Are They REALLY This STUPID?

[mowin]

I don't free range because of the hawks. My gals don't care if a hawk is perched on top of the run. I think its because they never been actually attacked by one. Although a red tail has bounced off the HC wall a few times. The gals just stand there laughing at it.

 

[Chicks in VA]

lol

 

[cmom]

I don't free range anymore due to losses from predators but we are rural on a dead end road. Lots of predators. I do have my pens covered but a Red Tail hawk got into one of the pens. There is good heavy duty netting covering it. I put some of the netting up in sections because many years ago I planted trees in each of the pens and used cable ties to fasten the sections together. Eventually the cable ties disintegrated and came off and left a gap. Apparently the hawk got into the pen through the gap and went on a killing spree. It killed several birds. Since they are protected I was able to get it out and recover the bodies. They were about ready to start laying. Here are some I got out. No real damage just dead.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
Keep your birds in for a couple of weeks, and that hawk may move on elsewhere. Birds who have had a bad experience will be more careful, but it's not what you want to have happen.
All raptors are federally protected in the USA, so don't plan on doing anything to the hawk!
Here our losses to hawks have been mostly to Cooper's hawks, and only once was one of our adult standard bird injured (she did die). Our bantams, and young birds have been lost occasionally though. We then keep everyone in their coop and safe run for two to (once) four weeks, until that bird leaves.
Mary

 

[Ascholten]

Well it appeared something made it's move. I heard a horrible commotion yesterday that woke me up around noon. (I work nights so sleep during the days this week). I ran outside to find them all doing the danger / egg song. Two were on top of the coop, one was under a bush and the other I assumed was hiding somewhere. I looked around, and seen nothing, just waking up didn't connect the dots really. When I went out later on to put them in to goto work, I only counted 3 of the 4. Looked all over NO feathers anywhere. This was the biggest one of the group too, the one that probably weighed 8 lbs. I was a bit upset.

About half an hour later I am heading to the truck and hear a soft cluck cluck from the bushes in front of my house. (In front meaning PAST the 6 foot fence around my back property. I do the tongue click and theres the sweetie. I am assuming she somehow flew over the fence to get out there. Fast forward to today and my mail person tells me, yah I seen the chicken in the yard picking around your garden plot there, I figured you let her out I didn't think anything of it.

In the end it makes sense, if a hawk did try something, that is what made them freak, fly on top of the coop (those ones NEVER E V E R) made great efforts at exertion or to get on top of the coop or well.... anything. and the one up over the fence into the front yard.

Ill have to keep them locked up now when I am not outside, crap, neither of us is going to be happy. I'll call the game warden and see what, if anything I can do to discourage the hawks.

At one time I was considering a large fenced in area, like a big building / chicken run enclosure. like 8 feet by 16 feet or whatever it was when I seen it. I may have to actually go and have that built now. At today's lumber prices, ick...

Aaron

 

[Ascholten]

Off the wall comment here.
Ok so your birds got attacked. Since you KNEW what killed them, and it was not disease, any possibility of keeping any of the meat if it's not totally tore up? I mean, not to sound disgusting but hate to just throw into compost and waste it.

Aaron

 

[Mamatomany123]

Off the wall comment here.
Ok so your birds got attacked. Since you KNEW what killed them, and it was not disease, any possibility of keeping any of the meat if it's not totally tore up? I mean, not to sound disgusting but hate to just throw into compost and waste it.

Aaron

I wouldnt.

 

[RiverOtter]

To discourage a hawk, go to the dollar store and get a mylar, helium balloon. The kind with one dark colored side and one silver side. Make sure the ribbon it's on is fairly stout, or better, replace it with 6-9 feet of yarn,. and tie it to a (filled) bucket handle near where your birds range. Move it once or twice a day.

That alien thing bouncing and hovering in the air, tossing off flashes of light is enough to send nearly every hawk looking for a new hunting ground without spooks, haunts and little green men

 

[KingD]

Off the wall comment here.
Ok so your birds got attacked. Since you KNEW what killed them, and it was not disease, any possibility of keeping any of the meat if it's not totally tore up? I mean, not to sound disgusting but hate to just throw into compost and waste it.

Aaron

I definitely would!
I don't pass a freebie without nabbing it.
If it's a disease that killed a bird then I'd be hesitant though.

 

[BantammChick]

Could you get a guard dog?