Sparrowhawks and Mr Fox!

[vixfinn]

It has been an extraordinary week in my garden, just thought I'd share this and maybe get some info.

We live in a semi rural location with a farm, woods and the hills of Lansdown overlooking our houses. We are the forth house down the row and all the gardens are surrounded by 6 ft fences and mature conifers.

Monday morning I ventured out to find the magpies and crows making a huge fuss in the apple tree and a saw something dark in the shadows launching itself at the fence. Suspecting a cat I edged a little closer and a beautiful fox with black/grey markings on it's legs ran infront of the playhouse and stared at me before launching itself over the 6ft fence!

I've heard tale of them scaling such heights but always treated it with scepticism. I was aware of them living in the woods above by the unholy racket they make but wonder whether they visit the gardens regularly or this is a one off

Then on Wednesday I let the little white Jack Russell out into the garden for a wee, she promptly ran into the undergrowth before being chased out and attacked by a lady sparrowhawk
Being a brave little thing she chased the sparrowhawk who rather than fly away perched itself on a low branch of the tamarisk tree and waited patiently.

The dog went back to sniff at the "something" interesting in the undergrowth and Miss Sparrowhawk glared at me disdainfully as I was stood about 3ft away from her (somewhat) shocked!

20 minutes she waited until I called the dog in as it was getting dark and the SH clearly wasn't going to leave without her "something".
The minute I called the dog in she flew back into the undergrowth.

Later by torchlight she allowed me to watch her as she plucked and feasted on a ....woodpigeon. I didn't stay for long as she was obviously ravenous and had waited long enough.

She even returned the next day to finish off her quarry despite the interruptions of the previous day. She wasn't atall afraid of me Is this normal?

My quandary is, I'm keen to attract wildlife to the garden and after many false starts I'm acquiring my hens next weekend. The free-ranging idea would seem a particularly dangerous idea due to my recent "guests".

Could a sparrowhawk kill a chicken??

Whats going on in the woods that the fox and hawk are visiting me?
Could they have always have been coming to my garden but I haven't noticed?

[scarey55]

I'm not an expert but I don't think even a female sparrowhawk could kill a full sized chicken (not sure though) but a fox certainly can
Is it very cold where you are? If so, it could be that they need extra food to see them through the night and hunger seems to make even the most timid wildlife become brave.

[vixfinn]

Phew! I was hoping chickens would be a feather too much for the sparrowhawk.
It's snowing now but there has been a severe frost for over a week. Must be pretty difficult for them on the hills!

I was worried the chickens would be a sitting target. Short of building an 8ft fence to foil the fox the simplest solution I suppose is a covered run. Just heard tales of nesting peregrines on the top of Lansdown too!
Maybe the chickens can free range in the spring when the Woodland gets abundant.

It's lovely to see them, I guess it was a warning not to get complacent about chook safety.

[Jeanied]

I have a small town garden and I know the fox visits from time to time because I catch sight of him. I have also seen a sparrowhawk, a few years ago, try and grab a bluetit in the tree at the end of next door's garden.

The fox is more likely to be a regular visitor - your garden must be on his rounds - so your chicken habitat needs to be really fox proof. I would imagine a sparrowhawk would find that impenetrable too.

[vixfinn]

I'm probably on the wrong thread now but could a fox chew through the wood of the coop
Do I need to to build a covered run that it can sit inside?

I was really hoping I'd be all set up for next week..

[Nicos]

Yes- and yes- I'm afraid.

Our neighbours have warned us that the buzzards may nick a few of our bantams if the weather is dreadful and food is in short suppy. So far we've been lucky- although I do wonder if the electric fence may sort of give off something in the air.
If you are getting adult birds then I think you'll be fine as far as birds of prey are concerned.

The foxes though..yes- wood is edible- and they will dig under fencing
Do make sure they are very safe- you'll feel dreadful if they were 'got'

On the other hand- how fantastic to have all that wildlife

[Two_Sheds]

Sparrowhawks don't seem at all timid: I've seen two in different gardens, just casually sitting on a wall or the ground until they were ready to leave again

[pauco]

It has been an extraordinary week in my garden, just thought I'd share this and maybe get some info.

We live in a semi rural location with a farm, woods and the hills of Lansdown overlooking our houses. We are the forth house down the row and all the gardens are surrounded by 6 ft fences and mature conifers.

Monday morning I ventured out to find the magpies and crows making a huge fuss in the apple tree and a saw something dark in the shadows launching itself at the fence. Suspecting a cat I edged a little closer and a beautiful fox with black/grey markings on it's legs ran infront of the playhouse and stared at me before launching itself over the 6ft fence!

I've heard tale of them scaling such heights but always treated it with scepticism. I was aware of them living in the woods above by the unholy racket they make but wonder whether they visit the gardens regularly or this is a one off

Then on Wednesday I let the little white Jack Russell out into the garden for a wee, she promptly ran into the undergrowth before being chased out and attacked by a lady sparrowhawk
Being a brave little thing she chased the sparrowhawk who rather than fly away perched itself on a low branch of the tamarisk tree and waited patiently.

The dog went back to sniff at the "something" interesting in the undergrowth and Miss Sparrowhawk glared at me disdainfully as I was stood about 3ft away from her (somewhat) shocked!

20 minutes she waited until I called the dog in as it was getting dark and the SH clearly wasn't going to leave without her "something".
The minute I called the dog in she flew back into the undergrowth.

Later by torchlight she allowed me to watch her as she plucked and feasted on a ....woodpigeon. I didn't stay for long as she was obviously ravenous and had waited long enough.

She even returned the next day to finish off her quarry despite the interruptions of the previous day. She wasn't atall afraid of me Is this normal?

My quandary is, I'm keen to attract wildlife to the garden and after many false starts I'm acquiring my hens next weekend. The free-ranging idea would seem a particularly dangerous idea due to my recent "guests".

Could a sparrowhawk kill a chicken??

Whats going on in the woods that the fox and hawk are visiting me?
Could they have always have been coming to my garden but I haven't noticed?

SparrowhawkV Chicken, no contest. Even the female of the species whom is the larger, could not tackle a chicken.


What's going on in the woods? snow & frost are a birds worst nightmare. So you become the next supplier! ie: your garden birds for mrs Sparrowhawk, these Raptors can and will persue a bird on foot, through hedges to make a kill. They are one of natures most fast and silent killers.
And of course mr/mrs fox likes chickens!!


paul.

[vixfinn]

Thanks all for taking the time to reply. Just sent the OH out in the frost and snow to extend the run over the coop (with fire guards no less!).

It's lovely seeing the wildlife but not sure the forthcoming chickens will agree.
At least their timely appearance has stopped me becoming to complacent about "hen safety"!

They will be the most secure chooks in the town.

[wellie]

The sparrowhawk in and around us is INCREDIBLY hungry at the moment.

Daily I am having to shoo it away from my garden birds.
And I have been within two or three feet of it four or five times now in the last week before I've managed to scare it off, so it ain't scared none.
Nature is, unfortuately, nature, and they will prolly evetually, but whilst I can protect... I do.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Don't think the hawk will take your chickens but the fox most definitely will.

If you have seen him/her in your garden then you are on his round so to speak. He may just be travelling through to his next port of call at this time but that will change when you get your chicks.

The fox is a great survivor, a wonderful animal and an opportunist, he will know within seconds of the presence of your chooks and from then on it is a case of are your defence's good enough.

I used to raise pheasants the pen was made of heavy duty glav chicken wire dug into the ground about 18" and back filled with 8ft over ground. We only got hit once but lost 22 birds in one night most were just left there with some dying of their injuries.

I make no apologies for waiting for him the next night and turning off his lights.

Colin

[Two_Sheds]

The sparrowhawk in and around us is INCREDIBLY hungry at the moment.

We had one swoop over the playground last week

[wellie]

Twosheds,
That's rather worrying.
But in all honesty, I couldn't eat a whole one either....?!