Hawk stalk.. ideas for deterrent

[JulieBeth07]

I've got a hawk seriously stalking my girls. I know they've been around but he's getting closer and closer. Today I was out on my afternoon water and treat check... was out longer than normal having to refill the feeder can... and there it was. Its been hanging out over by my house and he's now hanging out in a live oak tree in my run. I was thinking of stringing maybe some cds almost like a garland from one side of the run back and forth?

Any ideas or tips would be great. I attached a pic of our setup. They're out in the fenced area during the day...

 

[Folly's place]

Lock them in their safe area for at least two weeks, or longer, until this hawk leaves. Add to your run space by building a covered run; for raptors, good bird netting will do.
You can try the deterrents, but none of them will work for very long.
Mary

 

[cmom]

I agree with Mary. Maybe you can section off a portion of their area and cover it. I used some good heavy duty netting. It was kind of a pain to put up but I know the birds are safe from aerial predators. Good luck...
https://www.amazon.com/Aviary-Netti...1599745457&sprefix=aviary+nett,aps,228&sr=8-6
This is the netting I used.

 

[JulieBeth07]

Thanks for the info! Trying to keep my birds safe! I know they'll never go away, and I'm not sure they'll forget the birds are there. We have a couple of other chicken people out here and the hawks have seemed to leave them alone. They're all free rangers.. but I think this hawk is apart of the babies that were born this spring. Its been so hot here too that we haven't had much of anything roaming around. But it's a cool 86/feels like 98 today... so I think they're starting to come out of the woodwork so to speak.

 

[Folly's place]

Hawks won't waste their time in fruitless waiting, so you need to make their efforts fail for a long enough time to matter. Youngsters can and do starve their first year if they don't get smart enough to find food, and can't afford to wait too long for your chickens to be available.
Younger, smaller chickens are most at risk, depending on the raptor species, and a young hawk might try any chicken, and fail, but it's still going to be very bad for that chicken!
Mary

 

[JulieBeth07]

Hawks won't waste their time in fruitless waiting, so you need to make their efforts fail for a long enough time to matter. Youngsters can and do starve their first year if they don't get smart enough to find food, and can't afford to wait too long for your chickens to be available.
Younger, smaller chickens are most at risk, depending on the raptor species, and a young hawk might try any chicken, and fail, but it's still going to be very bad for that chicken!
Mary

It's a red-tailed hawk. Thank you so much for all the info. Some of the younger girls are small enough I think he may be able to get but I don't want him to mess with any of them. I know he'll put a hurting on anyone he targets.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I have hawks and eagles so when I let my girls out I’m right out there with them. My neighbor didn’t take any precautions and has lost many birds over the last two years. She’s more attentive now and the hawks are beginning to learn there’s no chicken dinner for them. Either cover their “ranging” area or keep them locked up.

 

[JulieBeth07]

I agree with Mary. Maybe you can section off a portion of their area and cover it. I used some good heavy duty netting. It was kind of a pain to put up but I know the birds are safe from aerial predators. Good luck...
https://www.amazon.com/Aviary-Netting-Heavy-Knotted-Poultry/dp/B012L9ZIFE/ref=sr_1_6?crid=9ZLJ1X5SE4F1&dchild=1&keywords=aviary+netting&qid=1599745457&sprefix=aviary+nett,aps,228&sr=8-6
This is the netting I used.View attachment 2327633

What did you use as a support for this?

 

[cmom]

Thanks for the info! Trying to keep my birds safe! I know they'll never go away, and I'm not sure they'll forget the birds are there. We have a couple of other chicken people out here and the hawks have seemed to leave them alone. They're all free rangers.. but I think this hawk is apart of the babies that were born this spring. Its been so hot here too that we haven't had much of anything roaming around. But it's a cool 86/feels like 98 today... so I think they're starting to come out of the woodwork so to speak.

As far as you know they haven't lost any chickens. When you free range, it's just a matter of time. Eventually most people who free range will loose birds.

 

[cmom]

What did you use as a support for this?

All of my pens are covered. It was no east task but I did it.