Chicken Hawk

[vickifiveoh]

When I got home from work yesterday, my chickens were very upset. I got to looking at their pens and I noticed what I thought was one of my chickens had escaped from their pen. I walked over to it and was bending down to pick it up and I noticed that it was not chicken but instead a chicken hawk. It was trying to get in my pens. Has anyone ever heard of a hawk letting you get that close to it? It never tried to fly off and I was really close to picking it up. I called my husband and told him and he told me to set a owl we have out between the pens. I did that and that didn't even bother it. I can just imagine what would have happened if I would have picked that thing up.....!! I've been thinking about getting my eyes checked.....I definitely think that needs to happen now! LOL

 

[Egghead_Jr]

What may work is those plastic crow/ravens. I don't see why a hawk would be detered by an owl but they do get baggered and chased by crows all the time.

That is pretty amazing it let you get that close. We've many Red Tails around these parts but they are wary of humans. That thing is sure keyed in on a good meal, hopefully if you don't free range for awhile it will move on before nesting in your area.

 

[HarryBun12]

I would like to hear from someone what actually works to keep the hawks away. I see many people recommend hanging cd's from string and just as many saying this doesn't work. I've noticed both my little flocks have been hanging out in their coop much more than their runs lately. Then today just after putting them back in their run after free ranging for about an hour while I was doing yard work, a Cooper's Hawk landed right on their clear roof. I was RIGHT THERE and it sat there very boldly ignoring me. I'd like find a few plastic crows to try setting in the trees but not sure where to find them. Good luck with your hawk problem.

 

[DCasper]

I would be curious to know what has happened in your area to make the hawks so emboldened. You might try calling the game management in your state to see if they could remove the hawk next time it shows up and won't leave. It sounds like something upset the food chain in your area and the hawks are desperate.

 

[centrarchid]

If you live in town where hawks see people all day long, then you will notice they begin to ignore people. Coopers hawks in particular are prone to ignore us and they are already inclined to get so focused on chase they ignore what might be going on other than their preys activities. I have seen Coopers hawks this time of year walking next to sidewalk picking up sticks for remodeling nest that was adjacent to sidewalk and in clear sight of passersby. The hawk would totally ignore people no more than two steps away. What was really interesting is people were not aware of hawk in plain sight. It was fun to direct those people to look at hawk I was pointing at and they seem to have a hard time recognizing what they saw. Tunnel vision I think involved.

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

Hawks are brave when they're hungry. (Or maybe they just know they're Federally protected. Lol)
I've had one come within' 3 ft of me twice last year. Both were young hawks swoopin' down to get a closer look at the ducks.

They are not afraid of anything. My dog doesn't deter them.
I started feeding the crows, and really paying attention to the other birds. Luckily I'm a Stay at home mom and can keep a close eye on them.

 

[centrarchid]

Hawks are brave when they're hungry. (Or maybe they just know they're Federally protected. Lol)
I've had one come within' 3 ft of me twice last year. Both were young hawks swoopin' down to get a closer look at the ducks.

They are not afraid of anything. My dog doesn't deter them.
I started feeding the crows, and really paying attention to the other birds. Luckily I'm a Stay at home mom and can keep a close eye on them.

My dog does deter them. Hawks flat out will not go after my birds with him present. It would suicide. Not all dogs are on their toes, expecially when in pet mode all the time.

 

[HarryBun12]

Funny, but before I had chickens I would love to have seen a hawk so close up. I know it could happen that a hawk could get one, but I'm not so worried when I have my chickens out in the yard because I'm right there with them, but my biggest concern is that they're always frightened and in their house instead of enjoying their nice big COVERED run. I ordered some crow decoys (really, people hunt crows?) to put in the nearby tree to try to keep the hawk away. The decoys will probably freak the chickens out then..... What to do?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Hunting crows is harder than you might think. Seriously, they are an incredibly intelligent animal. Will let you get close to them with a shovel in hand but if you have a gun will fly and stay away. Seriously intelligent animal that live almost 20 years. There is an interesting study that was done in Scandinavia on wild crows involving a 4 step puzzle to get food and the longest time for 3 wild crows was something like 10 minutes, shortest was under 2. It involved a clear plastic box with hole big enough for crows head, a string with noose, a small stick (to be noosed by string), a large stick (to be pulled forward by small stick), and a piece of meat at other end (to be pulled forward by long stick). Incredibly smart animal with visual conception/recognition.

 

[JustDawn]

I've lost 3 birds to a hawk over the last couple of years, and almost lost another a couple of weeks ago, but I chased the hawk away. I thought it was one of my chickens too because it was INSIDE my coop, and I got picking up distance before I noticed. I had to scream and stomp to get it to flee. I saved Snow that day and after surgery and a bunch of aftercare, she survived the ordeal.

My back yard is surrounded by a 6 foot wooden fence so the only predators we have are hawks. I have completely secured my coop and my girls don't free range anymore without me out there. They are very brave and don't mind humans. However, they don't like my dog!

Good luck. Let me know if the owls work.