Cats... opossums... and hawks oh myyyyy!!!!!!!

[shuizar209]

There are so many cats around my neighborhood and they do not seem to belong to anyone. We also have seen a couple of baby opossums running around, but the biggest threat as of right now happened yesterday.... I heard my momma hen swuaking very weird, I went out there and perching on the fence was a massive hawk. Alana was hovering over the chicks to protect them and I shoo'd it away. I didnt know what else to do at the moment. We have never had a problem with hawks. So far there is only one hawk.... does anyone have any advice when it comes to hawks???? I dont want to lose any of my birds!!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!

 

[Uppity Peon]

That hawk will be back. It was definitely sizing the chickens up for a meal. And a big hawk can kill a full-grown chicken.

Provide plenty of cover for the chickens if they are not under netting or something. Bushes, boxes, cars, trailers, picnic tables, anything that might impede a raptor as it swoops in for the kill.

Get some shiny things on that fence and elswhere in the property. Foil pie tins, AOL CDs, mylar balloons, etc.

The neighbors will think you have really gone off the deep end! Have fun with it!

 

[PlymouthRocker]

I've seen and heard a hawk in our yard too, and I'm thankful we have netting over the run. It's a pain to get in and out of the run, but it's worth it. We also have a double palette for shade/protection, but the girls always run inside the coop when the hawk is around.

 

[scooter147]

Honestly, other then a covered run or you sitting out back all day there isn't much else you can do if you let the birds free range or have a uncovered run.
I only let mine free range when I am out and about with them, I have a huge honey suckle hedge row and numerous other types of "cover" and I have actually seen our local red tails chase the chickens around, through and over that honey suckle from the ground!, brazen little devils and the ones around here are really not afraid of humans. The ones I have chased off I have gotten within a few feet of before they took flight.