Hawk Attack Thwarted!

[EggWalrus]

Not try to sound mean, but do you have your glasses on?

I actually did quite a bit of research I on coop and run size before I did any construction. The run (the red dog cage) is 64 square feet, 8 foot by 8 foot. I have 5 birds, so that is way more than the rule of thumb 8-10 square feet that most people recommend. How big do you think it should be? The coop I'm building is 20 square feet, again, more than the 2-3 square feet that most people recommend.

It looks a whole lot smaller in the pic.
Sorry about that. What were you standing on when you took the pic to make it look so small? It could be just an optical illusion.

 

[JoeInPA]

It looks a whole lot smaller in the pic.
Sorry about that. What were you standing on when you took the pic to make it look so small? It could be just an optical illusion.

Haha, no worries. I wasn't standing on anything, but I am pretty tall so maybe that's why. You had me worried, if 8x8 isn't big enough, what is?

I went with 8'x8'x4' so that I could build it out of 8 foot lumber with minimal cutting. Also chicken wire comes in rolls 4'x50', and it you measure the area, you need 48 feet of chicken wire, so I only needed to buy one roll.

 

[blackandtan]

So if it’s 8x8 it would be pretty easy to get a couple panels of 4x8 lattice to put on top, it’s way stronger than chicken wire and will keep hawks and small preds out while providing a little midday shade for your girls

 

[21hens-incharge]

I have quite a few predators here in town. We get hawks regularly, raccoons a few nights a week and fox mostly in spring.

So far (5+ years) the chicken wire roof on my runs has kept them out.

My birds have gotten way to used to hawks sitting on the run drooling.

 

[JoeInPA]

So if it’s 8x8 it would be pretty easy to get a couple panels of 4x8 lattice to put on top, it’s way stronger than chicken wire and will keep hawks and small preds out while providing a little midday shade for your girls

That's actually a fantastic idea! I didn't even think to do that. Currently it's just covered with two pieces of chicken wire that is stapled around. My only wonder is how it will hold up to the weight of any snow. But it sounds like a great upgrade.

I have quite a few predators here in town. We get hawks regularly, raccoons a few nights a week and fox mostly in spring.

So far (5+ years) the chicken wire roof on my runs has kept them out.

My birds have gotten way to used to hawks sitting on the run drooling.

I think I may upgrade the chicken wire to hardware cloth just to be safe. It seems like a lot of trial and error and expense now while I'm setting things up, but once I've got a good setup I think I should be good to go for a while.

I just feel bad for my chickens when the hawk came at them. I'm sure it is terrifying for them. The hawk actually came at them from one of the sides, not from directly overtop. The chicks were sitting in one corner.

 

[Xerocles]

Dehowery and Eggwalrus (and anyone else thinking of measures to deter hawks. Hawks are FEDERALLY protected against harm or harrassment, TO INCLUDE THEIR NESTS.
Now I sympathize 100%. I hate the thought of any predator harming any of my charges. Shiny disks might just be your personal choice for yard decoration and loud music...well there's just no accounting for taste. But when you start using words like dispatch or destroy. Well the federal guys can read these posts too.
I believe in doing what you gotta do...but keep your mouth (and posts) shut about it.
In addition, the fine, if you get one, will be a lot more than a roll of hardwire will cost.

 

[Folly's place]

All raptors are federally protected in the USA, which is why we protect our birds from them instead of harassing or harming the hawks, or whatever.
With any care at all, raptors will do way less damage than any of the ground predators, especially including dogs, sometimes our own.
Mary

 

[JoeInPA]

Yeah there is no reason to harm hawks. Just like chickens they are beautiful birds. They take care of snakes, rats and mice and other problematic creatures.

That said, within 15 minutes of putting the birds out in the run today, there were 5 hawks circling low directly above the run. I stood there next to the coop with the chickens for about 5 minutes and they eventually moved on but these hawks are smart and are well aware of my chickens.

 

[dehowery]

I'm willing to try anything to keep them away. Do you have any photos of the discs you have hanging?

Unfortunately the hawk's nest is only about 10 or 20 yards from the edge of my backyard, so he is always around.

They are just the silver dvr discs the kind you used to use for back up etc. One tip do not drill thru the disc as the silver comes off. Tie the disc on thru the middle with fishing line.