New Season, New Predator

Hi all - I was here for advice in the spring/summer when dealing with a fox - it got three of my pullets so I came here for advice. Put up an electric fence which has proven 100% effective thus far - with ground predators anyway. Now that it's winter with all the bushes and foliage gone the Red Tails have arrived. 3 attempts so far and yesterday it nearly succeeded before I scared it off. All the girls were fine but someone lost a bunch of feathers in the scuffle. I had hung tinsel boughts off an old Christmas tree on a broken clothes line but the hawk swooped down on the ledge they like to hang out on. I am now considering scare tape strung over the ledge from tree to tree. Anyone have any luck with scare tape or fishing line in deterring hawks? The girls are in lock-up until I come up with a solution. I'll supervise them this afternoon for some free ranging time before dusk but I've seen the hwlk circling this morning so not taking any chances.

I've avoided building a run for a number of reasons and the fencing has been fantastic. It's a 300 ft. enclosure around their coop and the yard and ledge with several large tall trees which have proven handy to the hawk. Clearly they have plenty to eat in the summer and the growth has been a deterrent but now it's a whole new ballgame with everything so barren.

I don't want to add a roo to the flock for biosecurity reasons and because the girls are 7 months old now. May add one next spring with the next 6 chicks I'm ordering. I have a dozen girls now.

Advice appreciated Scare tape? Fishing Line? Roo? Aside from a covered run (which may yet happen) what's worked for you?

Sadly enough the only thing that has ever worked for me is an enclosed pen when a hawk is in the area. The attacks will become more frequent and persistent once it snows and small mammals are not readily available.

sourland said:

Sadly enough the only thing that has ever worked for me is an enclosed pen when a hawk is in the area. The attacks will become more frequent and persistent once it snows and small mammals are not readily available.

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Ditto Dat^^^


Oh and fake owls don't work..haha!

LOL Aart! The quote, "A picture is worth a thousand words" really applies to the hawk sitting on the fake owl!
I am still laughing!

A covered run is your answer here; birds on lockdown for one to three weeks until that hawk goes elsewhere. You can build a hoop run pretty fast, or better yet get a dog run and cover it. Mary

Folly's place said:

A covered run is your answer here; birds on lockdown for one to three weeks until that hawk goes elsewhere. You can build a hoop run pretty fast, or better yet get a dog run and cover it. Mary

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Dog runs are looking very expensive even on CL. What's a hoop run? So the scare tape is useless I'm guessing based on the responses thus far. I've looked for carports, shelterlogic types but even more expensive than a dog run...I need an inexpensive solution or I'll be standing guard when they are out, otherwise lockdown. Curious what a hoop run is...pictures/description/materials. Maybe I can throw one together. I thought there were enough obstacles in the yard but clearly not in certain places for that hawk to have attempted a catch.

There is ton of hoop coop/run info here.
Let me introduce you to the advanced search function here at BYC:
Advanced search>titles only> hoop coop

aart said:

There is ton of hoop coop/run info here.
Let me introduce you to the advanced search function here at BYC:
Advanced search>titles only> hoop coop

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Thanks bunches! Putting a hoop run up next week - in the meantime I've reduced the electric fencing to a 200 foot perimeter with picnic tables and outdoor chairs for scurry shelters and torch lights as flight obstacles. The tinsel is on long tree boughs from a 50's tree so the chickens don't actually have access to them. They are strung on clothesline and stuck into the torches. The yard looks a little like a decorated recycling center at the moment, but whatever works. Keeping them in lockdown made them absolutely miserable - thus far the new layout seems to be sufficient. Hopefully it'll do until the hoop goes up next week.
Many thanks to everyone for the info - this forum is the best for gathering information and feedback. Thanks again!!!

Happy to report the hoop run went up in about 5.5 hours Thanks to all for the info on hoop runs! Inexpensive and secure run for the winter and inclement weather. Just finished decorating the interior with some straw, a few chairs and a new bathtub for dust baths. All are happy and safe Fit perfectly against their coop! 12 ft. x 8 ft. Woo Hoo!

Nice work! Mary