toesonthenose Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 are buzzards a threat to chickens? i live next to a woodland and have seen as many as 8 or 10 buzzards flying around over the woods and am just a little paranoid, i have never heard of a buzzard taking a chicken, but i thought id ask and see if anyone here has ever had any problems from buzzards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Take a look at this thread Haven't had any problems myself. Chickens are always on the look out for anything in the sky. If a light aircraft flies over the house, they sound the alarm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milly Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 We have alot of buzzards in a wood close to us, but I have never seen them close to the house. It's not proof positive, but reassuring. Milly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muzzie Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 are buzzards a threat to chickens? i live next to a woodland and have seen as many as 8 or 10 buzzards flying around over the woods and am just a little paranoid, i have never heard of a buzzard taking a chicken, but i thought id ask and see if anyone here has ever had any problems from buzzards. If it truly is a buzzard / vulture we have these they eat carion only will not kill or eat living things they are attracted to decaying meat. Do you have a bird id book that you could look them up in to get a positive Id and then see what they eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 You'd know if it was a buzzard, they are enormous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 I think there is a lady called Anne on here who had a chook taken/attacked by a buzzard around October last year.... We have many buzzards that circle the sky above our house, but I think they would have to be pretty desperately hungry to go for a chook rather than the smaller prey in the fields...certainly not had one hovering overhead yet Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 A friend of mine out in the wilds of Shropshire has Buzzards over her house - she has chickens in an open pen but has not had any problems with them being attacked by buzzards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I lost 2 bantams last year and am pretty sure that they were taken by sparrowhawks or similar. We have lots of birds of prey around, and our neighbours have seen sparrowhawks take their doves. My bantams were only babies at the time and smaller than a dove, and there wasn't the usual evidence of a fox attack. All that was left was a couple of feathers from each bird, and the rest of my hens were absolutely untouched and unbothered. I now keep my girls in a covered walk-in weldmesh run so that they are ( fingers crossed ) safe from all enemies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westie Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I was also worried about buzzards as they fly low over the house, likewise red kites. Omlet reassured me by saying they had never come across the problem. I've had my girls, who free range when I'm around, since April and so far so good. I'm more concerned about the 4 foxes that apparently cross the bottom of our paddock at 7am every morning (only found out 2 days ago). Hope your girls can live in harmony with the local wildlife Westie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...