Hawk Hunting Chickens?

[ella2025]

I totally agree with everybody saying you should build a run, and locking your chickens in until you've got it is definitely the right thing to do. We have lots of hawks where I live, I would guess 4-5 just in the area surrounding our yard (which conveniently tons of rabbits and voles that are drawing hawks here). I've had chickens outside for 7 months, and had 3 attacks. But knowing my area is heavily populated with hawks and just about any chicken predators (including foxes, coyotes which come every day, bobcats, neighbors dog) I built a fully enclosed hardware cloth run before I put any chickens out at all. They stay in the run all day every day and we never let them out unless it's the middle of summer and I happen to have 30 minutes to stand there with them and supervise them while they forage. This, although I feel bad for keeping them cooped in, has worked fantastically for us, and we've had 0 losses or injuries related to predators. The hawks were all easily kept out by the hardware cloth. If you are not able to build a run, maybe hanging strong bird netting on top of your chicken roaming area can help. I have also heard of hanging up shiny things like mirrors or old CD's but have never tried that myself. Sorry for your losses and good luck!

 

[McChooky]

I value all my animals and pets freedom and allow all of them to be free inside a fence or pen.Free ranging chickens without a fence or contained run is too risky in my opinion.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

My chickens have a very large pen (run) where they spend most of their day, but they do get out to free range on about 3 acres later in the day. Our ground predators have been mostly raccoons and coyotes but the dogs take care of that and we haven't seen either of those in a couple of yesra. Have not seen hawks in several years either, but I don't tempt them with chicks out in the open.

 

[McChooky]

THis covered run isn't predator proof but it'll keep hawks out and works great for lockdowns

 

[Anon112]

Like others have said: when a predator discovers a source of food, they will keep coming back as long as that food is available. I've had very rare issues with hawks---maybe 3 attempts in the last 8 years. But then starting this summer there are hawks in the woods really going after my chickens. I'm not sure if it's the same hawk or what, but I've had two near-miss "drive bys" and then sadly about two weeks ago I went inside for a few minutes (I normally stand outside and do yard work while my chickens free range because of being so close to the woods) and in that time a hawk flew down and killed one of my Wynnedotes. (It then got trapped in the run and I had to help it get out---VERY MIXED FEELINGS, LITTLE HAWK!!).

I've been keeping them in their run--which is very spacious---for the last two weeks and have only been letting them out if I can really be with them the whole time.

I'm really sorry for your losses.

Something to consider if/when you go back to unsupervised free ranging is what kind of cover your chickens have. Bushes, chairs, tables, very tall grasses . . . do they have places they can easily go when they spot an aerial predator?

 

[PatriciafromCO]

do you have shelter in your open area? I have open buildings/ vehiclels/tractor/ wood piles/ equiptment and I do have a several roosters. I haven't seen any larger bird predators come to ground. Just standing outside I can see the shadow crossing over me as so do the birds to take cover under what is closet to them. And my dogs don't like the predator birds either if the do get low responding to noises of the rooster and the hens.

 

[Folly's place]

All good advice already!
We have a secure coop/ run combination, and do free range at times. When we have a hawk visitation, the survivors are on lockdown for at least ten to fourteen days, or longer, until that hawk moves on elsewhere.
Our first hawk problem, long ago, involved loosing one young bird every third day, until we figured out what was happening. Learning the hard way, for us and our surviving birds.
Even a small covered run will protect your birds from raptors, although a really safe run is more important for ground predator protection.
Mary

 

[Bawkbok]

I've discovered there is a certain cadence to the appearance of the hawks. I spend probably far too much time outside with the chickens while they forage because I won't leave them alone - we have no rooster. If I have to go inside, they are returned to and locked in the run.

I have observed the hawks fly by early to mid mornings and mid afternoons, rarely in the evening an hour before roost time. You all may discover what the timing is of your predators and change the hours you're able to range your chickens. All animals seem habitual and schedules may vary a little but primarily are the same. Vultures are a common and frequent problem here more so than the hawks even and they are present at any time from sunrise to sunset so we are always vigilant.

Being with your chickens as they range is obviously not doable for most people due to other commitments and schedules so lock down is the best practice as mentioned by many others.

I'm sorry for your losses and all the losses of chickens experienced by anyone in this community. Wildlife is a beautiful thing and all are just trying to survive. It's not personal.