hawks and chickens

[BlackBart]

Quote:
A Red Tailed Hawk killed my Silver Spangled Hamburg, Suzette, 50 feet from me. Snapped her neck.

 

[EggsForIHOP]

I know the neighbors lost their MEAN rooster to a hawk - one of them saw it happen, not sure if she was out there or not. But she was pretty devastated and I know for a fact the only thing that ever saved that roo from the crock pot was his ability to keep the hens safe...until the hawks started picking them off. Seems they got 2 of their hens, then the roo, then a few more hens until they quit free ranging all together. I t was like once they found easy pickin's they just wouldn't stop....I take minimal chances with our babies - they are on lock down unless we are outside and armed! Anything swoops down to steal a chicken will be shot and all questions asked later. Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug! That's how I feel about it...

 

[bakohens]

As I live in the city, I didn't think I would have a problem with hawks, but I was proven wrong this past spring. While I was sitting on my porch eating breakfast, my two dogs were at my feet and the girls were at the bottom of the porch, scratching in the dirt beside the lavender. A red-shouldered hawk swooped down not five feet from me and tried to get one of the girls. The dogs didn't even notice, and it took me a moment to register what was happening. The girls dived into the lavender and were safe although it took awhile for them to realize that the coast was clear (it was somewhat amusing seeing them pop out the lavender when they finally realized that they were safe). A couple of days later while I was raking the yard, the hawk came back to do fly by. I'm sure my neighbors thought I was a crazy person when I lifted the rake to the heavens and yelled obscenities. I haven't had a problem since, but it wouldn't surprise me if he or one of his buddies came back. I let the girls free range and hopefully they have plenty of cover on my city lot.

 

[Lbrad7]

The hawks around my house are not afraid to take a chicken right in front of you. I was on my tractor at the barn with bush hot in tow when a Red Tail hawk swooped down and broke the neck of one of my naked necks right in front of me. The noise of the tractor or the fact that I was sitting on it didn't seem to faze it at all.

 

[sixsisters]

I watched a Cooper's hawk (I believe) attack one of my rather large Ameraucana crosses. It was fascinating (frightening) to watch (Jackie Chan made it through without injury and is doing fine to this day). I was standing about 10 feet away- the hawk *so* didn't care, until I pitch a rock at it. Then if flew away (about 10 yards) and landed on a mesquite and waited. So I pitched another rock. We had a dog, albeit older dog, in the yard at the time. Ever since we got our girls, the visible predator count has gone up. More coyotes, bobcats and constant fly overs (some landing on our chain link) by hawks. I love predators and I love my girls, so we took measures to secure the coop/run. When the girls are in the run they are perfectly safe. When they are out and about in the yard, it's survival of the fittest. As long as they are in the run for the very early part of the morning, things have been ok. That's when we've seen/dealt with the majority of our predators. Good luck! and make it as safe as you can for your flock. Once the predators catch on, I've experienced it's only a matter of time before they attempt a kill. I (and Jackie Chan) was lucky that I was home when it happened.

 

[Nostalchic]

We have a lot of redtail hawks in this area, living and nesting nearby, and I have never (in the 18 months I've had chickens here in Colorado) lost a chicken to one, nor seen any hawk seriously staking them out. I don't have a cover on my run, and my hens do free range in pasture most of the day. I know I seem to be in the minority on this subject - not sure whether this is a regional difference in hawk size/prey preferences... Our pasture is pretty open. We do have dogs that are protective, but they are not always in the pasture. I don't let youngsters out to free range, though, because of hawks. Eagles... I would worry more about them, though they rarely fly over our place. Just my experience...