A Hawk Is Killing Our Chickens. What should I do?

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I had the coop gate open, and the chickens were in the run. They sounded the alarm and ran to the coop, and the hawk followed them inside. He flew right through the narrow gate and had hold of a chicken when I ran out there.
 
I really hate that; but it proves my point you can do ALL you can possibly do and hawks don't seem to care, they'll risk injury even it seems for an "easy free meal" of chicken.
 
My 6 Black sex links wander over an area of 4 acres all my neighbors love them, a large hawk grabbed a smaller chick in my front yard and I ran down and scared it off. she belongs to my neighbor behind me and I kept her till they came home,she seemed ok, only bled a bit from her cheek. I don't know if she is still ok. I have a small run,!5' by 20' so I hate to keep them in, but...I also have 6 Chihuahuas in a fenced yard but...I am in N Georgia and will have to check state laws concerning all this
 
PortageGirl said:
It depends on how your chickens are kept while outside. If they free range, there should be lots of cover for them to run under when they see/sense a hawk is around. Chickens learn to worry about shadows up above them and one usually sounds an alarm, unfortunately it takes a little while for them to learn sometimes. I'm sorry you lost some of your birds.

If they are in a run, it's easier that's for sure. you can criss-cross the top with monofilament line (heavy duty fishing line) and hang CDs around on it. Hawks can't manuver through the line well, and they don't like the spinny reflective light off of the CDs.

If they free range, you can still hang CDs around the yard. I started searching for some of the pictures here, maybe someone else will post the links too, there's a BUNCH of examples of how people have done this.

None of this is perfect, hawks are a danger and you're right, they are totally protected by federal law so it's a good thing you stopped your brother. All migratory birds are and that includes all hawks and eagles even though they don't always migrate. The good thing is, this red-tail may be on his way to another winter grounds and he will be on his way soon.

I'll search for hawk deterrents more too.
Click to expand...
No they can get through it by just crashing through it or they fly sideways shaping like a rocket to get through smaller areas. We ended up putting fishing line and bird netting. Unfortunately if there’s a will there’s a way. So far with the extra netting nothing has been eaten, but hawks get hungry too.
 

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