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

[SherryPhilips]

Why don't you try a professional animal and pest control service? It's really effective. We too had a similar experience. My dad is running a poultry farm business and he lost almost 30 hens because of raccoons. He tried to trap them using different ways and finally got it removed with the help of ‘Hawkeye Bird and Animal control specialists’ . You may contact them .

 

[PouleNoire]

I have heard that CD's can deter hawks, I don't know though it might be a myth, but I would be wiling to try anything!

 

[Jennn27]

I have heard that CD's can deter hawks, I don't know though it might be a myth, but I would be wiling to try anything!

Actually this or aluminum pie plates work great for this! We lost a few chickens about a year ago to hawks. I hung pie plates from the trees and haven't had any more issues. And I have free range chickens and live in the woods, pretty much. lol

 

[PalmettoChicks]

We lost our first chicken to a hawk pretty recently, and I have to say, this forum helped so much in protecting the others! We ended up locking them all up for a week until the hawk didn't think it could just come back every day for an easy meal. Also, it seemed to put the fear of God in all the chickens, and now they don't stray too far from the bushes.

 

[mamahen16]

We lost our first chicken to a hawk pretty recently, and I have to say, this forum helped so much in protecting the others! We ended up locking them all up for a week until the hawk didn't think it could just come back every day for an easy meal. Also, it seemed to put the fear of God in all the chickens, and now they don't stray too far from the bushes.

I haven't lost any since I got a good rooster! I have 2 roosters and 13 hens, which is a higher ratio than most people would say to have. But the one rooster is a silkie and he's Near the bottom of the pecking order, even with the hens.

 

[PalmettoChicks]

I haven't lost any since I got a good rooster! I have 2 roosters and 13 hens, which is a higher ratio than most people would say to have. But the one rooster is a silkie and he's Near the bottom of the pecking order, even with the hens.

That's good about your roosters! I hadn't even thought of that since mine are young yet--though I can tell 2 out of the five are cockerels.

 

[Little Fuzzy]

We decided not to do netting because our run is so big.........So, my husband took an afternoon and meticulously placed twine across our whole run with Canning jar lids hanging down to reflect. It took time, but since we have done this, we have seen hawks, but not one hawk is even watching. They are smart and know that can not fly in with out getting tangled up!

It is hard to see the lids in the pics......but apparently the hawks can!

Nice job. my Great dane does hawk patrol for me. Any noise out of my free range chickens and she runs outside to do battle. Great dog.

 

[pnwoldie]

Hawkhater, your experience matches mine. I've had a redtail hawk get two full grown barred rock layers. First time it walked in through the open gate to the protected run, the second time it tore through the netting over the protected run. That time it couldn't get out but we released it. This morning it was back sitting on top of the protected run on the newly installed chicken wire. Two days ago I had to shoo all the chickens in when it showed up during supervised ranging time. All these posts folks who are minimizing the danger of hawks just have not yet run into a determined one. I fear I will be battling this one until it dies a natural death.

 

[rebeccatx]

...

I had the same problem - lost 2 birds to a red tailed hawk.  I called DNR and was told I COULD kill the hawk because it was destroying livestock.  I did take a photo of the hawk eating a chicken so I would have proof that it was actually killing my birds.
[

 

[SadieJ]

We just lost our roo, Flower, yesterday to a hawk.

I was in NJ for work and received a call from our babysitter with all three kids crying hysterically. All 6 hens were missing, but eventually tracked down. Our brave boy was a hero protecting his girls.

I have the girls in the pen now - its predator proof (fingers crossed) with chicken wire on all sides. They want out so badly - they are used to free ranging.I think Im going to have to just build a bigger one for them.

We've only had them since July when we hatched them so I'm just figuring it all out. My husband didnt want them at first because he was worried about attracting predators to our yard. We had been so lucky all these months not to be bothered by anything.

Three of the girls were regularly laying eggs, but I'm resigned to the idea that they may be traumatized right now.

We are considering hatching some of the eggs we had collected this week with the hopes of getting a roo that would be Flower's descendant.

RIP Flower Power July 5, 2016-Jan 20, 2017.