Bold Hawk - Lesson Learned

[Quillgirl]

Decided to let my girls do a little foraging outside their run as an experiment. I stayed close, they were at my feet in the brush, then one of my Black Austros (Bettie) decided to sprint two feet away toward the coop. In a split second one of our resident Hawks swooped down and snagged her-- his wing brushed the top of my head! Poor Bettie!

The other girls went nuts, scattered hither and yon. They were very good at hiding! After two hours I managed to gather them up and deposit them back in their coop where they huddled very quietly. The two barred rocks (Hedy and Rita) were most clever. They buried themselves deep in some ivy and didn't move for more than an hour. Finally, with much coaxing, Rita stuck her head up above the leaves and peeped at me. If not, I'm sure I wouldn't have found them until they decided to come out.

Lesson learned: They cannot free-range in the yard, even staying close to me. Our city hawks are too skilled at snatching them. The girls will have to live in their coop and run unless I devise a more secured from above area for them outside. Down to six girls now, and Bettie was the lead girl. So sad watching her tail feathers hanging down from beneath the hawk as it flew her away...

 

[Whispering Winds]

My SIL just told me last summer they were out with their swamp bunnies, standing RIGHT there and a hawk swooped down and grabbed a rabbit. . .she didn't go into detail, because they are protected, but I don't think the hawk will be getting any more rabbits anywhere. Poor Rita, you needed your camera for a picture of her sticking her head out of the Ivy . . .that would have become a classic!!!!

 

[Quillgirl]

If I'd had a camera, I probably would have dropped it! I was nearly as freaked out as the girls. That hawk was huge! Especially that close... I can only hope poor Bettie died quickly.

I can't blame the hawk doing what it does and taking advantage of an easy meal. I blame me for thinking it was safe for the girls to be outside in an unprotected area. I just assumed the hawk wouldn't get that close to a person.

 

[PeeperKeeper]

MERCY!

What a scarry event! We live in the country, have red tailed hawks in the area but nothing that bold.
Just scarry!

 

[Suziers]

I had a similar experience a few weeks ago-but was able to hit the hawk (with my Kindle) before it grabbed anyone. I know have put in a small temporary pen (made of step in posts and a green plastic fencing) that I can pull up and move or roll up as needed. The pen is a bit flimsy so the top of it bends over (creating more hiding spaces for the hens) and I have to plop down and sit with them while they are out. I grab a good book and let them out for about 30-60 minutes in the evening. The fence keeps them close and keeps my dogs away and we haven't had any more hawk trouble.

 

[Buster52]

We have a lot of huge hawks here. One scared the heck out of one of my free range roos, a tiny leghorn, the other evening but took off and didn't get him unfortunately. He's not even worth killing for soup, but I reckon I'm going to have to. He's scheduled for the chopping block today.

I've heard turkeys and geese are good for deterring hawks, and we have some big turkeys. I also noticed my big roo keeps a sharp eye out and the layers tend to stick to the fences and under trees. I wonder if that roo is a deterrent, too. He's a bid boy.

Plus we live in the country, and there is probably a lot more food for the hawks than those city hawks have access to.

I have had plenty of opportunities to kill hawks here, as they sometime perch in the trees above my pond. I would never even consider it. I have no respect for anyone who would kill a protected species, regardless the circumstances.

 

[Davaroo]

Very interesting story. Sorry it happened - that must have been quite a shock.
Do you have plans for the future, or will the chickens just stay confined hereafter?

 

[Quillgirl]

There are many bunnies, rats, doves, and other animals for the hawks to get (metro ATL is very tree covered and green for a city.) We even had a flock of free-ranging wild turkeys in our area for many years until the coyotes moved in. Haven't seen a turkey in about 2 years now and they used to roost on my back deck and front porch every spring with the new babies. I'll say those turkeys didn't keep hawks away. I had to stop feeding the wild birds in my yard a few years ago because it was like a shooting gallery under the trees. Dove feathers everywhere.

Silly me, I know the hawks are in the 'hood, just didn't think they'd attack my flock with me right next to them... My bad.

Our coop and run are very pred-proof-- nothing bigger than a pencil could get in unless very determined and strong. I guess we'll see about that over time! So far, so good.

 

[Davaroo]

You may wish to consider a covered run. Netting works, as well as stringing fishing line over the range area.
Sounds like the chickens go on lock down, or you and the hawks go to war.

 

[chicknmania]

How awful for you, but here's something you can try, that works fairly well. You can practice with it while they're in the coop. Get some old CD's or DVD's, and hang them in strategic places where your chooks will be. They will blow in the wind, flash and spin, and the hawks very much dislike the reflected light. You can also use strands of shiny metalllic like reflective tape, which, hung in groups like fringe, are supposed to look like fire to hawks, as the stuff blows. You can also use those wind spinner yard decorations for areas you want to look more attractive use the ones that have reflective components, of course, but they are heavier so aren't as noticeable. We have had a LOT of problems with hawks this month, as we have a pair nesting in a tree not too far from the barn. So far (knock on wood) no casualties. We had a big Cooper's hawk land on one of our hens while I was feeding but, it never had time to do any damage before I chased it away. Also....the chickens instinctively know that if they don't move, it is hard for the hawks to see them. So, when they lie down in a shade/sun patch, or another hiding place, they are actually fairly safe. Anyway, please don't hurt or kill the hawks. They are only doing what comes naturally, and probably have babies to feed this time of year. It is also illegal.