First loss to a hawk... got me thinking.

[Mini Meat]

So, today I had my first loss by hawk. I free range, and will continue to free range, as it is important to me. I know that has risks.

It got me started thinking of ways to deter the hawk. I did some research and came up with the usual ideas, scarecrows, shiny scary, things ect.

Then, I got an idea... aversion therapy.... in the form of concert "dummy" chickens complete with feathers. I imagine a hawk circling and noticing the slow (non) moving bird, an ideal target. I suspect after an impact at high speed with what basically amounts to a rock it might have doubts about wether or not another attempt is in it's best interest?

If I could find an easy way to make these I could scatter a dozen or so around the range.

Just thinking out loud and looking for opinions from folks with more experience with birds of prey than me.

Any Ideas on manufacture would be appreciated as well.

 

[sourland]

To me it seems as if hawks are triggered by movement; hence, the 'freeze' strategy that chicks and some adult birds will use when a hawk is present. I have had little to no success at deterring hawks. It might be a good idea to pen your birds for a day or two. If the hawk is migrating through it may move on. If it's a resident --------------------

 

[123RedBeard]

Maybe incorporate one of these in your rock chicken ... http://www.mojooutdoors.com/index.php/vendor-products-menu-item/category/43-predator-decoy-line

 

[chickengeorgeto]

To me it seems as if hawks are triggered by movement; hence, the 'freeze' strategy that chicks and some adult birds will use when a hawk is present. I have had little to no success at deterring hawks. It might be a good idea to pen your birds for a day or two. If the hawk is migrating through it may move on. If it's a resident --------------------

I must agree with sourland. Movement is what a hawk keyes on. Besides a hawk doesn't swoop in like a ICBM and snatch up your bird like something you would see in a James Bond flick. Many times there is a short foot race before the hawk makes contact with your bird.

Unfortunately all that will protect your chickens from a hawk is to remove your chickens out of the danger zone, or else remove the hawk.

 

[centrarchid]

Concepts to introduce for consideration if you are planning on doing this long-term, have other livestock, and at least a couple acres to work with.

1) Cover Patches
2) Electrified Poultry Netting
3) Dog
4) Restrictions on Free-range Time Each Day
5) Fully Adult Standard Sized Rooster

I use combination of above and have very little issues with hawks even when free-range keeping juveniles and chicks. My area crawls with Red-tailed Hawks and Coopers Hawks. They do eat neighbors chickens which is OK because neighbors are too rigid in their approach to predator management. They also invest time in trying to kill more predators to protect a lot fewer chickens. They outsource replacement birds while I produce in excess with a closed flock.

 

[Mini Meat]

To me it seems as if hawks are triggered by movement; hence, the 'freeze' strategy that chicks and some adult birds will use when a hawk is present. I have had little to no success at deterring hawks. It might be a good idea to pen your birds for a day or two. If the hawk is migrating through it may move on. If it's a resident --------------------

Quote: See, now you are telling me what I did not know, Thank you. I have only ever seen them make an aerial catch. Now that you say it it makes sense that they don't swop down in a ground attack.

The part about being triggered by movement... didn't know that either but it seems obvious now.

I'll admit it... dumb idea, but I am a think out side the box kinda person so...

 

[Mini Meat]

Concepts to introduce for consideration if you are planning on doing this long-term, have other livestock, and at least a couple acres to work with.

1) Cover Patches
2) Electrified Poultry Netting
3) Dog
4) Restrictions on Free-range Time Each Day
5) Fully Adult Standard Sized Rooster

I use combination of above and have very little issues with hawks even when free-range keeping juveniles and chicks. My area crawls with Red-tailed Hawks and Coopers Hawks. They do eat neighbors chickens which is OK because neighbors are too rigid in their approach to predator management. They also invest time in trying to kill more predators to protect a lot fewer chickens. They outsource replacement birds while I produce in excess with a closed flock.

These are all good suggestions. I lost two more today to a different predator. Both had their heads and legs eaten. I have not seen a predator that does this. I am thinking dog or fox? Although no foxes have been seen in a long time, I am sure they are out there. This happened an hour before dark. Doesn't fit anything I have experienced in the past.

Let me fill you all in a bit about what I have going on.

I have (had) 80 16 week old birds from which I will select breeding stock for a new project. I have Dark Cornish and Cubalayas. Part of the reasons I choose these breeds was for their foraging ability and for their predator avoidance. There are no adults in the group.

They live on a 1/2 acre flat surrounded by 15 acres of heavy woods and cover. There is an edge on one side that they could easily fly off and be in the tree tops below. There "home base" is a converted horse trailer which only a bear could breach for a coop (they are very secure at night) and one section of electric net inclosing it.

Only in the last three weeks have I been letting them begin to run loose outside the net. They are really not very savvy yet. The first attack defiantly awoke them to the threat in the air, this second should teach them to watch their backs on the ground as well.

A dog is not an option.

So here are my questions going forward;

Are they just young and ignorant?
Will they learn to avoid predators (I believe they have ample hides and get aways)?

Part of me wants to lock them back up to prevent any more losses and part of me is thinking that if they can't avoid predators I do not want them in my gene pool anyway and this is only going to make for a stronger flock in the long run. The first bird taken was a pullet I was planning to keep.

I can accept the risk and the losses that come with free ranging but I just wonder if my hope to develop a savvy flock is reasonable.

 

[123RedBeard]

Your idea of "if they can't avoid a predators " is like asking a young teen to make life threatening decisions ... They are not old enough yet to firmly decide yet what or how to live, they are babies in adult bodies ...

Yes, over time ... And more attacks ... More will learn what happened to their flock mates, and come up with a plan, maybe ... You might get 10 left ... Maybe none ... But will it be because they were "smarter" or just "luckier"?

I'd leave them in the electric fence for now ...

 

[Mini Meat]

I did leave them in the pen this morning. Most of them promptly flew out so...

I think the hawk may have been a transient.

I think the ground predator is a dog specifically, my tenants dog. There was dog poo right next to where one of the bodies had been. My tennants dog is the only one that has ever shown interest in chasing birds. A sketchy dog that I don't like.

I may try to pick up a game cam today.

Your idea of "if they can't avoid a predators " is like asking a young teen to make life threatening decisions ... They are not old enough yet to firmly decide yet what or how to live, they are babies in adult bodies ...

Yes, over time ... And more attacks ... More will learn what happened to their flock mates, and come up with a plan, maybe ... You might get 10 left ... Maybe none ... But will it be because they were "smarter" or just "luckier"?

I'd leave them in the electric fence for now ...

 

[FarmerMac]

Your idea of "if they can't avoid a predators " is like asking a young teen to make life threatening decisions ... They are not old enough yet to firmly decide yet what or how to live, they are babies in adult bodies ...

Yes, over time ... And more attacks ... More will learn what happened to their flock mates, and come up with a plan, maybe ... You might get 10 left ... Maybe none ... But will it be because they were "smarter" or just "luckier"?

I'd leave them in the electric fence for now ...

I totally agree with 123RedBeard. You could get an experience free ranger (older rooster) to alert the young ones and teach them to run when he sounds the alarm. I have seen hawks come from between the trees and try to get my chickens. Once the roosters sound the alarm, everybody runs and takes cover.