Two hawks in less than 7 days!!!!

Yes, something we've been discussing for this spring is to build a series of lean-to's scattered throughout our lands to give them ample area to retreat to if there is a threat from above, they'll also probably be two levels so that they can get into the higher levels and escape from there in the case of a land-bound predator.

As for the peak hours for hawks, when is that? This one would wait until we went back inside for even a few minutes then attack and it didn't seem to matter what time of day. Once, I had literally gone inside just long enough to grab a drink, came right back out and there it was not even 25 feet from our front door, on the ground with one of our pullets. Fortunately, it hadn't been able to do any harm to it and when I came right back out, it dropped the bird and flew into a tree right above where the pullet was.

We also have two dogs but one would rather be inside than out. He goes out, does his business then goes right back in again. The other, if he's outside for more than a minute, he'll take off. Then we get phone calls from neighbors about him so we have to keep a very close eye on him until we can get a parameter fence up.

Roan said:

Yes, something we've been discussing for this spring is to build a series of lean-to's scattered throughout our lands to give them ample area to retreat to if there is a threat from above, they'll also probably be two levels so that they can get into the higher levels and escape from there in the case of a land-bound predator. 

As for the peak hours for hawks, when is that?  This one would wait until we went back inside for even a few minutes then attack and it didn't seem to matter what time of day.  Once, I had literally gone inside just long enough to grab a drink, came right back out and there it was not even 25 feet from our front door, on the ground with one of our pullets.  Fortunately, it hadn't been able to do any harm to it and when I came right back out, it dropped the bird and flew into a tree right above where the pullet was.

We also have two dogs but one would rather be inside than out.  He goes out, does his business then goes right back in again.  The other, if he's outside for more than a minute, he'll take off.  Then we get phone calls from neighbors about him so we have to keep a very close eye on him until we can get a parameter fence up.

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Cover you will have to play around with so hawk cannot approach chickens on the wing. If hawk does continue effort on foot, that is when a rtooster comes into play.

Avoiding peak hunting hours puts a big damper on the benefits of free-ranging. When I had to employ it, vulnerable birds where not released to free-range until about an hour before dark. Birds small enough to fly off with were not released if Coopers Hawk worked the area.


Fencing is for most a must. I lack complete perimeter fencing which was a pain in the butt because my male defends a couple neighbors flocks a well which is not my intent. Get your fencing up. You could do what my brother does by having dog(s) tied off in a row near cover the chickens spend the most time around although not everyone likes to chain dogs. Another option is to have a long wire that a shorter wire attached dog is suspended from. Dog then will have a much larger area it can roam although it will be lacking in speed. Not all dogs, even of the LGD variety, get the point on how to keep hawks away. For my dogs, it takes a little training and chickens play a key role in that. Dogs need to be outside and trained to respond to chicken alarm calls. This means in the beginning you your outside a lot stirring dogs into action every time the chickens get riled. I use hunting dogs that get most of their action after dark where I push them into action at first because they have to learn how to navigate other anti-predator measures such as the fences. When you have hawks coming back so frequently, then you will have a an easier time than I did getting dogs into chasing the predator when it comes. It helps to give an occasional at-a-boy to keep dog's head in the game.

I would delete the comments about the bb gun. You crossed the line of hazing which basically says any scare tactic is permisable up to the point of contact. No contact allowed. Try lasers.

gawildlife said:

I would delete the comments about the bb gun. You crossed the line of hazing which basically says any scare tactic is permisable up to the point of contact. No contact allowed. Try lasers.

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I hadn't thought of lasers! I don't know how affective that would be though since it's just a point of light and the hawk didn't seem easily dissuaded. I've tried throwing rocks and sticks in its general direction, of course coming way short of contact and it just watched them fly then turned its attention back to me again. The hawk even perched on the electric pole right at the corner of our house at one point and seemed to be waiting for me to let the chickens out!

I keep a set of disk harrows in the area the chickens free range. They run in between the disks and the hawks leave them alone. Anything like farm implements, trailers, pallets on blocks, etc would also work. It needs to be something where the hawks will feel vulnerable if they try to go after them. After a while, the hawks quit coming.

CD's!!! One of the best hawk deterrents ever invented. I have a huge fenced area for my flock which would be open to hawks. I cannot afford to cover the top with poultry netting as the cost would be over $500. What I did was buy a spool of aluminum wire and strung it from post to post in various crossing patterns. Then in various places where the wire crossed I tied about a foot of nylon cord and attached a CD hanging on it. The combination of the wire and CD's reflectiveness has completely deterred the hawks in my area from causing problems. Just thought I'd share what works for me.

Roan said:

I hadn't thought of lasers!  I don't know how affective that would be though since it's just a point of light and the hawk didn't seem easily dissuaded.  I've tried throwing rocks and sticks in its general direction, of course coming way short of contact and it just watched them fly then turned its attention back to me again.  The hawk even perched on the electric pole right at the corner of our house at one point and seemed to be waiting for me to let the chickens out! 

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You can physically chase them off as well. Problem is you have to be aware hawk is present which is far from majority of the time. Ideally hawk management does not require direct oversight beyond getting it started.