Free ranging and chicken hawks

[DonnaScott]

Yeah I'm crushed, so our my birds. They know where home is which is great. Unfortunately maybe I dont know how many hawks are in the area.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

For the last month in a half I sit with them for two hours a day and then let 1 out all day then 2, then 3 etc. I let all 12 out this morning at 730am and by 10 am one was killed by seemingly a hawk. My dog rounded up 5 earlier and I just found the other 6....thank you God.

I’m so sorry for your loss. I don’t want to lose any of mine so my little arrangement works for my little flock. Even though the hawks have seemed to moved on for now, I still think it’s a good idea to stay vigilant.

 

[centrarchid]

You let them out for the first time without supervision? Do you have a LGD, goose or rooster? Which breed/breeds of chicken do you have in that flock?

@Kabootar

What does your landscape with birds and guardians look like?

 

[DonnaScott]

Like this...

 

[centrarchid]

 

[HAPPYCHICKENLADY17]

CAN A HAWK GET AN ADULT CHICKENN OR JUST BABIES

 

[DonnaScott]

Mine was 9/10 weeks.

 

[Stockpilejoy]

I lost my 2 precious 4 1/2 year old hens Nellie & Mable a couple years back to a hawk. They were dust bathing during the attack. I was devastated. Since then I've had 100ft fence installed around both coops and closely supervise during their 1-2 hour free range time each day. Without a fence they would spread out which made it difficult keeping close eye on all. It's been an added bonus not having to worry about stray dogs.

 

[casportpony]

CAN A HAWK GET AN ADULT CHICKENN OR JUST BABIES

Yes, although they prefer the smaller ones, they will go after the big ones.

 

[Aunt Angus]

CAN A HAWK GET AN ADULT CHICKENN OR JUST BABIES

I think it depends on the hawk, too. Some smaller hawk species might not go after large chickens unless they are desperate, like needing to feed their chicks or during a shortage. But large hawks (and owls and eagles, for that matter) can carry off even larger chickens. Smaller hawks can kill a large chicken, but will eat it at the kill site if they can't carry it off.

It has really helped me deal with my hawk issue to know which hawk breeds I am dealing with. I don't have Red Tailed hawks that hunt in my neighborhood; they stick to the open areas like the rice paddies, the golf course, and the big ranches in my area. Plus, I have a lot of trees in my fenced yard, so my chickens are able to hide from the soaring Red Tailed hawks. However, those same trees are perfect for providing cover for Cooper's hawks, who prefer to stalk their prey first. A Cooper's hawk can't carry off any of my big girls, especially since it's a smaller male that's been hanging around, and they are 2 and 3 times his weight. He is less likely to strike when I'm supervising because he wouldn't be able to stick around and eat if he managed to kill one of my big girls.

My bantams, however.... I hover over them like a mama hen when they are out foraging. If I don't feel like hovering, I will just let my big girls out and keep the bantams penned. That way I can supervise, but relax a bit. And the bantams don't mind being confined nearly as much as my big girls.

I hope that makes sense. Sorry it's such a long winded explanation...