Hawks and how to stop them!

[aldarita]

I have 2 "hawk shelters" and planted several bushes in hopes that they will provide hiding places for my chickens. The bushes are still small but they grow fast, in the meantime I placed the hawk shelters in different places where the area is more opened. So far I only let them free range when I am out with them. Right now the hawk season is over for a while, I have only seen a couple that are nesting in the back field, they fly around but I am always able to scare them away. It is amazing when I read in this post about how quickly they can get to their target even when we are around.

 

[Triple Willow]

I was thinking about hawk problems today ...I wonder if turkey or crow decoys placed out where the chickens are free ranging would deter a hawk? Has anybody tried that?

 

[quigley257]

I know for sure that several species of hawks love to dine on young turkeys, so I doubt that would deter them at all. My experience with decoys is that they MIGHT work once, but with incredible binocular vision, you aren't going to fool any of the birds of prey with a non-moving hunk of plastic, regardless of how "real" it appears to human eyes. I have seen pigeons perching on owl decoys not long after they were placed in strategic spots on a farm.

 

[Triple Willow]

Well, unless egg and chick eating became a problem maybe attracting crows would be the answer for some people. I don't know, you might be trading one problem for another. But, if I had to choose between having crows or hawks and owls - I would choose to have the crows.

http://crowbusters.com/facts.htm

 

[okmarge]

I lost my first group of chickens to hawks last Christmas. I was away for the weekend.
The hawks entered the outside coop through the top and chased the chickens into the roosting area inside the chicken house. It was a feathery mess in there. I was so devastated. I found the chicken carcases in the yard near by. They hawks came back later to claim them. I believe it was the two hawks I saw casing the area a few days before.
Since then I have a covered outdoor coop. it was my fault as I had plenty of warnings from other chicken owners. Hawks hunt during the day. I do not let my chickens out of the coop until evening when I am home. I do have sagebrush around the coop which can give the chickens some protection.
Now my problem is birds eating the chicken feed!

 

[coffeychicks]

So in my area we have hawks bad. My best solution has been a wildlife flare. Bird bangers. Does no harm but scares the hawk. Also scares the chickens but they are alive. So far zero attacks on my girls

 

[JenifferHartman]

http://www.fws.gov/permits/

This is a form to apply for a permit to kill migratory birds if they are causing loss of personal property (livestock, poultry).
Some common misconceptions:
1.  It is illegal to kill hawks and owls.  False.. If you have a permit it is legal.
2.  It is illegal to harass birds of prey.  It is not illegal and you must show that you have tried to harass birds before a permit would be issued.
3.  You will go to jail and receive a $10,000 fine if you kill a hawk or owl.  False.. It is actually a Class B Misdeamenor and fines can be a small as $50 with no jail time.

 

[spainterrd]

I've had a hawk fly over our yard the past two mornings. Spooked the hens (20 weeks old) badly. I'm upset too. Hoping to find some solutions here.

 

[Fentress]

My theory on hawks. If you have experienced,hawk wise adult chickens, then the hawk needs to execute an ambush in order to have a successful kill. Otherwise, if the chickens get any type of alert, then it is game on and they will out manuever the hawk. That is why if there is a hawk that has been hanging around, I keep my birds away from the tree line, at least 100 feet. Make the hawk fly over an open area so your chickens can see him. My experience has been mainly with Red Tails. A fence works to the hawks advantage, because it restricts the possible movements, avenues of escape, that your chickens have. Give them as much room as possible. I've lost 3 chickens in a 1.5 years, and acceptable price to pay for free range. No losses to four legged predators because I use electro-net fencing.

 

[MelissaTXRn]

We have a family of hawks living in our pasture. I don't let my chickens free-range because of them. Nothing works to get rid of them so I just appreciate the fact that they eat mice, rats and snakes.