so something probaby is wrong...definately call your fish and game or bird rehab folks.
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Gandhi |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2010 : 11:51:36 AM
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Elizabeth, are you sure its not an owl??? And even if it is an owl, they also are protected, and importent to the eco-system also.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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vegetarian farmer
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Jane
Freedom
pa
USA
249 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2010 : 12:10:03 PM
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That was my first thought too, an owl. When an owl flies or extends it's neck it can look a lot like a hawk. They do not have those round heads when they are in motion. And an owl will sit there all night to see if there is any way to get a chicken.
http://hardworkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
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momdrinkstea
True Blue Farmgirl
180 Posts
Elizabeth
Ozark
AL
USA
180 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2010 : 8:29:19 PM
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I talked to my neighbor down the road today, and she said she's
seen a huge owl a few times sitting up on her barn at night.
She has lost 7 chickens in the last few months, and thought it was
a raccoon. They were all injured in the head, back of the neck,
but the bodies were left and not eaten. So I looked up owls, and
that's how they kill prey.
We now think that's what's gotten her chickens - and it's moved on
down the road to mine! I left my dogs out for a while tonight, and
I'm going to leave the cat out all night. Hopefully our "home-based"
predators will keep it away. Lost one of my ducks last week, and one
remaining duck has gashes on the back of its neck too.
At least I know why and what's after them now!!!
It must be an owl! Coop is about 200 yards from the house, so
I've never gotten an up-close look at it, but its habits fit. I didn't
know owls could get that big!
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." -Albert Einstein |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2010 : 9:26:02 PM
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here we have rock chucks. we are so thank ful for the bald eagles in our area. i watched 2 eat a rock chuck in a pasture. i have an owl that hangs out at night here. he eats the mice. we have field mice everywhere. i too have my birds secure. it all works out here and i kill none of the wild things. even the darn mice and flies have jobs. cleaning up after us here. i know too many mice are not good. but i open the milk parlor and let the owl in at times. he actually goes in and hunts. he is beautiful and HUGE. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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vegetarian farmer
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Jane
Freedom
pa
USA
249 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2010 : 05:22:56 AM
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Elizabeth, I would not leave the cat out. An owl is a strong predator and might go after your cat. An immature owl may sample everything and an adult could have the power to kill a full grown cat. Even if it doesn't kill the cat it could hurt it. Plus an owl will have no fear of a cat.
http://hardworkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2010 : 09:18:28 AM
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If something is killing and not eating at all, its not an owl or other wildthing. When owls kill, they will lay the bird out on its back and pluck, then eat the breast. It sounds to me like a cat (maybe ferral).
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Barnyard Buddies: A hawk! At night??!!!!! |
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A hawk! At night??!!!!!
