Hawk threat

[WhatsUpDuck]

We've had 1 hawk attack so far, and thank God that our dogs were outside! Our grown dog actually chased it off. It got away from her, but it has not returned. I will say our two roosters at the time were guarding their hens while the dog attacked! The main roo in the run ran his girls into the coop while the free range rooster was guarding the gate. They were NOT going to stand down! Really the only way to not have any aerial attacks is having a roof/netting for them to stay under. It is a risk when they are free ranging, but they are fast and know naturally to run for cover and away. If you have chicks or young pullets they are more likely to get taken.

 

[TinyChickin]

We have red tailed hawks where I live, and I've lost a lot of chickens to them over the years. A good rooster will deter them, as will a goose, but they might still hunt your flock. I've found that tying up sparkly streamers (my chicken yard looks like a disco party it's hilarious) seems to keep them away. Plus I have a fake owl that i move every few days.

Coopers hawk are not big enough to carry an adult chicken

Hawks don't always carry a chicken off, I've found bodies in my chicken yard that were definitely killed by hawks. Not trying to be discouraging at all (the more free range the better) just trying to share my experience and what works for me down here in south TN

 

[McChooky]

I hadn't thought of the presence of roosters as a deterrent to hawks. I have a few of them. Thanks for mentioning that.

Your eggs would be fertile too so you could hatch chicks

 

[McChooky]

We have red tailed hawks where I live, and I've lost a lot of chickens to them over the years. A good rooster will deter them, as will a goose, but they might still hunt your flock. I've found that tying up sparkly streamers (my chicken yard looks like a disco party it's hilarious) seems to keep them away. Plus I have a fake owl that i move every few days.

Hawks don't always carry a chicken off, I've found bodies in my chicken yard that were definitely killed by hawks. Not trying to be discouraging at all (the more free range the better) just trying to share my experience and what works for me down here in south TN

100% true.They kill them and tear strips of meat off and feed their chicks.I rarely see hawks around here because we have crows nearby but I've seen them circling overhead recently.I've never lost one to a hawk but I don't live in an open area.My home sits under the canopy of trees so they can't see my chickens unless the trees are bare( like now)

 

[Folly's place]

We have lost birds, including a standard sized hen, to Cooper's hawks here. Keep you birds in a covered run, and that includes the time these hatchlings are learning to hunt!
Spend some time enlarging your run, this is good motivation for that project!
Roosters are good at giving alerts, but will die when attacked just like hens. Smaller birds and youngsters are most at risk, but really none of them are completely safe. And in spring when migrating birds might carry avian influenza are passing overhead and landing close, having the chickens under cover is best anyway.
Mary

 

[RGS Minnow]

I just discovered a coolers hawk nest in my back yard area. I’ve seen them mate twice today so I’m sure they’re building the nest and having babies. How much concern should I have? Will they stay for long? I always give my girls about an hour of free range time each night. Should I stop this? Tell me what I need to know please and thank you!!

The Cooper's hawks that nested near me a few years ago did scare the regular sized hens a few times but are too small to carry them off. Now, a poor silkie we had was not so lucky in that the male hawk (always smaller than the female) got her twice in one day but was unable to carry her away. The silkie was named Drama after that...
Rock squirrels and other rodents are much more desirable prey for the hawks. Just keep an eye on your chickens and enjoy the evenings!
Also, first time nesting hawks are much more territorial than experienced nesters. I was swooped several times but the dogs were fine.

 

[Mark Park]

I just discovered a coolers hawk nest in my back yard area. I’ve seen them mate twice today so I’m sure they’re building the nest and having babies. How much concern should I have? Will they stay for long? I always give my girls about an hour of free range time each night. Should I stop this? Tell me what I need to know please and thank you!!

I assume your run is open to the sky and the hawk can swoop in and grab a chicken.

If you can put some netting across the top it will keep it out. If you cannot, crisscross some fishing line across the top. The first time it tries to fly in and gets surprised will be its last.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I assume your run is open to the sky and the hawk can swoop in and grab a chicken.

If you can put some netting across the top it will keep it out. If you cannot, crisscross some fishing line across the top. The first time it tries to fly in and gets surprised will be its last.

I agree that netting or some sort of chicken wire or welded wire situated across the top of the run would work. I also think that the lines of string criss-crossing the run can be conspicuous and still may work as a deterrent. My grandfather taught me to use string that is used to hold hay bales together. I would tie them together, tie one end to the wire fence, string it across my garden space, and tie the other end to the fence to discourage crows from scratching up seeds and eating garden plants and their fruit. It works pretty well. Birds don't seem to want to risk getting tangled up in string or vines. I think that the use of fishing line can increase the likelihood of a hawk getting temporarily caught in the fishing line and possibly injured. Personally, I would not want a pissed off and injured raptor falling into my chinckens' run. This is me thinking aloud on the topic.