Are hawks a threat to my chickens?

[hwjimmy21]

Hi all! Quite recently I've noticed a hawk extremely close to my wandering chickens? I've got a couple young pullets I'm worried about. Are hawks a threat to them? Thanks in advance!

 

[cajun chicken]

Yes they are a threat. Do you know what kind of hawk it is?

 

[chicken155]

Yes, hawks are a pretty big threat to chickens, especially pullets (since they can be pretty light compared to a laying hen.) I would keep a close eye on the pullets if free ranging, unless you have a rooster. You can learn more about hawks in the learning center

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Yes hawks do kill chickens. I have an area of the yard covered with heavy knotted 2 inch netting and that gives them a safer place to rest and be off guard for part of the day. I think it helps a lot for my flock. Think snow load though if you hang netting overhead (I hang it on the posts with metal wire instead of hanging it on the fencing.)

 

[lynnehd]

Think snow load though if you hang netting overhead (I hang it on the posts with metal wire instead of hanging it on the fencing.)

Do you have more detail of your metal wire, and how you keep it from sagging?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Think snow load though if you hang netting overhead (I hang it on the posts with metal wire instead of hanging it on the fencing.)

Do you have more detail of your metal wire, and how you keep it from sagging?

I buy a roll of metal wire (? 12 gauge) from Home Depot and cut a piece, drill a hole through the T post and thread the wire through, then attach the netting there, at each post. I just drape the netting over the outside of the fencing in between posts, which has worked so far. We have not had a lot of sticky wet snow since I hung the netting so I don't know if this will work with that

type of snow. But the powdery stuff falls through the 2 inch netting.

Back when I tied another type of netting to the fence itself, it brought my fence over and made it sag.

I put 2 x 4's up in the middle of the pen so I can walk under the netting without hitting my head on it, vertically just resting underneath the netting (propping it up) but I remove them in the winter just in case of snow as it might tear the netting with weight on it.

When we get some more wet sticky snow I will really find out if this works long term.

Hopefully this helps!

 

[jimbob86]

Yes, chickenhawks are, I say ARE! a threat to your chickens, Jimmy....... but they are Federally, uh, "protected", so I would "NEVER" suggest that you STBDRT* ...... "that" would be illegal......- Foghorn Leghorn





*That'd be a southern acronym I picked up in Army, In Oklahoma, Ah Buh-lieve...... it stands for "SHOOT That Bast'Dud Rahwt THERE!(points to heart)"

 

[SilkieNation]

I was reading about hawks on this site recently as I have enough of them to be worried. When I first got chickens (little, light silkies), I'd let them free range in the yard. One day I heard my rooster making a really odd noise and when I went to see what it was all about they were all huddled next to the house with a hawk diving at them. That was it. I covered the run with netting and only let them free range when I was with them.

Recently, I got some new silkies, no rooster, he died of old age, and they live to free range, but after reading some of the stories on here, I'm really uncomfortable when they are out of their run, even if I am very near by. People have posted how hawks grabbed a chicken not five feet from them!! Kind of wrecked hanging out in the yard with the fluffs for me. Now I get a stiff neck checking the skies for large, slow flying birds. I bought some crow decoys...haven't used them yet, but some say they deter the hawks because crows will bother them. I have no idea if they really work.

 

[Luhoo]

I've talked to my boyfriend about penning the Chicklets up or letting the free range. We've decided to let them free range, today is their 5th day out and I was feeling confident about them being out and about.

That was until today, my chicks are 6 weeks old and getting to know the land of the land. Today they met their first predator a Hawk!

They were outside the window I heard all this screeching from the Guinea's, Buffs, Austrolops & RIRs. A hawk was onto of one of the Austroplos, I pounded on the window & the hawk looked at me and flew up into the tree. I flew out the door to discover my Austrolops terrified to move, safe but ok.

I shooed the remaining Chicklets back into the coop and shut the door. Everyone is safe along with my poor quail who still won't budge out of their coop. On the bright side it's raining.