Fake Owl

[Adrisducks]

So I just lost 2 hens to a hawk. In 2 days back to back I believe. My husband and I are usually home and go out a lot and let our dogs out a lot too for this reason. We are both retired veterans at home. But recently I had back surgery and was admitted unexpectedly. So for 2 days they were alone and in that time my poor frizzled serama hen Mama CoCo was taken. I feel horrible because she had babies, the 4 babies still have 3 more mothers but she loved being a mom and I feel absolutely horrible. The next day we lost our beautiful golden sebright. We immediately got a large fake owl that turns his head often. It scared tf out of our birds and dogs, but I guess that's a good thing? I read you have to keep moving it around. No problem. But how high up does he have to be to be convincing????? If high, we don't have many places. I'm looking into buying spinning chrome hawk deterrent for the lawn too. Is this enough????? I can't handle losing another one.

 

[sourland]

In my experience hawks eventually adapt to such 'scare' devices and eventually return to the food source. The only 100 % protection is a covered pen. Good luck in protecting your flock. Hawks put me out of business.

 

[DobieLover]

 

[twendt]

You need to put up bird netting over your pen or I've heard mylar ribbon crisscrossed over their enclosure works. Don't let them free range. I can't let my chickens free range, I think that what keeps them safe, They have hiding places behind my "pallet" composer and their coop. My setup was a 'lucky' accident. I have to conceal my chickens, I've been breaking the law for 3 yrs, now. It looks like a walk in garden with raised beds, a composter, and not sure I could explain the coop to the city if they saw it . I also heard hanging CD's work too. So sorry you lost your girls, you need to act now to save the rest of your flock!!

 

[Folly's place]

I'm so sorry for your losses!
Spend the money and time on covering their run, not on scare devices. Predators are everywhere, and most of us find this out the hard way! I have a very safe coop and run, and still will free range, and loose birds because of letting them out.
Hawks will take the smaller birds most often, and I love the bantams too. It's really tough sometimes...
Keep everyone in for two or three weeks, and upgrade your defenses. Having no free range time is a choice that might have to be made too.
Mary

 

[aart]

We immediately got a large fake owl that turns his head often

Got a link to this product?
Wants to see video....wonders if the movement helps.
Even the ones with bobble heads don't scare 'em for long as you can see above.

 

[WthrLady]

I took a picture of a bluebird sitting on top of our owl when we lived in florida (flocks of hundreds of the blue menace)

 

[Building Bridges]

So I just lost 2 hens to a hawk. In 2 days back to back I believe. My husband and I are usually home and go out a lot and let our dogs out a lot too for this reason. We are both retired veterans at home. But recently I had back surgery and was admitted unexpectedly. So for 2 days they were alone and in that time my poor frizzled serama hen Mama CoCo was taken. I feel horrible because she had babies, the 4 babies still have 3 more mothers but she loved being a mom and I feel absolutely horrible. The next day we lost our beautiful golden sebright. We immediately got a large fake owl that turns his head often. It scared tf out of our birds and dogs, but I guess that's a good thing? I read you have to keep moving it around. No problem. But how high up does he have to be to be convincing????? If high, we don't have many places. I'm looking into buying spinning chrome hawk deterrent for the lawn too. Is this enough????? I can't handle losing another one.

Oh no....I'm so sorry about your birds!!!