Best bodyguard?

[bbond]

What is the best animal ie goose etc. to have around to deter hawks? I would really prefer to let my flock free range but these darned hawks are NESTING close by. Ugh. Such a nuisance for the chickens although good for rodents etc. Thanks in advance for ideas!!

 

[harmonymw]

If roosters aren’t legal where you are, dogs. Rambunctious children are also a good deterrent. We have two English Mastiffs, so obviously hawks won’t try it when they’re outside. After circling above my children, hawks will stay away for months. They want no part of that crazy and I don’t blame them. My main issue is the winter when there’s no tree cover, the predators are starving, and it’s too cold for the dogs and kids.

 

[centrarchid]

What species of hawk involved? Sometimes the hawk is the best deterrent you can have against other hawks.

 

[bbond]

If roosters aren’t legal where you are, dogs. Rambunctious children are also a good deterrent. We have two English Mastiffs, so obviously hawks won’t try it when they’re outside. After circling above my children, hawks will stay away for months. They want no part of that crazy and I don’t blame them. My main issue is the winter when there’s no tree cover, the predators are starving, and it’s too cold for the dogs and kids.

I Loooove mastiffs! We used to have a big English boy. We now have a Dane and a pug. Neither of which are really trustworthy out of an enclosed area. And my toddler wants any excuse to pick up the chickens and cart them around! Lol! She reminds me of Elmyra from tiny toons! The poor Cornish xs aren’t fast enough to escape her either!

 

[bbond]

What species of hawk involved? Sometimes the hawk is the best deterrent you can have against other hawks.

We have red tailed hawks that are nesting about 50 yards from the coop. I guess they wanted a view of hawk KFC.

 

[harmonymw]

I Loooove mastiffs! We used to have a big English boy. We now have a Dane and a pug. Neither of which are really trustworthy out of an enclosed area. And my toddler wants any excuse to pick up the chickens and cart them around! Lol! She reminds me of Elmyra from tiny toons! The poor Cornish xs aren’t fast enough to escape her either!

We call our kids “Darla” like the girl from Finding Nemo who “wouldn’t stop shaking the bag.”

 

[centrarchid]

If you can, then post a picture of actual hawks on or near nest. Nesting within 50 yards, the adults are not likely to hunt your chickens.

Species ID very important on this. Red-shouldered which are much more likely to nest in close proximity to human habitation are going to be an asset, even when it comes to Coopers Hawks.

 

[Trish1974]

Species ID very important on this. Red-shouldered which are much more likely to nest in close proximity to human habitation are going to be an asset, even when it comes to Coopers Hawks.

X2. I've had a red-shouldered hawk's nest behind my house and coop for 4 years. The red-taileds are ran off by the red-shouldered, and I have only had a Cooper's attack on my bird feeder a few times. Red-shouldered hawks feed on rodents, frogs and snakes so they are no threat to your chickens.

 

[bbond]

I am fairly sure that they are red tailed as i got a good look at their plumage last year. They have 0 fear of humans and are one of my adolescent roos right in front of me. Our house is nestled in the woods so it’s not a suburban neighborhood.

 

[centrarchid]

I like to see hawk for positive ID. You do not have to be in town for wildlife to show a lack of fear.