Harris hawks - what else can we do?

[EmmaDonovan]

There's a Harris hawk or several (they live in groups of 2-7) nearby, we've seen them in the yard twice. This morning one was 3' from the hens.

Our chicken coop is a permanent structure and it is predator proof. Our flock does not get along so only 6 hens live in the coop.

The other 6 hens live in temporary pens. The pens are made of 2x4" welded wire and chicken wire. The roofs are welded wire or chicken wire, all covered by tarps.

I know hawks can reach through 2x4" welded wire and they can tear through chicken wire. We can't replace those right now.

What else can we do to keep the hawks away and the hens safe?

 

[thecatumbrella]

I'd head to the home store and grab some 1/2" hardware cloth to zip tie over the welded wire. You don't have to do the entire enclosure; only where chicken bodies meet fence. For me, that's the lower 2 feet of my run and around any higher perches that allow birds to get right against the wall.

I'll attach an older picture where you can see green hardware cloth attached around the lower perimeter. It's served me pretty well, and we have foxes/hawks/etc.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

I'd head to the home store and grab some 1/2" hardware cloth to zip tie over the welded wire. You don't have to do the entire enclosure; only where chicken bodies meet fence. For me, that's the lower 2 feet of my run and around any higher perches that allow birds to get right against the wall.

I'll attach an older picture where you can see green hardware cloth attached around the lower perimeter. It's served me pretty well, and we have foxes/hawks/etc.

I can do that tomorrow, thank you.

Your coop is gorgeous. Is that PVC pipe or conduit pipe?

 

[thecatumbrella]

I can do that tomorrow, thank you.

Your coop is gorgeous. Is that PVC pipe or conduit pipe?

Thank you!

It's the Omlet brand chicken run. The support bars are a thin, hollow metal, meaning a bear could just punch right through everything. We'll be moving on to a more permanent (and sturdier) run the next time we get chickens.