Cooper's Hawk third attack was too close for comfort...

[PioneerChicks]

Exactly eleven days ago a Cooper's Hawk attempted to eat some of my chickens. (See the full story here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/roos-saved-the-hens-from-hawk.1417269/)

The next day I think I saw him/her again above my head in the chicken yard, but it was only a glimpse so I can't be sure.

Everything was peaceful for a several days, until Sunday (two days ago). Another attempted attack.

Today it happened again! This time the roosters were giving the alarm for a minute or so before I noticed they were not hyper kids ( ). I ran out and saw the hawk fly out and away from my cherry tree area, where it had perched on the first attack. This time the chickens were really panicked and frozen with fear, literally. Only one rooster came when I called. It took a lot of treats, and a bit of mild chasing, to unfreeze them. It took me an hour to get them all to the safety of their predator-proof run and coops.

They were pretty shaken up at first, and during the round up I found a site that would scare every small-flock owner. Feathers. Thankfully, the hen I believe was targeted was hiding under a nearby bush under the protection of a rooster. She is a fluffy silkie, so nothing was lost but feathers. But I can tell she is extra skittish.

The Cooper's Hawk came too close for comfort to getting one of my babies. I will be keeping them all in the predator-proof run for several days.

Why does the hawk keep coming back? It hasn't tasted any chicken yet, and after at least three failed attempts (possibly more when I have been gone) I would thing it would give up. Maybe it just thinks they are easy prey? I have five game-bantam sized chickens out there right now (four are going silkie-game bantam mixes).

My chicken yard has far too many trees and obstacles to be predator proofed, and the fence is too low to string wire everywhere as recommended in this article: How to stop hawks for 30 cents

How long do you all think I will have to keep my chickens locked up? They have enough room, but still don't like being locked up. Any hawk-repelling suggestions?


Pictures:

(Blue circle is where the hawk attacked, and red is where it perched afterward.)


The attack scene.


Close up of the attack scene.

 

[sourland]

Around here hawks are migrating, and they are hungry especially the juveniles. It may be the same hawk giving you problems or it may be birds that are migrating. I used to fly pigeons, and there was NEVER a safe period.

 

[PioneerChicks]

Around here hawks are migrating, and they are hungry especially the juveniles. It may be the same hawk giving you problems or it may be birds that are migrating. I used to fly pigeons, and there was NEVER a safe period.

Thank you! It is migrating season here, but I think this hawk is resident. Even if it migratory, why haven't they bothered me before? (If you know). This is my first hawk problem.

 

[CluckerFamily]

The keep coming around because the know there could be a meal.
I would keep them locked up for a while. I normally go with the what my rooster is telling me, if a predator is around he won't even let the ladies out of the coop and he will lay in the doorway. If he is doing this, I will keep them in the predator proof run to minimize the stress.

 

[centrarchid]

When I have had Coopers Hawks coming on a regular basis, even when they got chickens, they were coming in first for songbirds that hung out around my barn or shrubs. The chickens were secondary targets. In my setting the hawks go only for juvenile chickens. Chicks are protected by hens that could readily repel a Coopers Hawk. Where my juveniles got into trouble is when they ventured too far from where roosters were penned. The hawks would not try to tangle with a juvenile when an adult rooster was close. To fix those occasional losses I released a couple fully adult dominique (part American Dominique) roosters that mingled with the juveniles. I saw a couple times where hawk came in and the roosters walked to within a few feet of where hawk perched causing the latter to fly away. The roosters would have tangled with the hawk and likely successfully.

Your hawk does not have to make a kill every time. My hawks had a regular route they hunted and new a reasonable chance of producing a meal. It may be that your are simply on part of their route even though hawk may never had consumed a chicken yet.

Silkies are not a breed I would want out tangling with hawks, regardless of sex or size.

 

[Folly's place]

I keep my flock in for at least two weeks, and once it was four weeks, after a hawk attack. A few days won't be enough; in fact, many times hawks return every three days, not daily.
Mary

 

[PioneerChicks]

The keep coming around because the know there could be a meal.
I would keep them locked up for a while. I normally go with the what my rooster is telling me, if a predator is around he won't even let the ladies out of the coop and he will lay in the doorway. If he is doing this, I will keep them in the predator proof run to minimize the stress.

Thank you, I will pay attention to my roosters.

When I have had Coopers Hawks coming on a regular basis, even when they got chickens, they were coming in first for songbirds that hung out around my barn or shrubs. The chickens were secondary targets. In my setting the hawks go only for juvenile chickens. Chicks are protected by hens that could readily repel a Coopers Hawk. Where my juveniles got into trouble is when they ventured too far from where roosters were penned. The hawks would not try to tangle with a juvenile when an adult rooster was close. To fix those occasional losses I released a couple fully adult dominique (part American Dominique) roosters that mingled with the juveniles. I saw a couple times where hawk came in and the roosters walked to within a few feet of where hawk perched causing the latter to fly away. The roosters would have tangled with the hawk and likely successfully.

Your hawk does not have to make a kill every time. My hawks had a regular route they hunted and new a reasonable chance of producing a meal. It may be that your are simply on part of their route even though hawk may never had consumed a chicken yet.

Silkies are not a breed I would want out tangling with hawks, regardless of sex or size.

Just another excuse for me to get Jersey Giants! Thank you for all the info.

I keep my flock in for at least two weeks, and once it was four weeks, after a hawk attack. A few days won't be enough; in fact, many times hawks return every three days, not daily.
Mary

Okay, I will keep them locked in for a couple weeks. Thank you!

 

[PioneerChicks]

Ugh. This time all the chickens were locked in and the hawk was perched on top of the wire. They are safe, but still. I might try shooting a gun into the air to scare it off. I would never shoot the hawk because it is against the law and I don't think I'd have the courage anyways.

 

[Folly's place]

Your friendly visiting hawk will give up if there's not going to be a chicken dinner anytime soon. Wait it out!
A few years ago it took over three weeks, and our flock went back out after four weeks. It's a pain, but sometimes necessary. We have bantams and big birds, so they are at greater risk too.
Mary