4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[redhotchick]

I have just had a distressing experience. A bird hit my window. I was surprised as the blinds are across. I went out to look and as I opened the door it flew away, but first it landed on the lawn and dropped something in the long grass. As it flew away I recognised it as some kind of bird of prey and it's prey had been a young pigeon of some sort. I tried sugared water but the pigeon just faded away whilst I was holding it.

I wish the bird of prey had just taken it away.

My question now is what to do with it? Leave it on the grass in case the bird cames back or dispose of it? It seems such a waste, but I don't want to encourage this bird into a residential area, there are plenty of fields close by, and of course my chickens might be threatened by a bird of prey.

[Gamebird]

Nature seems cruel in our eyes but for wildlife it's survival.

 

If there are nearby fields I would put the dead bird there. It will be food for other wildlife and at least it did not die in vain.

 

Sorry if this offends anybody but it's just my opinion.

[BeckyBoo]

Absolutely, chuck it in the field. I actually don't have a problem with this, it's not wasteful killing, it's to survive. And if it had happened in a more natural setting than your back garden it would have rotted where it fell, maybe becoming food for foxes, worms, flies, fungus, it's all part of the natural scheme of things. If it wasn't for pigeons as food, there wouldn't be birds of prey and the world will be a sadder place.

 

Mrs B

[redhotchick]

Good idea! Thank you.

I'm off for a little walk before it rains again.

[Snowy]

It is distressing isn't it? I have no problem with it happening, but hate finding things half dead as I really don't have the guts to finish them off myself

At least your chickens didn't find it first - a pigeon flew into our window and landed on the patio with a nasty gash in it's chest. The chickens pounced on it and would have shredded it if I hadn't stepped in As it was they managed to remove most of it's tail feathers before i got to them.

[chocchick]

Someone at work told me this had happened with a pigeon where it got in and hit the window on the way out and died. It was

[Louise]

A couple of years ago there was young thrush in the garden learing to fly its parents were feeding it and encouraging it so I gathered up my furry monsters to give it a good chance the next thing I knew it had been taken by a bird of prey

 

I was so upset

[Mutrix Farmers]

I have just had a distressing experience. A bird hit my window. I was surprised as the blinds are across. I went out to look and as I opened the door it flew away, but first it landed on the lawn and dropped something in the long grass. As it flew away I recognised it as some kind of bird of prey and it's prey had been a young pigeon of some sort.

 

Snap!

 

The same thing happened to me yesterday. I had just let the girls out, and was fiddling with the Omlet netting when I heard a commotion in one of our trees. The girls spooked and bolted under the apple tree. I tried to tell them it was only blackbirds fighting when - bang!!!! - something hit the patio door. Whatever it was landed on the deck. I walked up to garden expecting to find a dead blackbird but instead contfronted a bird of prey with its wings spread over its "catch". It flew off around the side of the house and landed again by our bike shed where it sat for a minute of two before flying off still clutching its dinner. What surprised me most about this is the fact that I was stood only 10 feet from where the original attack happened, I would have thought that my presence in the garden would put a bird off making an attack!

 

As you say the natural world is harsh sometimes, I console myself with the fact that the bird of prey was just catching dinner, not just killing for the sake of it!

[Paola]

I console myself with the fact that the bird of prey was just catching dinner, not just killing for the sake of it!

 

I agree Am I the only one who finds it fascinating watching nature at work first hand rather then finding it harsh?

[dancing cloud]

My fat Puddy goes and grabs "window-kill" and brings it in like she hunted and caught it herself. She always looks so smug and pleased with herself that I have to make suitable appreciative noises, even though I know all she actually did was sit around waiting for something to die

[redhotchick]

A couple of years ago there was young thrush in the garden learing to fly its parents were feeding it and encouraging it so I gathered up my furry monsters to give it a good chance the next thing I knew it had been taken by a bird of prey

 

I was so upset

 

Come to think of it, there was a dead thrush in my garden the other week. I thought it was odd at the time, as a cat would have mauled it a bit more (sorry) and there didn't seem to be a mark on it, but a bird of prey would have taken it away surely? I was upset because thrushes are so pretty and I don't see many these days.

 

Mutrix Farmer - I was under the impression that a bird of prey wouldn't attack if I was in the garden. I'm a bit worried about my chickens, especially my little red hen.

[Louise]

I find the occasional dead bird in the garden too I think cats won't eat it if it has died at least mine don't seem to

 

Like anything else they can just keel over although I think my conservatory is responsible for a fair few feathery funerals