Hawk attacking flock

[ChurchGirl]

This same problem used to happen to me too. We had at least one chicken every day get killed by a hawk. What we did was get some Great Pyrenees dogs, but I know this isn't really an easy solution. So you could just keep them in a coop for a bit while you build a run with a roof. I would suggest that the roof would be made out of chicken wire or something like that so that the sun can still get into the run, chickens love sunbathing.

 

[McChooky]

Once I let them out they won't go back into the coop until they either don't like the weather (snow, storms or heavy rain) or it's night. So if I let them out right when I get home and watch them maybe they'll be good. My mum and a family friend are home tomorrow so they'll be working on scaring the hawk(s) away.

The attacks seem to be happening at dusk though, as the hen I found today hadn't had rigor mortis set in yet, so it would have been before I got home. Yesterday may have been earlier but the top half of her (other than spine, skull and comb) were gone

How many chickens did you lose to a bear 5 months ago? Has it come back?

 

[PimsGarden]

Mine brush me off and make me feel stupid for trying to be nice

That's the attitude I'm getting from them. I imagine they see the hawks hunting my chickens and they look at each other like "ugh, guess we better help that man and his stupid flightless birds again..."

 

[PimsGarden]

This same problem used to happen to me too. We had at least one chicken every day get killed by a hawk. What we did was get some Great Pyrenees dogs, but I know this isn't really an easy solution. So you could just keep them in a coop for a bit while you build a run with a roof. I would suggest that the roof would be made out of chicken wire or something like that so that the sun can still get into the run, chickens love sunbathing.

I used 8 ft deer netting. Gotta use 8ft wood poles tho and then I just used a type of string to zig zag from pole to pole so it made laying the netting on top easier. I did it by myself which wasn't too hard, just took a good portion of a day haha.

 

[donteatbees]

Unfortunately I'd keep the chickens locked up until you get some deer netting put up, they will be back every single day if there is still access to more chickens. We have tons of hawks on our property and our run is completely covered in deer netting, I see hawks pull birds out of trees in my yard so I didn't have my birds in the run till I completely covered it. While I'm home I let them out of the run and into our chain fence backyard to free range in the grass for a couple hours each day, but only when I'm out there with them because of the hawks.

Luckily we do have a flock of crows that chase off hawks and that's usually when I know one is around because the crows start yelling and drive it out of a tree where it was prob watching my chickens from... Those crows are my friends and I hope they never leave!

Okay, good to know. Sounds like I should start trying to befriend some crows

 

[donteatbees]

How many chickens did you lose to a bear 5 months ago? Has it come back?

I lost six in total. One of them had been mauled and we had to put her down. It ended up actually being a mum and two cubs. The one cub came back, but I think all three have died now. Lots of people up where I live have chickens and guns and unfortunately for those bears, they were in season! But my dogs usually scare bears off, the one was just in heat so the other was too scared to face three bears alone, understandably

 

[donteatbees]

Your chickens need a run with netting and an electric fence around it all to discourage aerial predators and bears (dogs can't run them off) Moving them to a shed temporarily might keep them safe until you can improve your set up.

We need to get new electric fencing because the idiot that installed the last one didn't do a good job and it broke. I plan on keeping the chickens in the coop for now, as bad as I feel for them. I feel worse when they get brutally murdered though, so they can get over it

 

[McChooky]

Two days in a row I've lost a hen to what we're fairly certain is a hawk. We've not seen the predator, but our dogs are good at keeping anything on the ground away. Until I can get any netting/wire up (it's a big area with trees, so it isn't something quick and easy to do) how can I scare off the hawks? I'll be getting reflective ribbon tomorrow, so what else could work? I'm thinking of putting big bright things outside (like a shirt or ball or some sort of bug bright toy). I would like to make a scarecrow too, but I need to have something I can do quickly before I leave for work in the morning, and I don't have anything to make a scarecrow right now.

I do have a rooster too, and the hawk got some of his tail so I know my big tough boy is doing his best.

Literally any suggestions are welcome and appreciated. Thank you all in advance <3

Unfortunately when chickens don't have secure housing they are easy kills.Shiny ribbons won't fix this but netting will

 

[McChooky]

Okay, good to know. Sounds like I should start trying to befriend some crows

Not if you don't have a chicken run with netting.They eat chicks lol

 

[lagrange chicks]

I wish I could reward the ones here, they never hangout on the ground or anything nearby. Always 40+ feet up in a tree. I really appreciate them tho!

The crows here are still skittish of me after feeding them for close to 10 years.