suehiggi Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 Hello every one. I'm on day three with my eglu and lovely bantam chicks Blinky , Gertrude and Nell. They are so pretty but being new to all this I'm a bag of nerves in case I an doing anything wrong!!. The children and I are looking forward to letting them roam around the garden when I get the fence secure, but this morning for the first time ever I saw a sparrow hawk sitting on my fence - Not bad in the middle of a town!.I looked in a book and it said they would take birds the size of a pigeon. Does any one know would it take my bantams? They are only nine weeks old and very small. Very worried - has any one got any experience of this? Thank you so much. I love the forum and have been checking it daily while we waited for our eglu to arrive. Gertrude Nell Blinky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 I think it is entirely possible...especially whilst they are so very small. I'd stay with them while they free range....for the time being at least. Welcome to the forum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 when i was in Canada a hawk tried to get a yorkshire terrier, luckily it was on a lead, so i wouldnt take chances! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robskyd Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 when i was in Canada a hawk tried to get a yorkshire terrier, luckily it was on a lead, so i wouldnt take chances! Wow a hawk on a lead, that was lucky... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UkButton Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 when i was in Canada a hawk tried to get a yorkshire terrier, luckily it was on a lead, so i wouldnt take chances! Wow a hawk on a lead, that was lucky... ...Sure it wasn't a Kite? (Fnarrr) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 I think a Sparrow Hawk could take a bantam, it might even have a go at a full size chicken so I would be careful. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue and the Spice Girls Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 I laughed out loud about the hawk on a lead, thanks for brightening my day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pearsons Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 A sparrow hawk can and will take a bantam... Helen in Hume Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xraylady Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 Over here hawks are the main predator threat for my chooks. I used to see them every day when I let the girls out to free-range, supervised of course. My chickens are 'plus-sized ladies' (no we are not! we are just 'big-boned'!) -so I doubt a hawk could take-off with one, but could inflict serious damage. I now use the Omlet fencing for a large outdoor run for my chickens. I drape cheap deer-netting over the top. It appears to be a very effective deterrent as I have not spotted a hawk in months. A very determined aerial predator could certainly break through (the 'burst weight' of the netting is low) but the risk of entanglement for the hawk vs the likely yield (theres only 3 'big-boned' chickens in there) - seems to have encouraged them to look for easier pickings elsewhere. I shall replace the deer netting this winter with some proper flight-top net - but only because of the weight of snow we get here. Maybe this might be an easy solution to protect your bantam babes? Good luck & enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anjuli Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 I watched a sparrowhawk decapitate a woodpigeon in my garden a few years ago. Actually I didn't see it at first, it just started raining feathers...bizarre sight. My first thoughts were"Who's having a pillow fight?", then I realised the horrlbe truth lay before me by the back door, complete with trinmphant sparrowhawk hmmm. So yes, without a doubt a sparrowhawk will be VERY interested, I'm afraid... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
