Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[sambee]

I was thinking about this the other day when I saw a sparrowhawk in my garden, not Chris'. Will birds of prey go for your free ranging chickens, and if the chickens are a target, do they know to be on the lookabouts for attack, or will it be completely unexpected and not leave them time to run into the house.

Which birds would be a problem, I know up here in the Thames Valley we're lucky enough to get Red Kites, they're fun to watch aswell as sparrowhawks and buzzards. I've yet to see a kestrel or peregrine falcon.

Red Kites have been known to stalk small dogs around here, and even attempt to take 'em off.

So what would be the best way to look after your free ranging hens?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

We've had a sparrowhawk in our garden too but it definately wouldn't manage to carry off my girls - they're far too big! Here are a couple of threads you might find interesting.

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=31380&hilit=birds+of+prey

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=29836&hilit=birds+of+prey

[Tweety]

I lost 2 bantams to birds of prey - sparrowhawks, I think - but they were very small birds and the other normal sized hens were not attacked. Our neighbours have doves and some of them have been killed by sparrowhawks too, so it seems to be a question of size.

[sambee]

Oh my, thank you for the links. Sounds like it is mostly down to size then, and the bird of prey. I'm slightly relieved now, but I'll remember this advice when we get bantams.