Crazy week!

[Bridger Davis]

A fake owl didn't save my chickens from an eagle. Bird netting works. You can get one for less than $40 on Amazon that is 50'x50'. I don't know how big your chicken area is, but that's the best price I have found. It doesn't keep small birds out, but I'm not so concerned about those.

Is there any way you can cover your run with a net?

I could cover my run with a net, but they free range throughout the day, and I wish I wouldn't have to take that away from them. And while it might not stop an eagle, do you think a decoy could at least stop a hawk?

 

[MROO]

I could cover my run with a net, but they free range throughout the day, and I wish I wouldn't have to take that away from them. And while it might not stop an eagle, do you think a decoy could at least stop a hawk?

Hawks are pretty smart. You'll have to move the decoy around every day ... and hope for the best. Safe ducks inside a large, interesting run are just as happy ... and longer lived ... than free-range ones watched by hawks. And if they're watching, as you've noticed, it's only a matter of time before they open up the smorgasbord.
Good Luck!

 

[ValerieJ]

I could cover my run with a net, but they free range throughout the day, and I wish I wouldn't have to take that away from them. And while it might not stop an eagle, do you think a decoy could at least stop a hawk?

Hawks are better hunters than eagles. Eagles can be fairly clumsy on the ground, and when navigating tight spaces, because they are so large, whereas a hawk is quite adept at this. People who free range their pet chickens and ducks know they are risking the occasional loss. Sometimes it's one bird, sometimes more or all of them. You have to decide your own tolerance level for this. I can't do it, so I've figured out how to harden my defenses on my 4,000 SF run by using these nets. I have also used obstacles where net isn't possible, but I'm dealing with bald eagles. Not sure my obstacles would work with a hawk. Luckily I don't have that problem here atm. I wish you the best with your ducks.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I agree with @ValerieJ. You are going to have to make a decision one way or the other. We are in the process of a major duck run renovation using welded wire fencing over the top. I realize that everyone can't do that and it's costing a fortune but I will have a super-duper duck kingdom when it's finished.

I don't think a decoy will protect for long and I sure wouldn't depend on it to keep the birds of prey away. Lots of people put owl decoys on their fishing boats and yachts in Destin, FL so the seagulls wouldn't crap all over their boats and after a short while the gulls would sit on the owl's head and crap all over the boat.

We have tons of hawks and falcons plus the usual other predators. The thing around here with hawks is they come in all sizes. Cooper's hawks are very common and they are about 1/2 the size of the red-tail and red-shouldered hawks. There are 250+ acres on 3 sides of us with just woods and fields so they are always hunting and a duck dinner would be the bomb for them I'm sure which is why we are going through all this construction. We don't want to have to worry constantly.

 

[Bridger Davis]

Hawks are pretty smart. You'll have to move the decoy around every day ... and hope for the best. Safe ducks inside a large, interesting run are just as happy ... and longer lived ... than free-range ones watched by hawks. And if they're watching, as you've noticed, it's only a matter of time before they open up the smorgasbord.
Good Luck!

Hawks are better hunters than eagles. Eagles can be fairly clumsy on the ground, and when navigating tight spaces, because they are so large, whereas a hawk is quite adept at this. People who free range their pet chickens and ducks know they are risking the occasional loss. Sometimes it's one bird, sometimes more or all of them. You have to decide your own tolerance level for this. I can't do it, so I've figured out how to harden my defenses on my 4,000 SF run by using these nets. I have also used obstacles where net isn't possible, but I'm dealing with bald eagles. Not sure my obstacles would work with a hawk. Luckily I don't have that problem here atm. I wish you the best with your ducks.

I agree with @ValerieJ. You are going to have to make a decision one way or the other. We are in the process of a major duck run renovation using welded wire fencing over the top. I realize that everyone can't do that and it's costing a fortune but I will have a super-duper duck kingdom when it's finished.

I don't think a decoy will protect for long and I sure wouldn't depend on it to keep the birds of prey away. Lots of people put owl decoys on their fishing boats and yachts in Destin, FL so the seagulls wouldn't crap all over their boats and after a short while the gulls would sit on the owl's head and crap all over the boat.

We have tons of hawks and falcons plus the usual other predators. The thing around here with hawks is they come in all sizes. Cooper's hawks are very common and they are about 1/2 the size of the red-tail and red-shouldered hawks. There are 250+ acres on 3 sides of us with just woods and fields so they are always hunting and a duck dinner would be the bomb for them I'm sure which is why we are going through all this construction. We don't want to have to worry constantly.

Thanks guys. I think I will get some netting to out over their gated off area that includes the run and coop, and then rig up a motion activated sprinkler for when the hawk lands on the fence. I already have CDs up, fishing wire to hit his wings if he's flying through, and just in case, I'll get a fake owl soon. I'll keep you posted! Thanks again!

 

[ValerieJ]

Someone shared this on here recently. Thought I'd share it with you.

 

[katiebrock]

I agree with @ValerieJ. You are going to have to make a decision one way or the other. We are in the process of a major duck run renovation using welded wire fencing over the top. I realize that everyone can't do that and it's costing a fortune but I will have a super-duper duck kingdom when it's finished.

I don't think a decoy will protect for long and I sure wouldn't depend on it to keep the birds of prey away. Lots of people put owl decoys on their fishing boats and yachts in Destin, FL so the seagulls wouldn't crap all over their boats and after a short while the gulls would sit on the owl's head and crap all over the boat.

We have tons of hawks and falcons plus the usual other predators. The thing around here with hawks is they come in all sizes. Cooper's hawks are very common and they are about 1/2 the size of the red-tail and red-shouldered hawks. There are 250+ acres on 3 sides of us with just woods and fields so they are always hunting and a duck dinner would be the bomb for them I'm sure which is why we are going through all this construction. We don't want to have to worry constantly.

My neighbor has a blue heron decoy in the lake right off of their bank and it has kept other herons away for now, but my ducks hang out by it all the time!

 

[DuckyDonna]

My neighbor has a blue heron decoy in the lake right off of their bank and it has kept other herons away for now, but my ducks hang out by it all the time!

Yup, once they get used to seeing it it's like its not even there anymore. That's why they don't work for long imo.

 

[MROO]

Someone shared this on here recently. Thought I'd share it with you.

Oh heck ... we might as well just serve 'em up on a dinner plate! That's really impressive! Scary. But Impressive!

 

[Beaglegal]

I could cover my run with a net, but they free range throughout the day, and I wish I wouldn't have to take that away from them. And while it might not stop an eagle, do you think a decoy could at least stop a hawk?

If you are worried about not free ranging them any more, I follow a blog where the lady planted grass in raised beds protected by chicken wire so they could have fresh grass. Then she put in a compost pile for scraps and bugs. It was for her chickens but they seemed to enjoy it. It might be a solution if you don’t want to free range anymore due to safety. I have been considering something similar for mine