Are hawks a threat to my chickens?

[hwjimmy21]

Hi all. Today there has been a hawk extremely close to my wandering hens. I've got a couple young pullets I'm worried about. Are hawks a threat to them? How can I prevent them from bothering my chickens?

 

[SpoilMyPooch]

Yes, hawks are a very big threat to all your birds.

I take it that your birds free range during the day?

The best form of defence is to keep them in a covered run at all times but if this isn't possible or desirable and it sounds like it isn't, then you need to provide emergency cover for your hens in case the hawk attacks. These are all fairly simple to set up. These are things such as bushes, branches or boxes in the area that the hens free range in so that they can "run for cover" in the case of an attack. Any roosters in the flock could act as early warning systems..

On a completely different level is buying another animal such as a llama, or certain breeds of dogs that will be with the hens constantly, acting as guardians to them.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[song of joy]

Yes, hawks are a threat to pullets as well as full-grown hens. I saw a cooper's hawk pin my RIR hen just outside my kitchen window. I free-range my flock, but lock them up at night. I've found the most dangerous time for my hens seems to be during late fall and late winter, which coincides with hawk migration and limited cover (no leaves on the deciduous trees). If a hawk is lingering in the area watching for an opportunity to strike, I usually keep the hens confined to the fenced yard for a couple of days until the hawk moves on.

 

[MeepBeep]

The red-tailed hawks in my area will most certainly take chickens if they get the opportunity...

I've found the most dangerous time for my hens seems to be during late fall and late winter, which coincides with hawk migration and limited cover (no leaves on the deciduous trees).

Something that contributes to this in many areas is farming, once the farmers harvest the crops in the fall, all those animals the hawk used to prey upon in the fields move and seek cover in more densely covered areas under trees and bushes, leaving the hawks with less opportunities out in the open...