Hawk got one of my girls, what to do?

[foxypoproxy]

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[Hiram]

I guess that's the answer. But it's so fun to watch them free range with a frosty beverage in hand. My friend said to put a radio in the yard. What do you think?

 

[foxypoproxy]

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Honestly, i think it probably wouldn't work.
Because if hawks aren't scared of getting close to humans they won't be scared of a radio.

 

[2overeasy000]

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You need to lock them up at least until the hawks move on. In the Fall, there is less food and they are beefing up for Winter, bad combo. After the hawks move on, you can try letting them out for an hour or so before sunset(when they are less active).

 

[Sassafras]

Try making an enclosure large enough so they can wander a bit and covered so you don't need to worry about them. If it isn't the hawk it will be a stray dog, or a coyote or a ....you get the picture.
Awesome chicken run fiddlebanshee!

 

[taprock]

I don't know what's legal where you are, but they don't like bottle rockets!

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

This morning as I drove my hour commute through farmland to work, I saw and counted 11 different hawks out carousing, being chased by starlings or crows. It felt like that first chapter of Harry Potter, where the owls are everywhere...

I'm thinking a smart sheepdog would ADORE the job of keeping a flock of chickens. Has anybody else used this?

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

I'm so sorry

Its a terrible loss!

I fear that all the time, and I've come to the conclusion that our luck with hawks, owls and eagles has a lot to do with our suburban property. There are many, many ways for our chickens to duck and cover, and some areas where the hawks have a very hard time maneuvering to land.

One had managed to land close enough to walk over to our little brood of chicks, but the hawk was attacked by the broody hen (Silkie!). It tried, and tried to get away and finally just managed to crawl over the 3ft picket fence with our Silkie hen still attached to the back of its head.

At first we kept our chickens penned and covered, but that was nervewracking, the hawks would sit and stare at them and walk across the top of the netting terrorizing the chickens. Eventually we just got used to answering the "alarm" call and keep brooms by the door. Once on the ground, the poor hawks or cats or coons have to deal with the pack mentality of our flock, they group up and stalk it, all the while doing that loud "alarm" call. Its true, hawks don't seem to recognize humans at all, much less fear humans. But they keep their eye on the chickens until they get tired of waiting for a way to get to them. I guess our yard is just too much work. We live by a river, and I bet the fat ducks are far easier prey!

We still get hawk swoops, and hawk ground-walks, we even have a bald eagle hen who's landed on our rooftop, but the Good Lord keeps blessing us with freedom from loss yet another day.

I still think a herding dog would ADORE the job of keeping a flock of birds. It would count them, call them by name, watch the skies, oh happy happy dog life for a herding dog!

 

[Hiram]

Taprock: when it comes to my chickens I don't care bout no stinking law. lol. But I doubt I could hit him with one. He was in the tree yesterday morning. My father took a shot at it with a round BB(strong enough to hurt it but not kill it) and we haven't seen it. I think it just retreated to higher ground and is keeping quiet. My girls won't come out the coop so I know they know better than me. I'm going the try netting and a scarecrow. I still see him eating my baby in my head. Haven't gotten over it.

 

[Hiram]

6 chickens: I think I'm having this problem because my dog has gotten too old. She's 14. When she was moving and barking good no animal would enter my yard. Now all kinds are getting in.