ajm200 Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 Just had near miss with the chickens. All 6 bantams were out free ranging. Son was round the side of the house feeding the guineas he saw a red kite swooping down towards the opposite end of the garden. He ran towards it making loads of noise and it flew off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 It would be unusual for one to take a live chicken - they are carrion eaters. It was probably curious, and the chooks would have run for cover anyhow. We have plenty of kites around here, but none bother our flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 Red kites are VERY common around here and do not take anything live...they go for road kill and picnics! Seriously, ES secondary school have issue 'orders' that no food is to be taken outside the school buildings as the kites will swoop down and steal it. There have been injuries locally from kites grabbing food at picnic sites. This is completley due to the reintroduction of the species in too small an area and people thinking that they are 'cute' and so feeding them. Why do we think we can mess around with Mother Nature - she knows best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted March 30, 2019 Author Share Posted March 30, 2019 They are beautiful but I wouldn’t feed them. There is a cafe on the A404 that feeds them regularly. Think it is called Chris’s cafe but not sure. Used to go there years ago. Thi k it may have spooked or of our chickens as she was very stressed all morning but calmed down after my son saw the kite. Wondering if it made more than one low level pass that we missed We have a large forest fire across the road that may explain why the kite was out side of the road instead of over the forest As normal https://www.bracknellnews.co.uk/news/17539453.royal-berkshire-fire-and-rescue-services-are-tackling-the-fire-near-wildmoor-heath/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 Our chickens are inspected every day, but from afar. I have seen one swoop to attack a pigeon though. Brought it down on the neighbours drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 Ours get spooked by kites as well; guess they look just like buzzards to them. We used to put random posts in the runs to block buzzard flight paths but don't need to here as they are under dense trees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 Yes, AJM, it's Chris' Cafe and there has been quite a bit of fuss in the local press as these birds, beautiful though they are, are proving a real pain in the neck. Up close they are huge and very threatening especially if you happen to have food in your hand! They don't seem to fear people at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 We used to get them a lot in Hook. They gradually circle lower and were just clearing the tree tops above the house. My girls were never bothered - they made more fuss over sparrowhawks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
