Hawk issues..how do i stop them?

[Alecia Davidshofer]

One of girls was attacked on our porch yesterday she was paralazyed in fear she couldnt move after that. She died last nightsooo SAD!! BALLED my eyes out.....how do stop them? Fishing line,cds? Live on 5 acres and my girls hate not free ranging...literally hate me if i dont let them out side of the run. Beautiful sussex is with the creator now....

 

[sunflour]

So sorry about your loss .

There's no protection for a free ranging flock.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Sorry for your loss.

As sunflour said there is no protection for free ranging. A rooster might help save the girls but he would probably die trying. Still a loss either way.

Any sort of decoy used has to be moved constantly. And even then they generally don't work. It's the unfortunate risk of free ranging.

 

[(chicken pun)]

Losing a chicken is a really hard thing to go through, I know this from experience... Sadly there is no to prevent hawk attacks on free range chickens but I recommend keeping your chickens in the coop for a few days after a hawk attack/sighting, I hope this helps.

 

[Molpet]

my dog will chase the hawks.. unfortunately he is getting old and sleeps too soundly..
nothing other than a covered run seems to work for me

 

[Alecia Davidshofer]

Has anyone tried the chicken aaprons with the eyes sewn on the back? Guess ill have to make a investment and order a buntch of aviary netting...man i miss my girl

 

[Molpet]

Has anyone tried the chicken aaprons with the eyes sewn on the back? Guess ill have to make a investment and order a buntch of aviary netting...man i miss my girl

ummm no I haven't.. might be worth a shot

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

You can make your own saddles with eyes to try it. There are some no sew ones.

You could just glue the eyes on.

I use game bird netting. Like this...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00X...rd+netting&dpPl=1&dpID=51K9XXnKGHL&ref=plSrch

You want the slightly thicker with the knots at the intersections. Not much bigger then a sparrow fits through. It will break if it gets too heavy a load on it. (Someone I know used it and wild grape vines took it down) But I've had no problem with mine.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Sorry for your loss. Anything that will disrupt the flight path can deter hawks. They survey the landscape for the best easiest prey to go after, if their flight path of attack is disrupted then they will select another target. They have to have a flight path to swoop down for the attack and an escape route....it is their nature and thought of grabbing and flying off with their prey. If it proves to be too heavy, then they will remain and eat where the attack occurred or the drop after trying to fly. I have fences and they are arranged so that the area between them is only open in 1 direction...plus there are buildings and trees that provide cover and flight disruption. The chickens and ducks respond to each others warnings and will seek shelter. Something to be aware of is, this is mating season for many hawks, especially redtails...this means that they will have young to provide for come December and January and will be searching for extra meals. Something that is cheap and can be a deterrant is some 3/4" schd 40 PVC with a 4 or 5 way connector on top with 3-4' pcs placed into the top connector....it resembles an old metal clothes line of yrs gone by, or a kind of antenna....I've used them 5-6' tall, I'm 6'2" so it is easier to walk around or thru them....but ya only need to put them 10-15' apart.....I put a pc about 10" long of 1.25" in the ground and remove the dirt inside tbe pipe with a screwdriver and reinsert the pc in the hole, then put insert the other into the pipe pc. If it is free to move and spin it will also rock a little bit, so if a hawk or heavy bird lands on it, it will move and they will fly off....if it is windy and they spin, then they won't land on it moving. Anything that gives the impression that there isn't an easy meal will make them choose something else that is less complicated to get to....

 

[Alecia Davidshofer]

Sorry for your loss. Anything that will disrupt the flight path can deter hawks. They survey the landscape for the best easiest prey to go after, if their flight path of attack is disrupted then they will select another target. They have to have a flight path to swoop down for the attack and an escape route....it is their nature and thought of grabbing and flying off with their prey. If it proves to be too heavy, then they will remain and eat where the attack occurred or the drop after trying to fly. I have fences and they are arranged so that the area between them is only open in 1 direction...plus there are buildings and trees that provide cover and flight disruption. The chickens and ducks respond to each others warnings and will seek shelter. Something to be aware of is, this is mating season for many hawks, especially redtails...this means that they will have young to provide for come December and January and will be searching for extra meals. Something that is cheap and can be a deterrant is some 3/4" schd 40 PVC with a 4 or 5 way connector on top with 3-4' pcs placed into the top connector....it resembles an old metal clothes line of yrs gone by, or a kind of antenna....I've used them 5-6' tall, I'm 6'2" so it is easier to walk around or thru them....but ya only need to put them 10-15' apart.....I put a pc about 10" long of 1.25" in the ground and remove the dirt inside tbe pipe with a screwdriver and reinsert the pc in the hole, then put insert the other into the pipe pc. If it is free to move and spin it will also rock a little bit, so if a hawk or heavy bird lands on it, it will move and they will fly off....if it is windy and they spin, then they won't land on it moving. Anything that gives the impression that there isn't an easy meal will make them choose something else that is less complicated to get to....

Meow!!