Hawk problem.....anyone know how long they will hang around?

[asolano76]

Two days ago a hawk got one of our best chickens. Since then he had been hanging around waiting in the tree closest to the coop waiting for the girls to come out. I have had them locked up since then, except to let them out to get to the water and spend a few minutes in the run at which time I stand with them and then herd them back into the coop. I was wondring if anyone knows how long he will continue to hang around if I don't let him get to them.....Will he eventually just go away? I have seen him less today. Please help!!

 

[A1 Steak Sauce]

As long as there's a potential meal for it that hawk won't go anywhere on its own...

 

[miss_thenorth]

Agreed. Is ther anyway you can keep the ladies in for about a week? I know it sucks for them, but the alternative is possibly losing another one or two.

 

[wombat]

Depends. Some hawks are migratory and some are not. If the hawks live in your area, they will make a habit of sticking around where they think they can find food.

If they are migratory, and just passing through, you may see them for 4-5 days before they move on.

If you are at the south end of their migratory journey, you'll have them until early spring.

 

[asolano76]

I am pretty sure it's a Red-Tailed Hawk, they are Migratory aren't they?

 

[vstoltzfus]

I just had a discussion about redtail hawks with a friend of mine yesterday. She's been raising free range layers for years. She said she had a problem with hawks (which got worse in winter when food was scarcer) until she changed the dimensions of her run. She said hawks need to "swoop" to get a hen, and while they'll come straight down from a tree branch above a run, they need to swoop to get back out. So she changed the dimensions of all her runs to make them square, so there wouldn't be room for the hawk to swoop. She hasn't had a problem since, even though she still sees the hawks around. I had a redtail hawk hanging around, and I hung old CD's across the top of my run with garden twine, where they spin and shine. No chickens lost (so far!).

 

[mdbokc]

Time to hang some CDs up and put on a light show.

 

[ssteiner]

Is your run too big to cover? My run is covered and it really allows me to relax when the girls are out during the day. Even bird netting, which is not secure against climbing predators, will keep out hawks.

The other day, I heard the girls talking up a storm, not at all pleased, and when I went outside saw a big Cooper's Hawk on my back wall, trying to figure out how to get into the run. If it hadn't been covered, he'd have had himself a warm lunch.

-Scott

 

[rhoda_bruce]

Stretch out some clothes line wire and cover with deer netting and/or join the NRA.

 

[Sillystunt]

Hawks you CAN NOT kill! Do not do so...............

I second the cd's!!!! I hear it totally works. I have fish hawks like every block, red tail and eagles. i am lucky that i have not had a problem but my dog is a deterant!! THANK GOD!!!