Damn Hawks 😡

[Laura 512]

I am at a loss as to what to do about keeping my girls safe from the hawks...... Have lost three in less than a week! Have put up a plastic owl and some reflective tape.... Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I will do just about anything other than netting off the entire back yard.
Thank you

 

[CrazyChicken Lady]

You might just need to keep them in a bird netted run. Once a hawk knows there is free, easy food he will keep coming.

 

[theoldchick]

Might have to keep them in a hawk/predator proof run. Or you can make things for them to hide under. Some folks use old brush/branches, some use wooden pallets to make small A frame hutches to hide under. Old tires with tarps over them can make a place for them to hide under. The reality of free range is you will lose some of your birds to predators. Wishing you the best of luck.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Lots of trees works well here.
In 5 years of having chickens I've only had 2 hawk attacks, lost one chicken.
Both attacks happened when trees had no foliage.
November and March.
The first attack happened inside their uncovered pen nearly 5 years ago. I was home when attack happened and ran outside to see a Coopers Hawk fly away.
My 7 months old Pullet lost feathers but survived.

Both of my 200 square foot pens are now covered. Half with tarp and half with deer netting.

My second chicken was lost to a Coopers Hawk while free ranging last March, no foliage on trees.
I was doing laundry in the basement when a pullet ran past a window into a cat house.
I ran outside towards the coops and the Hawk flew out from behind some brush. There I found it dead.
I only let my chickens out of their pen an hour before sunset daily weather permitting.
I also lost two others. One to a Fox and one to a Bobcat.
Hawks are a protected species.
Free Range comes with a price. GC

 

[McChooky]

Keeping them up a couple days forces the hawks to seek easier prey. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Laura 512]

You might just need to keep them in a bird netted run. Once a hawk knows there is free, easy food he will keep coming.

I just might have to do that. I appreciate the advice. Sooooo..... this is what I have done for now- For my birthday, my husband got me a 6 foot metal rooster and we put it in the fenced in back yard where the birds are. Saw a hawk this morning right before we relocated the roo and my husband got his shotgun out and fired it up at the treetops (away from the hawk) but close enough to scare it away. I'm hopeful that if we do that a couple of times it will find different hunting grounds! I will let you know

 

[CrazyChicken Lady]

I just might have to do that. I appreciate the advice. Sooooo..... this is what I have done for now- For my birthday, my husband got me a 6 foot metal rooster and we put it in the fenced in back yard where the birds are. Saw a hawk this morning right before we relocated the roo and my husband got his shotgun out and fired it up at the treetops (away from the hawk) but close enough to scare it away. I'm hopeful that if we do that a couple of times it will find different hunting grounds! I will let you know

Perfect! That sounds like a very good idea.

 

[Laura 512]

Perfect! That sounds like a very good idea.

Was hilarious to watch our Roo check out his new *BIG* brother

 

[CrazyChicken Lady]

Was hilarious to watch our Roo check out his new *BIG* brother

Emphasis on the *BIG*!!!!