Hawk Attack!

[ranchhand]

Very sorry you lost them to a hawk. Do you have a rooster? Roosters can be a pain, but a good one will scan the sky and warn the flock to run for cover. And as many have said, lots of cover for them to duck under. I've had to confine mine to their runs for the most part, between the hawks and the foxes.

Skip the shotgun - killing, even just annoying, a bird of prey is a HUGE Federal fine. And the authorities do read here.

 

[wychickenwrangler]

Very sorry about your loss. ranchhand is right though, killing a federally protected animal can cause you a ton of grief.

 

[BrahmaBrock]

Quote:
I always thought that they wouldn't go under something for a chicken either but it happened to mine. I have an enclosed lot and then a larger open lot for mine to roam in. They are separated by a gate but I always leave it open to give them more space. One day a hawk went right inside my closed lot and killed one of my buff pullets and was eating her on the ground. These pullets were from a golden comet that had went broody. First ones I had ever hatched out and the hawk went through 4 of them before I figured out on the last one what it was. Now the remaining 2 are grown and hawks don't seem to want to fool with the bigger chickens here, just the small ones. Expect the unexpected with predators.

 

[TexGardenGirl]

No guarantees of course, but we haven't had a loss to a hawk since we got guineas. We do have a rooster and had witnessed him giving the hawk alarm before, but either he's not fast enough or loud enough or soon enough, I don't know, but we still were losing a hen every month or so. The guineas have been in with the chickens about 8 months now and no losses. I have seen them squawk like crazy (way beyond the normal guinea squawking) when a hawk flew over.

 

[alexg]

we live about 35 miles southwest of chicago,,, and we have our share of hawks. when my "ladies" are free ranging the dog is always with them. she will bark at the hawks while they are soaring. thank god, we have never lost a lady to a hawk or other predator.
once while i was out with the ladies and the dog, a very large hawk whizzed next to me and landed on the fence (very bold). there i was waving my arms and yelling while the hawk looked at me like i was loony.
sorry for your loss...

 

[bryan99705]

Quote:
Be careful, hawks eat loons too

 

[epeloquin]

I heard of one person who had a Cooper swoop in less than 3 feet from the owner while the chook hid under a bush. The hawk was not impressed with the owner's efforts to shoo him away.

I live in a suburban part of Western Massachusetts. We do have redtail hawks and a pair of nesting bald eagles by the CT river (2-3 miles from me as the crow flies). I am not really worried about the eagles because they seem to stick mainly to the river (plentiful pickins). But the hawks are a very frequent sight. I just put my girls in the coop tonight. I will only allow them to freerange when I am there. Otherwise they will be in their covered run.

Has anyone ever heard of a redtail hawk being as bold as the Cooper can be?

 

[smittyts]

Quote:
Robert, could you elaborate for us novice chicken keepers?

 

[jjthink]

smittyts, there's a lot of good info in the "Coop and Run" section on this site. Chickens really need to be in a safe house from dusk till dawn every day without fail. The house should have enough space, proper ventilation up at the top, no drafts on them when it's cold, and be pred proof. Chicken wire is not pred proof - determined dogs and other preds can ram their way in. Hardware cloth (wire) is good for runs and any gaps in coops where any unwanted beings could possibly get in. In cases where a coop has a dirt floor, hardware cloth layer topped with ample soft substrate for the chickens will help keep rats from tunneling in from below - let hardware cloth come up the sides by several inches if there is any possibility of breach where floor meets wall. When windows are open in warmer weather, a hardware cloth screen securely fastened will help protect the birds - regular screening alone may not. Outdoor runs covered in deer netting are a good hawk deterrent. Deer netting should be frequently checked for rips and gaps that may open up... . . ...

JJ

 

[bryan99705]

Smittyts, post what type of critters you're fighting and you'll find somebody else that has managed to outsmart them .... Opposable thumb wins everytime, just takes a few tries sometimes Worse case use a hamster ball and prayer