phenna_family Posted April 3, 2010 Share Posted April 3, 2010 Hi Can anyone help, I was pegging my washing out just a few moments ago and I heard this strange noise above me. I looked up and saw these huge birds circling above our garden dont know what they are? My three girls were all sunbathing together in the garden. I was most concerned and put the three of them into the run and locked them in, I was frightened if these big birds above were after my girls, has anyone experienced this before and can those big birds eat my girls. The girls are not happy being in the run as they were enjoying free ranging in the sunshine. Very concerned Claire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelley8179 Posted April 3, 2010 Share Posted April 3, 2010 We have lots of red kites that circle our garden and never had a problem, but I would keep a close eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleOwl Posted April 3, 2010 Share Posted April 3, 2010 They are most likely buzzards, we have them here too, they actually live next to our garden. They tend to be carrion eaters, and won't bother them at all. I don't believe there are any native birds of prey here that can take grown chooks. I wouldn't worry about them, really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenna_family Posted April 3, 2010 Author Share Posted April 3, 2010 Thanks just been out now and they seem to have gone, I would hate to think anything would of happened to my three girls. They seem to be happy in the run all stretched out sunbathing. He He. Claire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
half dozen Posted April 3, 2010 Share Posted April 3, 2010 We also get buzzards reguarly circling above our garden,the girls are always vary of them but they have never caused any problems.......so far. I must admit I do go outside and wave my arms around to frighten them off!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted April 3, 2010 Share Posted April 3, 2010 I'm not to far from you [as the large bird flies] and we have three sparrowhawks that regularly fly over. The chooks were a bit dubious at first but we have never had any problems with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted April 3, 2010 Share Posted April 3, 2010 They sound like Buzzards and there is a way of detering them. Go to your nearest gunshop and buy a plastic crow decoy.They're not expensive at around £4 and place this somewhere prominent in your garden where it'll be easily seen from overhead.The reason is-all corvids (crows,rooks,magpies and ravens) will literally mob buzzards because they're seen as a threat.Buzzards in turn try hells hardest to keep away from crows etc. I know this because im a shooter and often when im decoying woodpigeons on farms-buzzards start comming in because they see my decoys and think they're real and then the corvids attack the buzzards! Its like an action film unwinding in the sky above me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Posted April 3, 2010 Share Posted April 3, 2010 Hi I am not far from you and quite often we have birds circling our girls...keep an eye open but it should not be a problem. Kit 6 chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenna_family Posted April 3, 2010 Author Share Posted April 3, 2010 Thanks every one for all your advice on this matter. Didnt realise how many people that live near me have chickens. Thats great. Claire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted April 3, 2010 Share Posted April 3, 2010 We have buzzards near us too.....and we are nowhere near you ! I just made sure my very young pekins & chicks were under netting of some sort, I felt the big girls would be ok but the diddy ones might just be a temptation even if they are carrion eaters . Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
