Hawk Deterrence

[gsim]

Just have suffered double loss to hawk over two days. Wondering if anyone out there can recommend a good bird netting product? Need one that will stand up to sunlight and some leaves in fall. Figured that polyethelene might be best for longevity? Run is around 1900 Sq ft. Do not need to get every inch, but need to get enough to deter hawks from dropping in for fear of not being able to get out. Figure to have some odd holes near coop and trees, under foliage. Sides are good, 6 ft x 2x4 welded wire, and never have been breached by any land predator. Electrified to boot, and set in cement. Whew! Always something!

 

[JohnHenry]

A quick fix that may help somewhat until you get a cover would be to hang some CD's on fishing line from the trees. I have read it confuses the hawks but I haven't actually had a hawk tell me it works. I did it.

 

[seminolewind]

Deer netting is real cheap, and you should double it. I think I got 100 x 7 feed for about $20.00

 

[OnceAroundTheBlock]

This is what I got from eBay for a 10' x 10' run. I wanted something with a big enough mesh to let snow pass on thru. $20 bucks with free shipping.

"25' x 12' Light Sports Barrier Net Game Bird Poultry Netting Nylon with a 2" mesh"

 

[LiLRedCV]

You can check CraigsList for old fish netting used on fishing boats - tho' being more inland you may not have any close by....

 

[ChickcrazyCharlie]

Quote:
I did it too and 2 hours later the hawk was back chasing my chickens. I got about 50 old cd's from work and hung them all from the trees. It didnt work for me.

 

[gsim]

Quote:
I did it too and 2 hours later the hawk was back chasing my chickens. I got about 50 old cd's from work and hung them all from the trees. It didnt work for me.

I have hung around 300 ft silver streamers up last year after a hawk got two. He may have met with a freak accident it seems and never returned. But I just got hit again two days in a row. First was evening an hour before lockdown so never noticed anything. 2nd victim was killed sometime between sunrise and 10:30 AM. So I am on record as saying it does not work at least on cloudy days. It may work on sunny breezy days. I noticed that my resident crows were nowhere to be seen or heard for several days too. Likely that made it easier for the hawk. Suspect it was a Red-Tail as they are as common as flies hereabouts.

Thanks for tips so far. Was thinking of getting a polyethylene extruded netting for better longevity, effects of UV etc. Has to be able to tolerate leaves too. Will have to fluff it up several times from beneath in Autumn on windy days, due to oak leaves. Will leave the silver plastic streamers in place for support and add lightweight poles here and there with OSB discs on their tops to help support it. Run is around 1900 sq ft, and has both the coop (8x16 and three trees in it. Lowest branches are above top of perimeter fence, so should not be too bad to fit netting around them. I figured to overlap the netting 24" to avoid fastening it together. That way will only have to fasten around top of perimeter fencing. All new job to me, so any input appreciated.

 

[stilldeb]

Our runs are all covered with the polyethylene extruded webbing and fastened with cable ties all around. We get it in rolls at Lowes and it's not expensive. We have had hawks that came and sat right ON it and couldn't get our birds, so I know it works, plus they don't get tangled in it or anything.

Good luck, and so sorry for your losses. We are not letting anybody out right now because of hawks. Seems they are everywhere this time of year.

 

[ApronStrings]

I use Emus. Have not had a hawk dare to take a chicken ever since the Emus grew larger than the hawks. This past spring and summer the hawks took up positions in the trees calling to one another (they were teaching the young hawks to hunt). My guess is they were trying to decide who was going to brave it but there were no takers.

But I do realize not everyone has room in thier heart for the Emu, nor the land to raise them. I would try to provide the chickens with multiple foxholes to run into when danger comes calling. Something like two concrete blocks with a piece of tin spanning across them. Plant holly bushes for them to hind beneath. I hope this helps and good luck in the future.

 

[Bird Collector]

I second and third the deer/bird netting. That has been the only thing that has worked 100%. I also bought a roll of the wire I thing is used for electric fence to run through the large middle section to give support to the netting because I also have the leave issue. I just go under it and push/pop it up until the leaves fall over the edge of the run. I got my stuff at lowes home improvement. None of it was too expensive. The wire was in the section of fencing outside. My netting has lasted two summers in the south and one winter so far. A couple of my zip ties had to be replaced becuse the gave out which are much thiner than the netting. Go figure. Good luck