For folks wondering if broad-wing hawks are a legitimate threat to full-grown chickens, just wanted to put in my two-cents: Yes, they are. I’ve seen debates about whether or not they’re even big enough to go after a chicken (they are, after all, smaller than a cooper, red tail, etc.) and I’ve been told they’re nothing to worry about because of their size. Well, found out yesterday that that’s not necessarily true.
We have a pair of broad-wings that nest in the woods right out behind our coop every year, so we see them often. We’ve had our chicken flock for about 3 years now and have never had any major issues with hawks going after them. We’re in a rural area so there’s plenty of other critters (squirrels, small birds, etc.) that I think have kept them preoccupied and uninterested in our free-ranging flock for the most part. We only let our chickens out to free-range in late afternoon til dark, while hawks prefer to hunt in the morning, so I’m not sure if that has anything to do with it.
Nevertheless, for some reason they’ve suddenly taken an interest in our flock in the past week.
A couple days ago a broad-wing had a run-in with our rooster, not even 10 feet away from our back door, UNDER A RAISED DECK. Our rooster (who is a silkie mix- not small by any means but definitely not as big and buff as a Rhode Island Red) was able to fight it off long enough for me to run out and chase it off. Thankfully he was uninjured (he’s a boss).
In the past week I’ve seen one perching directly on top of the chicken run (which has a roof and is totally enclosed) and two of them hanging around the wood line more often, checking out the coop. Ever since our rooster got into a fight, our flock has been on lock-down mode; no free-ranging unless someone is out in the yard supervising them the entire time.
I’m thinking these hawks are young ones from this past spring; from what I know, only a young/inexperienced hawk would make a risky move like flying under a deck, directly beside a house, to try and get a rooster that’s about the same size as them. Especially when there are so many other woodland critters to go after. It’s not like food is scarce around here.
Anyways, just wanted to put it out there that yes, broad-wings can and will attempt to go after a full-grown chicken despite what I’ve often heard about them being too small. I’m not sure what we can do at this point aside from keeping the flock locked up in the run and waiting for the hawks to migrate south (shooting them is not an option for obvious reasons).
Hope this helps anyone who also has broad-wing hawks nearby!
PS- Yes, they are indeed broad-wings, identified based on their call (which is pretty distinguished) and sight/tail markings.
We have a pair of broad-wings that nest in the woods right out behind our coop every year, so we see them often. We’ve had our chicken flock for about 3 years now and have never had any major issues with hawks going after them. We’re in a rural area so there’s plenty of other critters (squirrels, small birds, etc.) that I think have kept them preoccupied and uninterested in our free-ranging flock for the most part. We only let our chickens out to free-range in late afternoon til dark, while hawks prefer to hunt in the morning, so I’m not sure if that has anything to do with it.
Nevertheless, for some reason they’ve suddenly taken an interest in our flock in the past week.
A couple days ago a broad-wing had a run-in with our rooster, not even 10 feet away from our back door, UNDER A RAISED DECK. Our rooster (who is a silkie mix- not small by any means but definitely not as big and buff as a Rhode Island Red) was able to fight it off long enough for me to run out and chase it off. Thankfully he was uninjured (he’s a boss).
In the past week I’ve seen one perching directly on top of the chicken run (which has a roof and is totally enclosed) and two of them hanging around the wood line more often, checking out the coop. Ever since our rooster got into a fight, our flock has been on lock-down mode; no free-ranging unless someone is out in the yard supervising them the entire time.
I’m thinking these hawks are young ones from this past spring; from what I know, only a young/inexperienced hawk would make a risky move like flying under a deck, directly beside a house, to try and get a rooster that’s about the same size as them. Especially when there are so many other woodland critters to go after. It’s not like food is scarce around here.
Anyways, just wanted to put it out there that yes, broad-wings can and will attempt to go after a full-grown chicken despite what I’ve often heard about them being too small. I’m not sure what we can do at this point aside from keeping the flock locked up in the run and waiting for the hawks to migrate south (shooting them is not an option for obvious reasons).
Hope this helps anyone who also has broad-wing hawks nearby!
PS- Yes, they are indeed broad-wings, identified based on their call (which is pretty distinguished) and sight/tail markings.
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