Hawk in my yard for 2 weeks- afraid he is after my chickens!

[deedra11]

I have had this huge hawk in my yard almost everyday for the last two weeks, and I'm sure he is after my chickens. I have 2 silkie's (one is a rooster) and 2 barred rock hens. My husband hung cd's all around the trees and & i'm wondering if there is anything else I can do that would help. A few days ago he was in a low branch eating a bird & staring at me through my kitchen window...almost like he was warning me- very creepy. I was thinking about getting one of those fake owls? I have been keeping my chickens cooped up in their run because i'm afraid, but I feel so bad for them. How long should I keep them locked up?

 

[ozark hen]

can't tell you what to do but I know what I would do. Good for you for hanging the cd's!

 

[Nicole01]

My neighbors chicken was attacked by a hawk 2 weeks ago. Luckily she was right there to scare the hawk away and save her chicken. Hawks see chickens as a nice meal! I won't free range mine unless I'm right there with them due to the hawks in my backyard.

 

[stoopid]

I have tried all that stuff, cd's, string all over the yard, fluorescent tape, noise, scarecrows, owls, everything. Except a dog.
Doesn't deter them in the least. Once they find the all-you-can-eat chicken buffet in your yard, it's hard to get them to leave.
And their favorite is Silkies, they don't even see it coming. You might want to trim that pouff on top if you don't mind the look, I have done it with all my birds that have big hair.
Good luck...

 

[Zonoma]

I can't say conclusively that this works all the time but I've noticed when we light a fire in the backyard firepit, the hawk leaves and the chickens are free to roam relatively safely. I still stay out there, though. Me and my dogs. Funny thing is that we aren't always a deterrent but that fire seems to be.

 

[Jobele]

Well, we use the race starter pistols that fire blanks....it sure scares the heck out of the hawks around here! The silkies are sitting ducks for a hawk....now the larger the chicken...the better defense they will have. I have actually seen a moma hen take a hawk on! She was defending her chicks.....and he backed down! I also play a radio and have it set on a talk show...so it sounds like humans are in the area. A hawk doesn't WANT to attack if he thinks he may get hurt! But, if he is hungry enough....he'll attack no matter what! But, he'll probably go after your silkies first, because he can just swoop down and pick them up and fly somewhere else to eat it. The heavier the chicken...the more trouble he'll have with flying away...thus, the more danger for the hawk. I have also used some of the bull horns (the kind that people use at football games) that make loud screeching sounds. You can buy them on ebay. When you honk one of those everything flys away

Hope that helps!

 

[silky ma]

I dont know how big of an yard you have but birds of pray prefer to swoop down, nab prey and fly off in a straight pattern. What I have done is picked up a bunch of 9 foot or larger umbrellas and placed them as if they were trees. I have blocked all straight line access into and out of my yard. I have had no problems since doing this.

 

[Zonoma]

Quote:
I LOVE THAT IDEA! It's so logical, too. Why didn't I think of it? Do you have pictures so we can see?

 

[gpwelding1]

Quote:

now that is a good,legal way to deal with a hawk!or any other "protected" bird of prey for that matter!im going to try that myself.
but you dont have to buy them on ebay now.walmart sells them in the fishing/boating section.

 

[Bizzybirdy]

Be very careful...a big hawk swooped to get one of my pullets today and, when my brave White Rock rooster ran to intercept, it killed him instantly.

Never had a problem with hawks until recently, and this one has NERVE...am so upset. I like the umbrella idea but cannot afford to buy all those.