Hawk stole a young chicken! How to deter them?

[bigdaddydave]

I bought deer netting (large one 7 bucks Walmart) and made aviary over the entire back part of my yard after three attacks and one killing of mine. I also bought tons of the square on Amazon like reflecting mirrors and used string and put all over the tress and bushes and fence line with decoy owls and motion sirens with flashing lights (solar powered) on edge of roof and hen house run area and high in trees where they sit and wait to deter them! With prayers has been effective! I also put falcon decoys out! I move the decoys every few days!

The guy i bought my older hens from just had bright colored string (orange or pink from home depot $10 ) and he crisscrossed it over his run area which was across his whole back yard and 15 ft wide. A hawk or owl will not land if they do not have a good exit flight. He also hung blank silver cds randomly so they catch the light and move in the breeze. That being said when he first did this a couple years ago he just had straight rows of string and after a year or so when the sun faded the string he came out one day to find the neighborhood hawk in his run on top of one of his hens. So thats when he did the crisscross method. I have had his hens for 6 months and have raised 16 biddies who are about the size of the 2 and 3 yr olds and we have had no problem so far. We let them free range the back yard almost every afternoon(100 by 100) We have two neighborhood hawks fly over the yard several times. And we have a few neighborhood owls. I have 3 of the young ones who somehow keep getting on top of the run to roost under the maple tree lol and i fear for them at night from the owls. Hope you find a solution that helps. God bless all y'all and your chickens.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I hate to tell you but my very large RIR have been attacked by 3 red tails and a cooper's hawk they are 2 year old! Hawks will attack large hens and they will continue to seek easy prey. There's tons of oaks around me with pecan trees and squirrels they choose easy prey of large slower unsuspecting hens even small dogs! Please beware!! My RIR are not social they have ganged up and beat my miniature pincer dog fighting over fresh fruit! Do not think hawks will pass on them! Twice while I was standing in yard. Also twice this year two attempts to dive on my 7 pound miniature pincer dog!

I totally agree with you. They will take on a full size chicken or duck if they are hungry enough or have young to feed. I also have very strong deer fencing over my pen along with plastic poultry fencing in places and deer fencing all over my chain link sides that are six feet tall. I have poles with bottles on top of them to hold it all up and it works for me. Is it pretty? Absolutely not but do I care when I know my ducks that I love are safe, again, absolutely not. Good luck with whatever setup you go with.