Fleata Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 hi everyone, sorry ive not been on for a long time. but i have just had a heart wrenching experience. a kestrel was over the road swooping in to her garden, she feeds lots of sparrows and starlings and then swooped and sat over our wall and then flew off!!! i think it was a kestrel but it was definatly no starling. like a dark brown stripy underside wings, which i think means kestrel. it only really struck me what is was when it flew over the house and i got a good look under its wings. the girls looked worried but didnt dash for cover. they are glad to be indoors can one kill a hen?? i would have thought they would be desperate for food about now,do you think they would pose a threat. i dont think it was big enough to carry one of them off. the girls are in the house know for a bit of a warm as they are seem to have started moulting.sigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 No, they are very small birds compared to chickens as they only have a body length of around 35cm. They are only interested in field mice, voles, small birds, reptiles and insects. Even the larger birds of prey like Sparrowhawks won't bother chickens although the chickens will be frightened and will probably run for cover when they see a bird of prey flying overhead or if the other garden birds start making alarm calls. This is just a natural response and the chickens are in no danger whatsoever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleata Posted February 9, 2006 Author Share Posted February 9, 2006 thanks kate i thought they where going to be lunch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 I agree with Kate Kestrels are of no threat, but the chooks dont know that. Mine often shout out EAGLE when the see an aeroplane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 No, I think they're pretty safe. Clarry chased off a sparrowhawk last summer and I know which bird was the most frightened! Clarry in full Stuka mode is enough to scare an Eagle!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleata Posted February 9, 2006 Author Share Posted February 9, 2006 thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 We picked up a sparrowhawk last summer walking up to school, it had been stunned by a car, I picked it up thinking it was a pidgeon It had the most amazing eyes and colouring to it's feathers!! the children in the playground were facinated! It was a young male and we took him to a nearby wildlife rescue who kept him overnight and then we went back and let him go near to where we caught him! Definately too small to carry off a hen! Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swiss Chick Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 Glad you put this question in the forum. What preying bird can kill a hen? Mine are very small. On December 27 I heard a bloodcurling sream outside and ran to see what was the matter. A huge bird had one of my chickens (Gwendolyn the brown one) pinned down under the house (on part of our house stands on pillars since our ground slopes) and was trying to drag her out to finish her off. She was screaming frantically and when I arrived the bird took of. I had to collect on chicken from the steet on was in the eglu and Henrietta emerged from under the house bleeding. Urgent visit to the vet, a gash in the behind and 20 pounds poorer we retourned back home. The hens were so shocked that they stayed for 3 days in their house and I had to feed them inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 I don't really know what birds of prey you have over there. Certainly nothing much in the UK bothers with a chicken - unless you count the escaped foreigners - eagle owls and the like! I think I remember reading about one in London a year or so ago, keeping the pigeon population under control Buzzards tend to be carrion eaters and I don't think Red Kites are a problem. Sparrowhawks, Kestrels, Peregrines etc are all a bit small. I don't know if anyone in Scotland has any tales of Eagles or Ospreys - we have miniscule numbers here in Cumbria and I've never heard of a conflict with poultry?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swiss Chick Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 I defenitely was not an eagle. We only have these in the mountains. But we have more problems with the preying birds around here then with Mr. Fox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 A sparrow hawk regularly visits our garden, in London. Last time the chickens were rather alarmed because it got a blackbird who made a massive fuss. I ran out, the blackbird was released, the sparrow hawk flew off, and we all calmed down again. I'm sure its not big enough to get the chickens though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 I did have a kind of knighmare that our chickens would be eaten by a bird of prey yesterday, and not a fox. I've no idea why! I suppose Swiss chick's chickens are really small cute bantam-sized chickens, I think a full sized one, or even an orpington would be too heavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swiss Chick Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 Yes they are cute and tiny Dont let the Swiss birds of prey be your worry I will not send them over to scare you beauties......yet maybe you could use it against them should they not presto start laying eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted February 10, 2006 Share Posted February 10, 2006 We'll see if Beth starts laying eggs first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted February 10, 2006 Share Posted February 10, 2006 Ospreys only eat fish I have a couple near me they are beautiful birds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 One day last Spring I left the house at about 9 am and then realised I'd forgotten my car key so went back in to pick it up. As I entered the kitchen, I heard a sound from our little utility room - and the cat heard it too, so accompanied me to see what it was (there had already been a mouse that morning - ever hopeful!) We were both ASTOUNDED to find a sparrowhawk sitting on the kitchen windowsill! I was stunned, and a little bit scared as I had to reach over it to open the window, and although it was beautiful it glared very fiercely at me with its great golden eye. It flew off safely, and the cat and I had to sit down together for a few minutes to recover from the excitement. To this day, I am puzzled and perplexed. "Ooops, word censored!"ody in the family had opened the back door that morning, and the only possible way in for the sparrowhawk would have been through the cat flap. The only explanation I can come up with is that it saw the cat being booted out through the catflap at about 7.30 am with a mouse in its mouth, decided that there were rich pickings in there, and somehow or other came in through the catflap to look for a mouse of its own. I just wish somebody other than the cat had been there to witness it - I'm sure "Ooops, word censored!"ody believes me! Well, maybe the chickens do, but they're not telling either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 Wow, what a fabulous story! I'd love to see one that close. The nearest one has been to me was a female sparrowhawk half way down the garden eating a bird she had caught. That must have been so exciting for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 Wowee - how fab! We've only ever had one in our back garden - it was pretty close, but not within face reach! Don't they just demand your respect! Would loved to have seen that I bet the cat was drooling at the mouth wasn't she?! a mouse and a bird in one day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 Goodness - I would have jumped out of my skin to see a bird like that so close We have woodland all around us & the Red Kites live in some tall trees over the back of our house. They are wonderful,but are just MASSIVE! When the chickens free ranged in the summer they used to cirle the garden,getting lower & lower, but never actually swooped....they are carrion feeders anyway We all love watching them,but when the come down low like that,right in front of you,its enought to give you kittens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 I believe you. How exciting, I get excited when I just see a mouse A sparrowhawk, wow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 I spoke to some experts on Red Kites, which are very big birds, and they confirmed that they will only eat dead carcasses and would never go near a live hen or bantam or chick for that matter. So if you are lucky enough to have Red Kites near you, you can enjoy them with confidence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahbowyer Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 That's good - we have a red kite which I think lives near the house - we often see it circling over the garden and along the road. There's a big wood nearby with all sorts of owls, foxes etc in it. I imagine it lives there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fowlbird Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 Hi, Sarah! we're in Reading too - east of the A3290 - we're used to seeing red kites along the A4 to Sonning but recently we've been seeing them over our (suburban) house. Exciting isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballgunner Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 we never get any birds of prey we have only seen a tawny owl a few gardens away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
