Deterring Gosh Hawks...

[centrarchid]

centrachid, are you in the witness protection program????

I will have to move again

 

[lazy gardener]

 

[WhatAboutBob?]

Northern Goshawk is my main predatory bird. And they are tough, persistent. I agree with Centrarchid. In your case, you might benefit from a nice sized dog, one with a rep of being gentle. I might try a Black Lab in your case. I'm sure others will chime in with their recommendations.

I am not certain you would want a Black Lab. Labs are often "bird dogs". I have 4 Labs, and they constantly try to get after my chickens. So no free ranging for me, but they do have a large open air run - over 800 sq ft.

 

[lazy gardener]

Even a dog with a high prey drive (my JR terrier mix) can be taught that chickens are off limits. The only way to manage the prey drive with my dog is with electronic behavior training collars. She wears a receiverer collar for boundary control, and I've used an E collar to reinforce the "leave it" command. She is an amazingly quick learner, but very head strong and stubborn.

 

[WhatAboutBob?]

Even a dog with a high prey drive (my JR terrier mix) can be taught that chickens are off limits. The only way to manage the prey drive with my dog is with electronic behavior training collars. She wears a receiverer collar for boundary control, and I've used an E collar to reinforce the "leave it" command. She is an amazingly quick learner, but very head strong and stubborn.

If I had 1 dog I would be fine with that but with 4 Labs I do have my hands full!

 

[happyfrenchman]

My dog is cognizant of hawks... both really. One time I was in the yard and the coopers hawk came cruising through in a slow troll..... That bird flew a large circle around me on his way through and my dogs followed it with their heads and then actually went after it as it went past. But they are not out there most of the time. Some dogs would probably be great hawk protection.

 

[canalcolt]

What about a pyrenee dog? I've been looking to buy a goat and have seen these dogs advertised for sale stating they are great guardian dog for live stock

 

[AllenK RGV]

Even a dog with a high prey drive (my JR terrier mix) can be taught that chickens are off limits. The only way to manage the prey drive with my dog is with electronic behavior training collars. She wears a receiverer collar for boundary control, and I've used an E collar to reinforce the "leave it" command. She is an amazingly quick learner, but very head strong and stubborn.

I will admit I had the hardest time with my chocolate Lab she really wanted to eat those chicks I was brooding in the bathtub. But with some work they are no longer her idea of prey. I didn't need to zap her(I will admit to using one of those collars when I first got her) my no and bad girl is a pretty powerful tool by itself. After using a zap collar for about 6 months, and yes she was such a head strong bitch, she finally became a dream animal off the leash that you could trust in every situation. She is now only a stranger danger animal if I have her on a leash.

 

[lazy gardener]

My dog absolutely loves the leash. She has a jazzy red collar to go with it. When she sees us pick up either, she knows it's time for a ride in the car, or a walk.

 

[canalcolt]

My birds are free-range and we like it that way. I understand the reasoning for a run, believe me. However, we began our journey for chickens and guineas (have yet to tame them, but that's another subject and I'm trying again this spring) because my 2 year old (at the time) was diagnosed with multiple and potent strains of Lyme disease. We live in PA, the WORST state for Lyme, and also a state that doesn't "spray" or do anything to try and control the population. We take a ton of other measures to protect her, but the bug eating chickens and guineas combined with the Omega's and protein/healthiness of back yard free-range fresh eggs for our daughter every morning is one of the best natural ways I sleep at night. Our daughter loves to play outside and I can't keep her in a bubble so ANYTHING I can do to help her I will - so free-range chickens it is. That being settled, my husband will not go for a net over our entire yard and I'm sick of losing chickens to Gosh Hawks. I've read reflective surfaces help deter these predators - has anyone had any luck with this or anything else? I have no issues hanging reflective items around our yard... this thread I'm sure is repetitive as I've found many previous posts on this subject matter, some old, some newer.... any personal experience? They repeatedly kill our chickens in a bush about 10 feet from our house... I love my chickens and want to protect them but I hear of other people free-ranging with a decent amount of success....

I saw my chickens and a crow standing by each other this morning and did googling. Crows deter hawks. How about attracting crows? We haven't had any problems with hawks nor crows messing with our veggie and strawberry garden.