Do scarecrows work?

[Shari6083]

We've lost a couple of chickens this month. The first to a chicken hawk and the other has just disappeared without a trace. I saw a suggestion to make a scarecrow. I am wondering your experience if you have found them helpful or not. Pictures would be a bonus.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

IME, Hawks are not even scared of or deterred by people moving about in a yard or outside. It's doubtful they will pay a scarecrow any attention at all. If it's something "new" on the property, they may sit and observe it for a while (a few days perhaps), determine it's not a threat and continue on stalking their prey.

 

[chickengr]

I've seen birds sitting on top of scarecrows.

 

[neo71665]

 

[saysfaa]

They can work very well for making people smile when they are done with imagination. Or craftsmanship. Or style.

I agree traditional styles of scarecrows don't work for discouraging hawks.

 

[HenHangout]

I originally tried a 2 foot garden owl with a solar panel on the back of its head, it spins its head making owl noises when it detects movement, placed on top of my chicken coop. It worked for like, a month and then the hawks figured out it wasn't a threat and continued trying to attack my chickens.

I heard hanging shiny objects like CDs or streamers might work but I opted for a 50' by 50' net over the free-range area