Chicken survive hawk attack!!!

Chuk said:

So whats the answer? I lost a road island red hen last week to a hawk and when I went out this morning to let the girls out there were 3 big hawks within 30 yards of their coop/run just hanging around waiting for a snack. I hate to kill them but what am I to do, sit back and loose one every few weeks.
I now have 6 hens, they have a 12 x 12 run but I like to let them out every morning to range.

Any suggestions?

Click to expand...

Should not kill them it is rather illegal.
What I have done for mine is to make sure the run is covered and they have to be supervised when out of the run. That means I am with them every minute. No stepping in to answer the phone or use the bathroom. It takes only a second and BAM they are gone.
The hawks hanging around here are doing so daily for months now. So far I have not lost any to the hawk. My neighbor has lost some.

I am going with the lock it or loose it theory.

Chuk said:

So whats the answer? I lost a road island red hen last week to a hawk and when I went out this morning to let the girls out there were 3 big hawks within 30 yards of their coop/run just hanging around waiting for a snack. I hate to kill them but what am I to do, sit back and loose one every few weeks.
I now have 6 hens, they have a 12 x 12 run but I like to let them out every morning to range.

Any suggestions?

Click to expand...

If they range, they're a target, not much you can do to prevent a diving hawk...In the run, aviary netting!...Is it possible to string some lines across the area they range in? If so, they "may" be a slight deterrent although an eyesore...

Chuk said:

So whats the answer?  I lost a road island red hen last week to a hawk and when I went out this morning to let the girls out there were 3 big hawks within 30 yards of their coop/run just hanging around waiting for a snack.  I hate to kill them but what am I to do, sit back and loose one every few weeks.  
I now have 6 hens, they have a 12 x 12 run but I like to let them out every morning to range.

Any suggestions? 

Click to expand...

Pay attention to when the hawks are around. I will not let my hens free range until mid morning because the hawks are very active in the trees surrounding my yard from after dawn to around 9 am. Then they fly off: perhaps they are making a circuit of their territory.

Most states have a rule allowing noise to scatter birds that endanger crops or poultry, but it might only apply to actual farms. Please read all federal, state, and local laws before doing anything in regard to the hawk problem. And during egg hatching time, there may be even more stringent protections in place. It annoys me, because they seem to have rebounded in numbers from the days when they were endangered by DDT. There is no shortage of hawks, and I would say they are reaching numbers that make them a problem. But changing the protections they have requires people to start petitioning their legislators, rather than taking action against a bird illegally.

HenriettaBB said:

I've already lost 2 hens to a hawk. It' might be cool then but when it happens it's really not cool.

Click to expand...

I agree completely! I've lost five chicks to a hawk this year. I've never had any issues with hawks until now and finding out that your wee ones are missing/found dead, it's not cool at all.

If I even SEE a hawk outside I go and shoo it away or lock my chickies up. I love them too much to sit around and watch as a hawk goes after them