Hawks getting chickens

[redstar14]

Is it common for birds of prey to eat backyard chickens

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! Happy you joined!

 

[redstar14]

Thanks again lol

 

[appps]

I've read quite a few threads about it so I'd go with yep

 

[drumstick diva]

YES. A good way to prevent them is to cover your run even if only with deer fencing - raptors don't want to damage their wings, or they are out of business.

 

[AKchicken1]

We covered all of our runs with a green nylon netting used to keep birds off of fruit trees. It has proven very durable and has kept the goshawks and great horned owls out entirely. Its a bit pricey, I think 50 bucks for a 30 x 30 square. I'll remove it before the snow flies and expect to get 3 or 4 years out of it, maybe more. It has shown no uv degradation even with our 24/7 summer sun.

 

[Sjisty]

Yes, hawks love an easy meal!

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us!

 

[houseofknauss]

yes, red tail hawks love back yard chickens (and smaller ducks) ---heard a commotion one day and hit the front door with mucks and the german shepard(didn't have time to grab the 30/06--out to the swamp area we went and saw the hawk grab the rir up into the air and she was fighting for her life--dog barking, me running to catch up to the dog--hawk dropped chicken and flew off.--found chicken bleeding from 3 gashes, scared and cowering under swamp hosta. plastered her with triple antibiotic ointment and put her in the coop.--she was out a few hours later next to the roo. she is doing fine. expect predators, do what you can, expect and prepare for the worst. good luck.

 

[viktoriacl]

My daughter was outside with the girls and a small prey bird swooped down to try and get one! Today I didn't hear or see any birds so I let them out while I was working on the coop. It must have happened again. I heard and saw a flash and all the hens came screaming and yelling back to the coop. They would not stop squawking for several minutes. I guess they need to stay in the rum