Hawk!

[Annalyse]

Okay so in the morning I let my chickens out of the coop and run to free range while I get everything set for the day for them and then they go back into the coop. Usually 30min-1 hour, with me watching them at all times. Well my rooster and I have seen a hawk fly by in the sky once or twice. I know I need to watch the hawk and make sure nothing happens to my girls but Any ideas on to keep them safe when my back is turned to grab something?

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

I would just keep them in a covered run for now. There is no way, NO WAY to keep a hawk away from birds besides a roof. They are smart, stealthy, and insanely fast. Nothing will keep them away, heck sometimes they will ever just sit on top of covered runs because they can’t find a way in.

 

[Annalyse]

I would just keep them in a covered run for now. There is no way, NO WAY to keep a hawk away from birds besides a roof. They are smart, stealthy, and insanely fast. Nothing will keep them away, heck sometimes they will ever just sit on top of covered runs because they can’t find a way in.

Thank you. Should I maybe put a net over the fenced in area I have for them to range in. I also stand in it so it would have to be tall

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

Thank you. Should I maybe put a net over the fenced in area I have for them to range in. I also stand in it so it would have to be tall

I would put a strong net over top, that sounds like a good idea. If you need it to be taller, tall posts in the ground work nicely. Like a tent sort of.

 

[Annalyse]

I would put a strong net over top, that sounds like a good idea. If you need it to be taller, tall posts in the ground work nicely. Like a tent sort of.

Thank you. I guess well see what happens lol

 

[cmom]

I have good heavy duty netting covering my pens. I have had a hawk kill a bird not 10 feet away from me. It didn't carry it off but it did kill it. It happened really fast. All netting is not the same. I had an owl go through some crappy netting I bought and kill some birds. I replaced the crappy netting with some good heavy duty netting and the owl tried again but got caught. I had moved the remaining birds in this coop to another coop and put up a game camera. My fences are 5' high.
https://www.amazon.com/Aviary-Netting-Heavy-Knotted-Poultry/dp/B012L9ZIFE/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1N6C97HOGTTEO&dchild=1&keywords=aviary+netting&qid=1595255701&sprefix=aviary+net,aps,287&sr=8-6
Here is the owl going through the crappy netting.

 

[Annalyse]

I have good heavy duty netting covering my pens. I have had a hawk kill a bird not 10 feet away from me. It didn't carry it off but it did kill it. It happened really fast. All netting is not the same. I had an owl go through some crappy netting I bought and kill some birds. I replaced the crappy netting with some good heavy duty netting and the owl tried again but got caught. I had moved the remaining birds in this coop to another coop and put up a game camera. My fences are 5' high.
https://www.amazon.com/Aviary-Netting-Heavy-Knotted-Poultry/dp/B012L9ZIFE/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1N6C97HOGTTEO&dchild=1&keywords=aviary+netting&qid=1595255701&sprefix=aviary+net,aps,287&sr=8-6
Here is the owl going through the crappy netting.
View attachment 2253591View attachment 2253594

Thank you. We are going to figure something out. I heard that fake owls and scarecrows help
I've always had a scarecrow by the coop and I think I have a fake owl so we're going to try that as well. I just dont want to wait to see if the hawk will come. I'd rather be prepared ya know

 

[cmom]

Fake owls don't work. @aart has a picture in her BYC album of a hawk on top of a fake owl.

 

[Annalyse]

Fake owls don't work. @aart has a picture in her BYC album of a hawk on top of a fake owl.

Oh thank you. Yea I think were gonna do 2 layers of netting. Just so when I'm out with them and i have to grab something i dont come back to missing or dead chicken.