Hawk tried for a chicken

[Sue Gremlin]

There is a reason Red-Tail hawks are nicknamed chicken hawks. You cannot kill a hawk. When you free range chickens, you risk losing them to predators. Hawks, dogs, cats, raccoons, foxes, etc.

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

You could put up netting or plant more shrubs/bushes/ trees. I personally do not use netting. I have alot of predators and do not want to climb up to free it from netting. I let all my chickens free range (with roosters) and its rare a hawk gets them. Its been years since a hawk has killed a hen, but I do have hawks in all sizes that are flying above my property. I have tall weeds, wooded areas, trees, bushes, ect. All of this is fantastic coverage for them and its why I leave it "messy" looking around the coop and other areas that they like. Plant more things like that and it'll give your birds a place to hide from them and also a place to explore. I didn't know until last week that my chickens have made little tunnels in the weeds lol. Your birds will know also to instinctively run to these places for safety. My chickens rarely are out in the open.

*Edited: I also have a "safe place" that is covered by trees and fenced in around their coop. Obviously the door is open for the fence now since they free range, but it is a place they are safe from hawks.

 

[Folly's place]

When a raptor visits our chickens, the survivors are locked in their safe coop and run for two weeks, or so, until that hawk moves on. Most losses here have been young bantams, sometimes adult bantams, or young standard sized birds.
Free ranging always comes with risks!
Mary

 

[slordaz]

When a raptor visits our chickens, the survivors are locked in their safe coop and run for two weeks, or so, until that hawk moves on. Most losses here have been young bantams, sometimes adult bantams, or young standard sized birds.
Free ranging always comes with risks!
Mary

you do know chickens are raptors right, that kinda threw my as to why your chickens were attacking bantams lol. I should not read like type unless properly caffeinated

 

[Folly's place]

Chickens sometimes act like little velociraptors, but they actually aren't in that class.

 

[slordaz]

first time I found a broody, Jurrasic park came to mind, especially when she drew blood as was collecting coffee

 

[Firefly77]

those birds of prey can be quite the pain, I've seen a hawk go after a full grown hen and even small dogs or cats, theres been a lot of good suggestions here, but in the mean time while they are locked up here's some things to think about. They are used to being free ranged so are going to get bored cooped up, do you have enrichment in there or a run you can cover so they can go out for a bit unsupervised? you don't want them starting fights because they are bored either.

I have a lot of different things for them to do in the coop and its a pretty good size for there coop. Even though i could keep all 6 in a smaller one i like to make sure if they dont wanna be by each other then there is plenty of hay to scratch around, dirt to bathe in and lots of different height branchs to sit on. Even have some medal hanging baskets the big ones full of hay hanging around. I dont think they will get bored to easily. That and i try to hang there fresh favorites on on a string to peck around at. I haven't seen the hawk for a few days but i try to make sure someones gonna be lingering outside for there free ranging time.

 

[slordaz]

I have a lot of different things for them to do in the coop and its a pretty good size for there coop. Even though i could keep all 6 in a smaller one i like to make sure if they dont wanna be by each other then there is plenty of hay to scratch around, dirt to bathe in and lots of different height branchs to sit on. Even have some medal hanging baskets the big ones full of hay hanging around. I dont think they will get bored to easily. That and i try to hang there fresh favorites on on a string to peck around at. I haven't seen the hawk for a few days but i try to make sure someones gonna be lingering outside for there free ranging time.

always a good plan there, my chickens like to play tether ball with a lettuce or cabbage in a net while occasionally snacking on it lol

 

[varidgerunner]

I wish we had hawks dumb enough to attack chickens here. The Thai rooster that is yard boss right now is getting fat with all the feed I'm throwing to the free ranged chicks that hatched out in the woods. He could use the exercise. Of course there is not much chance the hawk would stay on the ground with the hens long enough for fat boy to get there.If hawks try and come up short they might try again. If they try and barely escape, and in fact don't escape intact (without significant loss of feathers and dignity) they usually don't come back. I found a chick dead once. There were hawk feathers everywhere.

But if you don't have chickens that are dangerous for hawks to attack, there are things you can do. Many have mentioned cover, that is important. You can also cut down any large dead trees or trees with bare horizontal limbs. Some species like to perch and survey. You can also encourage crows to hang out near you. Corn will do it. If you can provide a clump of pine trees and some food, and get the crows to nest near your chicken yard, it becomes very unattractive to hawks and owls. Not only do they openly harass them, they announce their every movement to their would-be prey, and make for a very poor hunting ground.