I heard a ruckus out in the barnyard recently. At exactly the same time Keela started barking like crazy in the house. We went out to see what the fuss was all about. The goats and Doink were munching on grass and acted like nothing was happening.
But Middle Man, (one of the new babies who turned into a very vocal rooster) was running back and forth between the sheds like, well, a chicken with its head cut off. And there was not another chicken to be seen. This is highly unusual, since twenty chickens live in the barnyard. Middle Man was frantic, squawking and crowing and flapping his wings. A quick glance around did not reveal any obvious problem.
I finally looked at Keela, who was still barking. Leave it to the dog to have the best communication skills. Her tail was straight up and her eyes were like a laser beam on this.
The cause of the ruckus.
Why, hello, Mr. Red-Tailed Hawk. I think you’re new to the neighborhood. Why are you sitting on my power pole staring into my barnyard? What? You think the bantams look like a tasty treat? You’d like to eat one? Well, we don’t want any trouble, so I’m gonna have to ask you to move along.
Middle Man continued to run back and forth between the goat shed, where most of the chickens were, to the back side of the chicken shed where the rest of them had taken cover under the roof overhang.
Is everyone ok?
I looked in the goat shed and most of the older ladies were in the top part, pacing back and forth.
Aretha has always been a flock protector. She seemed to be guarding this entrance.
Hermione and Maude, with Napoleon the rooster cowering in the back corner. What a wuss he is.
What are you looking at? Huh? My lack of feathers? Well back off, Aretha! This is not the time – we’ve got a situation on our hands!
The younger hens and Jasmine had taken cover in the small space behind the chicken shed.
We’re fine over here. Is it ok to come out yet?
Keela stopped barking, but stood at attention and stared at the hawk until finally…
Good-bye and good riddance!
It took off and did a long slow loop over the barnyard before heading into the tall evergreen trees nearby. Still, not a chicken came out until Middle Man said it was ok.
All clear! All clear!
I’ve always felt the chickens are relatively safe from overhead predators. There’s lots of roofs to hide under and Keela has always been attentive to…
We interrupt this post for an announcement.
So I usually write in the early morning, go feed the animals then come back in to finish and publish the post. I was out in the barnyard this morning when Keela started barking at the base of the one large evergreen tree in our yard, up close to the street. I told her to hush, it was too early to bark, and ran over to put her in the house. As I was walking back to the barnyard, Middle Man started losing his mind squawking. I saw a shadow, looked up and that damn hawk was heading right toward my flock.
Everyone ran for cover (including Doink!) It was a near disaster, because the door to the opening you see in the photos above was CLOSED. Chickens were running headlong into the door. Middle Man was a hero. He stood right there and squawked and flapped and shrieked while the hens found cover from the dive-bombing hawk. I am a total fan of roosters!
Now, back to your regularly scheduled post.
As I was saying, Keela knows her stuff. I wondered why she was barking (she hardly ever barks at squirrels in the tree) and now I know it was the hawk. And those roofs, at least this time, thwarted the predator. He didn’t attempt to fly under them. He’s a juvenile and small. Even the bantams are bigger than he is. I think he’s just learning to hunt and might not know exactly what he’s doing.
I love hawks. I obsess over the Cornell Hawk Cam every spring. But this one, this hawk needs to move along.
(Shared at HomeAcre Hop, Simple Lives Thursday, Down Home Hop, Tuesdays With A Twist, Backyard Farming Connection, Maple Hill Hop, Thank Goodness It’s Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, Clever Chicks, Simple Saturdays, Farmgirl Friday, From the Farm, Old-Fashioned Friday, Little House Friday and Fabulous Friday)
My Utah hens wandered the barnyard, and the barnyard was bisected by a row of very old lilacs. When a hawk soared overhead, Head Hen yelled, “Hawk! Hawk!” (really, she said hawk) and everyone but Jack the rooster dove for the lilacs. Jack stood firm, screaming defiance at the hawk(s) until everyone was safe. Then he, too, dove under the lilac bushes. Thanks for the great memory. Go Middle Man!
Love that Middle Man is such a protector! I miss my rooster, Mr. Stiltz, so much and so do his ladies. It might be my imagination but they do not seem as cohesive a group as they were when Mr. Stiltz was with them. I enjoyed watching him cavort with his favorite group of Rhode Island Hens – he loved red heads! Just waiting for another rooster to fall into my life again.
That hawk will be back! He knows where your children are now and he won’t give up until he has one of them. I love your dog and let him bark to keep that hawk away from your chicks! That hawk is just waiting for you to let down your guard.
How cute, and a good guardian for the flock 🙂
Nancy @ Little Homestead in Boise recently posted…Shrimp Tacos Ala Bayless, Autumn Mountain Colors
Wow what a team you have in your dog and the rooster. Any ideas other than them to rid your place of the hawk? Twice last week as my husband and I sat on the deck at dusk I caught a glimpse of the back end of a VERY large bird flying over the neighborhood. I was sure it was a hawk, but never was able to see it from the front side. Then last night shortly after sunset, but with the overcast skies I saw an owl! I’d know the shape of that head anywhere! I don’t have chickens (yet…) but we do have the sweetest cat and I’d hate for her to tangle with a big old owl. Any hints as to how to get rid of predatory birds would be greatly appreciated.
We have tons of hawks here, big ones too. They are gorgeous but I do worry when my girls are out in the afternoons. Thankfully Duke takes great pride in his job of watching over them. So important to have an alarm system, great job Keela and Middle Man!
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Wow, important to protect the livestock… we live in the city and want to move to the country, so we have been thinking of things like this… and deer eating gardens and more. So glad your “alarm system” worked well. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this.
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We have quineas to help warn of hawks overhead. They will start screaming long before the roosters even know one is nearby. This usually gets the dogs going and I think all that noise helps to deter the hawks and owls. Check with your dept. Of wildlife to see what you can do if the hawk does get a chicken.
You can’t really do much as ALL raptors are protected. With hawks…encourage crows…the two don’t get along and the crows will run them off. Have seen it often. We have red-tails and kestrels here…one of the reasons I don’t have bantams…too small. my smallest are sex-links so all I have to worry about is the fox…but that’s another story. Dogs discourage foxes. Nets over runs will help with owls and raptors too…they don’t like getting caught in it. Be sure to secure it ALL THE WAY AROUND as they will often get under it!
My Flat Coated Retriever is more of a danger to my girls than the very rare hawk I see around here! I’m another fan of Big Red & Ezra – from the 1st season. Now I’m getting hooked on the Berry College (Rome, GA) bald eagles – that nest is about 25 minutes from me. Ithaca is a 24 hr drive, lol, but I’d like to make it up there for the summer gathering sometime.