3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[chickinboy]

Do anyone else's girls go completely mental when a crow flies over, er, crowing? Mine have started sprinting and flapping, and doing that chicken scream when ever they go over if they're free ranging. I read somewhere about birds of prey having a similar effect, but presumably because they're more of a threat. We do seem to be getting more and more crows sitting in the trees watching. They can't get to the food.

 

Doesn't really matter, just wondered!

[chickinboy]

okay, strike that. There were loads of crows up above....but after got my specs out, one of them was considerably bigger - just gliding through the air, with white sections of their wings, and one of the fish-type fan tails. huge it was, and it seemed to be specifically circling my garden, swooping lower each time. After a bit of a google - is this likely to be red kite? My girls cowered under a bush and kept peaking out at it. Anyone know if it's likely to swoop in and steal my girls?!

[shoura]

It sounds quite likely! I wouldn't chance it myself....

[jayjay]

Hello

 

Sounds very much like a red kite - we have quite a few of them around us and the ducks go mad if they see them. Kites are not particularly strong and are more opportunistic. It is unlikely that they would take a chicken unless it was smallish. We have seen a couple of pigeon carcasses in the woods near the house so about that size is as big as they usually take.

 

Jayjay

[Lavenders_Blue]

If it is a Red Kite then your girls will be okay as they mostly feed on carrion (with the odd samll mammal). They don't generally take live prey.

 

They do swoop around lazily, scanning to see what they can find to eat. They are beautiful - so effortless.

[Henhathnofury]

We have a Red Kite couple and the girls will hide if they see it come over...but they will take carrion, not large prey. However, we have hung up a couple of CDs on strings...when the light hits them, it will shine and look like a predator's eye (apparently)..since doing that the Kite does not fly directly over the girl's area.

[sandyhas3chucks]

red kite ror not, the answer to your question is yes...

mine do run for cover at crows!

[Laura & CTB]

and mine pretend they're garden statues for a few minutes

[Chucky1]

Funny, but we get crows come around the feeder for any spilt grain and the girls chase them off, especially Cockaleaky (our head, cheakiest girl)