Hawks and foxes

[Joecola123]

Hi i have a question about the predators here in PA my chickens are about 13 weeks old now and allowed to free range they are pretty fast and are hard to catch but i was told to watch out for hawks. We do have a lot of trees in our property. And we always see turky vultures but i always thought they just eat dead things.

 

[fordmommy]

Turkey vultures eat dead things only. If you see them, they're probably searching for food.

 

[Tecalli]

Not sure where in PA you are, but I have some pretty vicious sharp shinned hawks in my area. This winter they terrorized my poor little beagle pup, swooping down on him whenever our german shepherd wasn't around. As a result, we were sure to hawk proof our run when we built it about a month ago. I've seen hawks swoop down and grab rabbits from the field across the street, so I know they are effective hunters.

 

[Joecola123]

woah thats pretty creepy ive only seen red tailed hawks but ive never seen them attack my little weener dog lol and the chickens are already almost bigger then her.

 

[scooter147]

The vultures are not a problem and believe it or not the chickens can tell the difference between a vulture and hawk. Mine will look skyward but not run for cover and sure enough when I look it's a vulture and the second they spot a hawk they give the warning call and all run for cover.
That being said if you free range and you have hawks expect losses, a hawk does not really chase it's prey it hits it as it stands and hits hard, it's prey usually never sees it coming.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I had a hawk trying to get one of my Dominiques yesterday. Full grown, big hen. I ran outside and screamed and waved my arms and it finally flew away but that red tailed hawk was definitely planning on some supper with that hen. The hawk was on the ground and skipping along behind the hen as the hen ran into some shrubs. Thankfully the hawk paused and that gave me time to go screaming outside.
Had a fox after a few cuckoo Marans a few days ago. Big boy, too!

 

[cgmccary]

I have Red Tailed, Cooper's and Sharp-Shinned. None of them bother my chickens.

A Sharp-Shinned Hawk isn't much bigger than a Robin & preys on small birds, so would only be able to take a Bantam (if that), Serama or Nankin. A Cooper's Hawk (about the size of a Crow) would only be a danger to smaller chickens (under 3 lbs). An adult, female Red Tailed, that hunted chicken, could take most chickens.

I have seen Red Tailed Hawks catch & eat squirrels in sight of my chicken run. They just don't seem interested in chickens around me.

As everyone says, Vultures (Turkey or Black) eat carrion & are not a threat to chickens.