Hawks and how to stop them!

[chickortreat]

I think that's one way to go but not everyone lives on an area where they can shoot the hawks down. lol

I never said I shoot them. I said I discourage them.

 

[quigley257]

Don't get me wrong... my chickens are MY CHICKENS and I deal with any and all predators swiftly and humanely. The problem with hawks, around any forested area, is that you will not see 99% of them until it is too late. I do find it humorous however, at the lengths people will go to and the money and time they will invest in methods that have absolutely NO effect(other than negatively affecting the environment) on their intended predator target, especially snakes. I do allow my chickens out to roam and understand the risks involved. A hawks inclination to chicken dinner varies from species to species too. Learning the subtleties of one species to another can make the difference between watching a Broad-winged Hawk perching peacefully on your coop and a Goshawk, Red-tail or Harris Hawk making his next selection from your flock menu.

 

[LadyMaryChicken]

Our flock was divebombed by a red-tail the other day while a dog, cat, and two humans were standing 5 ft away. I've read a lot of posts about other people's experiences, and it seems like while some methods (shiny CDs, owl statues) work for some, they don't work for others. I suppose it's all worth trying.

In our area, hawks are mostly seasonal, so we have decided that quality of life (being able to range) is more important than length of life. We'll see how this goes and if we change our minds...

What we have provided is plenty of cover for the chickens to get to easily--lots of bushes and the deck. They usually dart under the deck when the roo calls a warning and spots something. They also like to hang out on the deck where there is an awning...which means lots of chicken crap to hose off every day...but I'm willing to let them do that in order to be safe while they range.

 

[buttercup95]

I never said I shoot them. I said I discourage them.

Well how do you "discourage them"?

 

[cgmccary]

Hi all,
Recently I had a hawk attack on one of my seven chickens. Luckily, I was out there, and able to chase the hawk off and the chicken it attacked actually fought it, so no harm was done except a bloody nose which is now fine. I was wondering what the best way to try to avoid more hawk attacks are. My chickens are about 32 weeks old and all are laying and i believe they are full grown. Thanks in advance!

You did not say what kind of hawk. I have never had a hawk attack where I live now and there are plenty around as I abut a National Forest. I do not know exactly why I do not have a hawk problem but my situation may offer some help.

First, I have noticed I have a pair of Red Shouldered Hawks nesting nearby, and they do not bother chickens. They may, by protecting their nest, deter other hawks from coming around.

Second, I also have a large family of crows that practically live on my property, and I do not discourage them. The Crows run around in the pasture with my chickens. Any chicks free ranging with mother hens have game hens as mothers so they keep the Crows off their chicks. The chickens run at the Crows, but I NEVER bother Crows. Crows deter hawks so you should not deter them if you have them.

Third, I have 6 Large Toulouse Geese (and right now two of their goslings). I believe they deter hawks. I have seen them run at a Sharp Shinned Hawk that had caught a small songbird on the feeder. The Sharp Shinned was having a little difficulty holding on to the squirming & screaming bird and took a dip downward; the geese were right there and tried to catch the small hawk. I think my geese could handle most hawks easily. The only birds of prey that would be a threat to them are Great Horned Owls (my chickens are locked up at night and free range during the day) & an Eagle (we have the Golden in the winter but they are elusive and rarely seen (and they aren't feeding young then). And at night (and dusk and dawn), I have some of those NiteGuard Lites in four directions. (and protecting outside roosting birds & my geese who stay in an open barn): http://niteguard.com/. I also do not hunt and kill small {other} prey near or on my property (such as squirrels) so there is plenty of prey available for a hawk.

I have never tried any of these products but some of them may work: http://www.biconet.com/birds.html

 

[chickortreat]

Well how do you "discourage them"?

You can fire in their direction....they seem to notice that. If/when one lights in a tree nearby, I walk toward it, not firing toward it unless it refuses to fly. Normally they fly as soon as I start toward them. When one is seen circling, a shotgun blast or two will encourage it to sail on to quieter thermals.

 

[Triple Willow]

You can fire in their direction....they seem to notice that. If/when one lights in a tree nearby, I walk toward it, not firing toward it unless it refuses to fly. Normally they fly as soon as I start toward them. When one is seen circling, a shotgun blast or two will encourage it to sail on to quieter thermals.

I've never had to but I'd probably try bottle rockets. I keep some around usually.

 

[stake]

Hi all:

I've just had two hawk incursions in the past two days....I believe it is either a RedTail or Broad Winged...about 3-4 days ago I started to hear the screeching...it was alway a few hundred yards away and moving away...yesterday I herd the screech through my open window and ran outside as my nine were free ranging....when I ran out it took off and flew away....I stood watch and it came back 5mins later and roosted in a neighbors yard about 50yds from the coop/pen....I walked down and threw a stone at it..it left....this morning I let the chooks out.....three stayed in the coop laying eggs the other ranging...a bit later I herd the roo and chooks making an alarm sound.....they were huddled under a lilac bush...I went over to stand guard and was scanning the trees (my yard back into forest area)...then I moved a bit and the hawk lit out it was about 25yards from the chooks on my right... geez....got the rest of the flock back in the pen..not more ranging til Mr Hawk has moved on...

questions are:

What birds intimidate hawks?
How long til this hawks gets discouraged and goes somewhere else to hunt?

 

[quigley257]

If it is a Broad-winged Hawk, it poses no danger to your birds unless they are quite small. It was likely scanning your yard for rodents and snakes. The problem with hawks is that many of them look similar and your chickens probably can't tell the difference. We have lots of Turkey Vultures where I am located and they frequently swoop low over the yard. The chickens watch them but don't get too alarmed. However, they will squawk and hide when a hawk appears, whether it's a harmless broad-wing or a deadly Goshawk or Red-tail. The nest of Broad-wings up the ridge from my house just finished fledging a few weeks ago. They are noisy buggers and fun to watch, although quite shy and hard to approach. They will likely stay in the area until it is time to migrate in the fall. It boils down to knowing that if you free range an attack could happen at any time.

 

[stake]

If it is a Broad-winged Hawk, it poses no danger to your birds unless they are quite small. It was likely scanning your yard for rodents and snakes. The problem with hawks is that many of them look similar and your chickens probably can't tell the difference. We have lots of Turkey Vultures where I am located and they frequently swoop low over the yard. The chickens watch them but don't get too alarmed. However, they will squawk and hide when a hawk appears, whether it's a harmless broad-wing or a deadly Goshawk or Red-tail. The nest of Broad-wings up the ridge from my house just finished fledging a few weeks ago. They are noisy buggers and fun to watch, although quite shy and hard to approach. They will likely stay in the area until it is time to migrate in the fall. It boils down to knowing that if you free range an attack could happen at any time.

I could only tell that it had alot of brown on its back...I know very little about raptors....but I had a buddy suggest this....until I can get a thicket of Blackberries grown, take a 4x4 cut into four legs...take a 4x8 of plywood fix the legs and set it out in the middle of the yard.....the chooks will go there for shade or if a hawk comes by....the hawk will know the chooks are there and the chooks will be aware of the hawk, but unless the hawk is really desperate, it won't risk landing and going under the plywood....opinions welcome!!!