Hawk attack

[dadbern]

I had a very large hawk or eagle land on the roost in my run and then tried to take one of my girls away. I saw him land and ran outside in time to scare it away but it almost got one. I cannot cover my yard, i have hung flashy tape and wind chimes. I was considering getting a rooster.

How do I introduce a rooster to my hens and should I get one younger or older than my girls. Most of my hens are a year old, but four of the nine are 7 months.

locally I can get a free rhode island red that is 8 months old or a 5 month old easter egger

any advice welcome

 

[DobieLover]

I had a very large hawk or eagle land on the roost in my run and then tried to take one of my girls away. I saw him land and ran outside in time to scare it away but it almost got one. I cannot cover my yard, i have hung flashy tape and wind chimes. I was considering getting a rooster.

How do I introduce a rooster to my hens and should I get one younger or older than my girls. Most of my hens are a year old, but four of the nine are 7 months.

locally I can get a free rhode island red that is 8 months old or a 5 month old easter egger

any advice welcome

A rooster will be nothing more than a warning system and perhaps the first to get picked off if he is a good flock protector and stands his ground to sacrifice himself for his girls.

I would get the oldest cockerel of the 2 if there are no other options.

He should be quarantined for 30 days as any new bird being introduced to a flock should be. The girls should take to him relatively quickly after the week or so long "look, don't touch" period of integration after the quarantine period is over.

 

[dadbern]

A rooster will be nothing more than a warning system and perhaps the first to get picked off if he is a good flock protector and stands his ground to sacrifice himself for his girls.

I would get the oldest cockerel of the 2 if there are no other options.

He should be quarantined for 30 days as any new bird being introduced to a flock should be. The girls should take to him relatively quickly after the week or so long "look, don't touch" period of integration after the quarantine period is over.

My girls sounded the alarm and I heard it looked out and saw rthe hawk, will a rooster do any better than they did?

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

A rooster will alarm the hen to get to cover, he will likely stand there and flap his wings but will likely sacrifice himself (as stated).

 

[DobieLover]

My girls sounded the alarm and I heard it looked out and saw rthe hawk, will a rooster do any better than they did?

He MAY have noticed it sooner as a good rooster does a lot of just standing around watching for trouble while the hens forage, bathe, nap or eat.
Your best aerial predator protection is a run with a solid roof or a very dense shrub like this:

 

[dadbern]

I converted a shed into a coop and I have another raised coop. When the hawk landed all but two of the chickens were in the shed hiding, Two were under the raised coop. When one of them ran for the shed the hawk attacked but just took off a few feathers, she got in the coop. I caught it all on my backyard camera. Unfortunately I cannot cover their run.
Hoping the reflective tape helps, but, I will most likely get a cockerel

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I know this is going to get laughed at but I live on a River with Hawks and Eagles. I don't have a rooster but I do have a fake Rooster, fake Eagle and fake Owl on 3 different corners of my coop and run. They seem to work....

 

[hennanny]

yup as was said a Rooster will be nothing but a first causality see picture Ol Mr Fancy got kilt protecting his ladies

 

[centrarchid]

I would get the larger and more mature Rhode Island Red. Consider making so the chickens can also get under something. Once the hawk is on the ground, the chickens, especially the mature rooster are likely to change their disposition in respect to the hawk and very likely go after.

Hawk problems I have had involved the hawks being size selective going after the smaller chickens that are not protected by larger chickens when the flock has a range of sizes.

Still look into covering run if practical.

 

[hennanny]

I would get the larger and more mature Rhode Island Red. Consider making so the chickens can also get under something. Once the hawk is on the ground, the chickens, especially the mature rooster are likely to change their disposition in respect to the hawk and very likely go after.

Hawk problems I have had involved the hawks being size selective going after the smaller chickens that are not protected by larger chickens when the flock has a range of sizes.

Still look into covering run if practical.

I couldn't disagree with this more, after the Hawk killed our Rooster and as you can see in my avatar he was no small rooster he went under the coop where they were hiding and was trying to kill a Hen luckily I got there in time.. In our Country experience either you cover your run or expect causalities.