Hawks Alive!!!!!

[Gone to the birds!]

Gone to the Birds Guy here. I am bummed that we lost our first feather baby to a Red tail hawk yesterday. Also bummed that my boys had to witness and handle it ...while I was not home. They managed to get the rest of the flock to safety and then chased the big Raptor off with brooms. My query for the day is ....how do I deter the return of the Hawk? Here is my plan for your review: a. Placed an Owl decoy and will move it around the yard. b. Keep the flock locked in the run for a few days- no access for the hawk. c. Have a air horn handy for use when I see the culprit perched on my neighbors house. d. Going to expand the run and maybe give up on free range in the yard. e. Hang reflector scare away tape from the trees and other spots around the yard.
Another concern we have now....is that we cannot let out our mini Bernedoodle pup....she is on the small size and would not stand a chance against the Flying Threat.
Really missing my border collie mutt these days as he was such a good boy with the chickens and would not let anything get near them. I think his smell and presence deterred pretty much every predator. :-( ........ Our doodle is a good for nothing on the farm. LOL

 

[DobieLover]

The hawk will be back. All of your tactics to deter it are temporary at best.
The only thing that is sure fire hawk protection is a secure run.
Yours is not large enough for continual confinement. But you should keep them confined for at least a week as the hawk will be back soon to make another attempt.
I would try to triple the size of that run.
Good luck and so sorry for your loss.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Anything stopping you from getting another good yard dog to protect your birds?

 

[Gone to the birds!]

Anything stopping you from getting another good yard dog to protect your birds?

Not ready yet. Our Kodi dog was a sweet boy but he had a brain tumor at 2 years and it was traumatic......that is why I went for the complete opposite breed and size dog for the family. But we will consider in time.

 

[LizzzyJo]

I am so sorry. My heart goes out to you. This just happened to me recently. My dog had been feeling sick, so in the house for a few days instead of out with the free rangers. She’s German shepherXborder collie. The hawk killed my hen and returned later that day after I’d buried her.

I kept them confirmed for a month. I felt terrible every day. After I was sure that I didn’t see the hawks on the property for that one month then I started dusk free ranging with supervision. Then I went to dog supervised free ranging with me making an appearance every half hour or so.

I am confident that I will lose a chicken again. This is # 2 but for different reasons. I still believe that free ranging is the best, most ethical decision (for me and my property). It is not the best for some others. I have very low predation. But low is not none.

Again I am so sorry.

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry!
Keep your birds in for two weeks, at least, and longer is better. Your hawk will be back, but may give up if there's no dinner coming soon.
Your children did great! Good for them, it's a learning experience.
Tiny dogs are at risk, for sure, from many different predators. Coyotes will take them too, in fenced yards in daylight sometimes.
You can try stringing reflector tape across your yard, but most other 'scare items' do fail, and money is better spent on that larger safer run space.
All the best,
Mary

 

[Gone to the birds!]

I am so sorry. My heart goes out to you. This just happened to me recently. My dog had been feeling sick, so in the house for a few days instead of out with the free rangers. She’s German shepherXborder collie. The hawk killed my hen and returned later that day after I’d buried her.

I kept them confirmed for a month. I felt terrible every day. After I was sure that I didn’t see the hawks on the property for that one month then I started dusk free ranging with supervision. Then I went to dog supervised free ranging with me making an appearance every half hour or so.

I am confident that I will lose a chicken again. This is # 2 but for different reasons. I still believe that free ranging is the best, most ethical decision (for me and my property). It is not the best for some others. I have very low predation. But low is not none.

Again I am so sorry.

Yes we have a similar environment it is normally very safe....but as you say....low is no. I am going to expand their run for now and supervise more closely.

 

[aart]

b. Keep the flock locked in the run for a few days- no access for the hawk.

For longer..... Build a bigger run as @DobieLover suggests.

a. Placed an Owl decoy and will move it around the yard.

Nope.

 

[imnukensc]

The owl decoy (as noted in aart's reply) and the reflector tape will be a waste of money and effort. The air horn may work for awhile.

 

[Sheltiepawz]

No tips following your post for ideas. I am so sorry you lost one of your babies!!! Your chickens are beautifu! I can’t imagine how upsetting that was for your kids. Mine would be very upset.

We had a hawk crashing into the windows of our coop trying to get the babies when they were six weeks old. It was the fall and I was hoping it was migratory hawks moving through. The hawk was unsuccessful that day thankfully, but unfortunately I have seen the pair every day since then. Apparently, they nest very close by. So far, we have been lucky with supervised free range 3pm and after. I have not seen them after this time period.