good_egg Posted January 1, 2018 Share Posted January 1, 2018 Bit of a strange question...... Does anyone on here/has anyone got any experience of keeping chickens and also keeping a hawk. Trying to work out whether it would be possible, assuming they were separated etc, or if it’s not fair on either.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted January 1, 2018 Share Posted January 1, 2018 Bit of a strange question...... Does anyone on here/has anyone got any experience of keeping chickens and also keeping a hawk. Trying to work out whether it would be possible, assuming they were separated etc, or if it’s not fair on either.... Lee on here has experience with both birds of prey and chickens. He might know the answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted January 1, 2018 Author Share Posted January 1, 2018 Oh fab! Thanks..... you guys know everything! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 A friend keeps hawks, so my knowledge is only limited and I am happy to stand corrected. Hawks are prey hunters, so it would be best to keep the chickens in the run when you are training it. carrion birds like the Red Kites we have here are fine and don't bother with the chickens. You will also need to make sure that it is on the same worming and preventative lice programme as your hens, to avoid cross-infection. Looking forward to hearing how you get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted January 4, 2018 Author Share Posted January 4, 2018 Thanks Dogmother. Yes definitely wouldn’t risk it loose and chickens loose, was just worried wether it would stress either of them out sharing a garden, but hopefully I can arrange so not. Sounds like it should be possible. Then I just need to mix the whippet in and we will have a happy, crazy house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamrhind Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 I suspect that it depends on the size of the hawks and the size of the chickens. We have a wild sparrow hawk very active in the field next to our house. It goes after the sparrows that eat our hen's food but the hen is far too big for it and they ignore each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 I've flown a female Harris' Hawk for three years and got a male Goshawk in September - they're away from the chickens though. Both will hunt pigeons and pheasant and both species have been known to kill chickens! You wouldn't be able to fly with the chickens out and it's probably not fair to either to have them in sight as the hawk would probably spend most of the day baiting towards them or crash into the run with them inside. I know someone who keeps Peregrines and Pekin Bantams, which free range around the falcon in the weathering area but that's probably a special case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 You have a Goshawk Loo-is? I am insanely jealous! I had the privilege of having one on my hand once..... there's something so wild and primal about them. You must enjoy flying it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
