Hawk behavior qeustion

[MEchickenfarmer33]

they will come down on the ground to kill birds

 

[chiques chicks]

:/I get to observe hawks a lot. this is 60yds from my back door.

 

[cluckychucky]

I lost two of my RIR chicks to hawks. I put plywood about 12" (16" on the back side, under the coop) tall all along the bottom of the chicken tractor, covered the top of the chicken wire run with a venetian blind, and hung the food and water away from the edges of the run and coop. Hawks hunt by line of sight. If they can not "plot" on your chickens, they will be safe. I have had no incidents since I took away their line of sight. I studied hard about them, as my girls deaths were hard on my kids, so that I could defeat them. They are bad ***** birds. That much I have witnessed first hand, but killing them only brings new problems and is highly illegal. When my chickens are in the coop, they are locked up tight. Nothing is getting in there, I assure you. If I ever have to see that look in my three year old son's eyes again, I will hate myself. If you are asking this question (in my humble opinion), then you already know your answer. Protect your flock. Cover your run and put base boards around the bottom of any wired enclosures. Good luck.

 

[joewolf]

Hawks have taken over my neck of the woods, (area) Chambers county Texas... 30 miles east of Houston off I-10, I see NO rabbits, squirrels, pigeons, mice or rats back in the day, the primary hawk killer was snakes and foxes, big cats (bobs and another type of big cat that has almost disappeared) so we have killed off the majority of their (hawks) natural predators, so now those crazy birds are killing dogs, my chiuawawa got snatched up and it really makes me angry especially after reading they kill with their claws, tortured that dog, and that's easy prey, I see the hawks circle Houston subdivisions, wonder what their lookin for?!!?!?! If only they would snatch up evil people they would be of use...... I called wildlife and have filed a nuisance(SP) cant spell, I reported THAT this hawk is outta control,kills my chickens and has left some all bloodied up didn't even eat it or take it away, and its hard to keep my chickens safe I have 50 free range egg layers and wish I had my old goose back he could and broke a hawks neck but he also killed all roosters thinking the chickens were HIS.... but a big mean goose will give a hawk good fight, never saw him loose one, a goose is a tough bird his own self.....where was I oh yeah waiting for permission to kill which they will give ya if the hawks are causing a problem with ones ability to eat and make money....live-lee-hood........... if they dint give me one then throw me in jail cause that hawk needs to die, killing for the heck of it.... showing no fear.... imagine if someone was sitting out with a new-born baby and that hawk snatched it, an 8lb hawk could fly away easily with a 5-6 lb newborn, after the police put the mother in jail, to protect and serve, and wildlife tracked the hawk and found a child's carcass in the hawks nest, then public out-rage, 50% of people polled were angry at the mother, 40% mad at hawks in general, 5% hating the police more and 5% dint know what their mad at, but they are sure AS HELL MAD...!!!!!!!!

 

[zazouse]

I do not know who would leave an infant of hat size by themselves for a critter to get them but i do know a hawk can not carry off a baby, sorry you are missinformed.
I have watched a redtail try to drage a 4 pound chicken to cover cause it could not fly off with it.

 

[roostersandhens]

Hawks will attack diving and will just land on the ground normally and chase and harm the chickens. A top on the run may be a good idea. My chickens are free range so they are exposed to hawks so I put table and unbrellas everywhere so if hawks come to close the can hide. I had a young rooster who got killed i was soooo sad. The next day (Thanks Giving) after he was killed I went to get my hen Doodle because all my chickens were coming in the house for thanks giving i made them all salad and seeds they had a good time. When i was bringing my Bared Rock hen Doodle in the house a hawk almost tried to take her out of my hands. Another time a hawk landed on the run conected to the coop (we have a run though dont use it) my rooster hid all the girls and stood up to the hawk and scared it away so it helps if u have a large rooster after that rescue i got another rooster from a lady who needed a home for him. At my house the hawks hang out waiting on a tree or sitting on th telaphone pole right next to the coop waiting for a chicken to be all alone. If a hawk gets 1 chicken it will keep coming back and will tell his freinds. After my young rooster was killed I was bringing my RIR (Ruthie) and my BO (Sunshine) in the house 7 hawks were swarming over the coop luckily they were the only chickens still outside so I have only had 1 chicken taken by a hawk but i would have more taken but now i am carefull about hawks and have 2 roosters to protect the girls.
Hope I helped!
Good Luck!

 

[Brookliner]

This is a picturee of a large redtail hawk I saw one morning at our local Lowes parkinglot. He/she had caught a seagul and was in the process of plucking it. when I took these pictures.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Hawks all have broad and blunt wings that are designed to weave and bob between tree branches, or bank hard around tree trunks. Some research has shown that 25% or more of large hawks have healed wing bone fractures that were likely sustained while hunting in thick cover. Remember, hawks have been here longer than you or I and they didn't feed themselves or survive all this time by being timid scaredy cats. An owl is even more at home in tight cover than a hawk.

A falcon on the other hand likes to strike its prey in mid air and then follow it to the ground where feeding begins. A falcon has about as much in common with a hawk as a Lamborghini has with a Yugo.

 

[Eva2012]

Thank YOU all for this great information. We have redtail hawks best in the cell tower next to our property. My chickens are in a secure 10' by 10' dog kennel run that serves as their chicken house as well. I am thinking of making a chicken run for them and covering it with 50 by 50 ft aviary netting for the cover and keeping the netting draped over either a 6 ft chicken wire fence or 2"-4" welded galvanized fence. I do not have plants in that area yet and am thinking of growing a game bird mix of sunflowers millet, sorghum for cover and shade. I cannot make a large frame and supports to hold up the netting. Sincere it gets up to 120 degrees in the summer here, shade and hawk safety is a big concern. Last August, I was providing a misting fan which worked well, but this year I am looking at a secure chicken field. What are your thoughts?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/untamed-uncut/videos/hawk-divebombs-zookeeper.htm