Hawk Solution-Will it work???

[charlotteda]

Okay... that was funny...

 

[Oosik]

I came home from work one day to see a really strange bird in my coop. It turned out to be a falcon munching on one of my girls. The other chickens were just walking around like nothing odd was going on. For about a second I thought about getting a shotgun but then I thought about the fine for shooting a federally protected bird and for firing a gun in the city and decided that really wasn't a good option. I approached the falcon and he started to fly off with the dead chicken but couldn't get it out of the six feet high dog run I had the chickens in. He eventually just abandoned the bird and left. I then put the cheapest plastic mesh over the run and it has worked for nearly two years.

 

[HappyHatch'en]

We learn from doing and what we can afford...what works for some, won't work for others. There is no way of determine what needs to be done except to do something.
The least expensive would be the rope strung back and forth...on it i would tie plastic bags every 4 feet. Flying predators have amazing eye sight and the rope/bags might be enough to discourage them...if not wire the roof. I see were pheasant flight pens are completely netted, but I'm sure that is to keep the birds in first and predators out second.
It is only natural, however, for the hawk to desire a chicken cooped up...making it easy prey. Like a landfill, we need it... but not in my backyard...it's just your turn to feed the hawk maybe....Good Luck
HappyHatch'en

 

[pasta514]

I do not have a HUGE hawk problem, but live in an urban area where I see hawks circling overhead daily; at least during the summer. I have had a few times found a hawk perched nearby watching my hens. Fortunately the hens have plenty of hiding spaces under shrubs in the garden. I would see a hawk circling high then seems like they would come in for a closer look.

Due to the heat in the summer I string up triangular shade sails, which provide some visual barrier to raptors. But in the winter I need to let the sun in for the garden. After taking down the sails the yard felt pretty exposed.

Similar to an earlier post, I did some research and decided to string twine from fence to fence and from house to fence, making a web of flight-path deterrents. The key to making it effective to to make the mesh 3D; varying the heights of the strings rather than making it like a thin net and running the strings at random angles.

The raptors eyesight and depth perception is exceptional so as noted earlier they won't attack unless they have a predetermined escape path. Either that or they are just really bold.

I used about 3000 feet of sisal twine to cover my 30x60 backyard. Cost under $10. I still see the hawks circling high, but since putting up the mesh haven't had a single incidence of someone coming for a closer look, despite the lack of shade sails.

Either that or it's just a seasonal thing. Maybe they will be back in the spring... ??