Has anyone had to deal with Hawks?

[Nikkischickens]

Early tjis A.m my Rooster was having a fit. (I have had three chickens taken already) I went out to the pin and a huge Hawk flew away. Coudl this be what was takign my chicks? I have a pin with a top on it, so I have no idea how, but its teh only predator I have seen so far. Anyone else dealt with them and have advice?

 

[looneyrooster]

Well i dont have problems with predators because i keep my chickens in a big cage(dont know if you could call it a coop as coops are not mad of chainlink fence

 

[Ntsees]

I raise and let my wild quail free range and I've never lost a bird to hawks. It could be because the area I live in have no close large trees (yet) for the hawks to hide and ambush from. Plus, my birds use the warning calls of song birds in the area as a sign of danger. Even after having been domesticated, they still have good instincts for aerial predators. For ground predators, not so much - 100% of the birds I've ever lost were from ground predators.

 

[Nikkischickens]

I wanted to let them free range, but I have lost three hens so far, two were my favorite silkies, I thought they could have been snatched by a racoon, or fox. They are kept in a inclosed Chicken pin, and I had chain link fence and chicken wire around it. After losing the first two I noticed that the chicken wire was not barried under ground as much as the chain link fence, so I zip tied the chicken wire to the chain link fence so that it could not be raised and crawled under. I had no problems for a few weeks, then I noticed one of my Pullets were gone, he always roosted on a corner branch near the top of the pin. I investigated and there was a small opening in the top. i ma not sure if he excaped, or it something got him out of the pin. After fixing that I am finally glad to say that the only way to get in this pin is threw the front door. It is not the prettiest pin around after all the fixes, but it is working, and as long as my chickens are safe, thats all the matters. I am just a little worried about the Hawk sticking around. I have wire over the top of the pin, but it is not as small of an opening as the 1'' chicken wire. Thinking about putting that on top as well...just to be extra safe!