Hawks and Full grown Chickens?

[Trish1974]

Red tailed hawks, yes, they definitely will kill your adult chickens. Red SHOULDERED hawks, no. They prey on small mammals, snakes and frogs. From my experience, I've had more problems with eagles than hawks, contrary to what the majority of other threads have said. I have seen peregrine falcons fly over as well as red tails that didn't even look twice at my neighbors flock, but I have seen Cooper's hawks start to dive bomb chickens then retreat at the last minute when they realize the chickens are bigger than they are.

 

[duluthralphie]

Red tailed hawks, yes, they definitely will kill your adult chickens. Red SHOULDERED hawks, no. They prey on small mammals, snakes and frogs. From my experience, I've had more problems with eagles than hawks, contrary to what the majority of other threads have said. I have seen peregrine falcons fly over as well as red tails that didn't even look twice at my neighbors flock, but I have seen Cooper's hawks start to dive bomb chickens then retreat at the last minute when they realize the chickens are bigger than they are.

I also have more problems with Eagles than hawks, the red tail are a pain, but I have more eagles in this area. The other hawk if the Kestrel that causes me grief but only on baby chicks. When I free range I end up with a few broodies that steal nests and hatch them. Their chicks are in danger.

 

[duluthralphie]

Thank You Staff. Whomever you were.

 

[diggstown]

I have lost a silkie rooster and a silkie hen to a hawk. Great to know about the fishing line!!! Making a web now!!

 

[baskiely]

Yes, they will eat full grown chickens right there on the spot. Younger ones will be carried away and eaten away from the Rooster, but if they are big, the Hawk will swoop in, kill it by ripping the head off and then will eat as much as it can before the Rooster is too much of a threat/annoyance. To answer your other question, they will eat the entire bird, just not at once.. If you leave it and don't "clean it up" the hawk will come back and most likely with a friend.. they will eat the entire bird.

Owls do not work, we've tried and we move it ever day. Scaring them away does not work.. Roosters attacking them does not work. The game commission will not help.

I told my kids not to get attached to these chickens but alas, they named them and we have lost over 20 chickens in the past 3 years to hawks.