Cooper's Hawk in the yard

[smarsh]

I have had 3 feeder birds killed in the past week (blue jay, mockingbird, mourning dove). I let my chickens run free the last hour of the day. I have no yard fence, so I mean free. Neighbors don't seem to mind too much

Last evening I looked out to see a large Cooper's setting in the tree above the run, swishing her tail back and forth with a note of ire preceived. I suspect she had just missed her quarry. Anyway she paid no attention to my hens, though most of them were looking at her. Young Rufous was too busy courting to take notice. He and his two 4 month old sisters are being slowing integrated into the flock during this time. I eyed the hawk for about ten minutes, then went out and clapped my hands, watching her sail away up the neighbor's fence line. I guess it depends on how hungry they are as to what they are willing to consider prey. During the same spell, i noticed my neighbor's black and white tom skirting the yard. He once made an attempt on one of my hens, but was hammered by EE roo George. He has stayed well away from them ever since.

scott

 

[nature nut]

We saw a hawk sitting in one of the trees looking down at our girls one day so we clapped and scared it off. A few minutes later it was back in the same place. We scared it again. A few minutes later same place. We decided if it came back again we would really put the fear of god in it and of course it did come again a few minutes later. So DH shot a shotgun near it not at it so the shot would rattle through the nearby limbs and scare it. That worked. It didn't come back again that day but it does come and sit there many days of the week. I really think it is more interested in the birds and squirrels because we feed them and they are in great abundance.

 

[Kanthaka]

I also have a Cooper's hawk that would love to make a meal of my hens. I'm sure there are others that will tell you that it's illegal to shoot at a hawk even without the intention to kill it. However it is not illegal for crows to chase hawks. I bribe my neighborhood crows with shelled peanuts on my porch roof every morning. They hang out and harass the Cooper's hawk when he comes into my yard. I also provide plenty of ground cover for my hens.
There are some pretty big fines for shooting at hawks.

 

[cappy]

I have the dumbest chickens in the world. There is a pair of red shouldered hawks the sit on the fence dividing the pasture and yard. They are hunting large white grubs that surface in the winter here. The chickens run up to the fence under the hawks and seem to be trying to get the grub from the hawk. Last week the wife heard a commotion in the pasture and looked out to see the hawk fly up from the ground, surrounded by a circle of chickens. None of them were injured and the only feather I found was from the hawk. You don't suppose they ganged up on him? I know they are playing with fire but I really had to laugh. By the way, the hawk hasn't been around since.

Ken

 

[Chickn chick 46]

I had a close call with a Coopers hawk the other morning. I have one hen that loves to go out in the yard while I do the morning cleanup, waterers, feed etc. The minute I let her out the door I heard the crows start. I was in and out of the house with the water and then got them feed. I got her in by shaking the feed can. Was back in the house and noticed out my kitchen window that all the hens were huddled together under a tree and on alert. Then I saw the hawk fly out of a pine tree behind the coop and fly off

It would have really upset me if this particular hen had been a successful target. Shes one of the most friendly and personable hens I have and I know that the hawk needs to survive too. But still I'll be more careful next time.

 

[ConchRepublic]

I had a red tailed that got one of my reds when I was taking care of some stuff, managed to scare it off get the corpse from it but was too late

. Now we start to see it again and fire a pellet rifle at it every time it comes near the coop or chickens when they have their free range time. It's learned to stay away, at least when we're outside.

 

[thedoors5to1]

just had a hawk try and eat my duck on the ground of my backyard, it had her by her leg and we yelled and it took off... how do you attract crows with peanuts? i've got bread, bird seeds, apples and all sorts of stuff thrown out for the local deer, birds and squirrels but i havent seen crows in a long time... wishing i could attract them over here

 

[chooniecat]

we have at least 4 different coopers that hunt our woods/yard and only once in the last 8 yrs did I have an issue(didn't even know what a coopers hawk was!)the adult hens were running amuk and my son came in screaming about a hawk in the barn with uno(favorite hen) so I went in and the coopers flew out and flopped on ground. it was a juvenile hawk , as i now know, and didn't realize 6 lb. birds are too big. uno was fine but scared and the numerous hawks we see have not attempted to prey on chickens here(I had actually picked coopers hawk up before it screamed and flew off)

 

[scooter147]

Quote:
I know it's possible for chickens to not turn tail and run but to turn the tables on the would be chicken thief.
I have a coopers hawk that makes a living at my bird feeders. When my chickens are free ranging and the hawk dives the bird feeders and misses he or she lands on the ground trying to figure out what it did wrong. Slyvester and Junior (my roos) always come running side by side and run it off. Last year a red tail made a swoop on my chickens and landed on the ground a RIR and WR hen ganged up and ran it off.

 

[hermiesbirdies]

full sized hens are too big for a coopers hawk. be like that little hawk goin after foghorn leghorn. "I say, I say, what are ya gonna do son?"

"I am a chicken hawk and I am gonna get me some chickens."

people find the raptor socieety for your area. you can get lots of help relocating hawks and falcons if your nice.