Hawks hawks hawks....

[Walkbarefoot]

Over the past couple of months the hawks have found my girls. We have 13 chickens, a rock solid coop and fully covered 20x20 run. I did free range the girls for YEARS without problems. Recently we lost a couple of girls to hawks. I am wondering if anyone has used garden hoops and bird netting to protect girls while free ranging? I want to be able to let them out each day but know we are going to continue to have issues if I do. I want to keep the girls safe while giving them at least SOME freedom. Thanks for your advice, it is greatly appreciated!

 

[pyrofreek]

we have a couple crow decoys and one of those air dance things like you see in front of used car lots. we turn that on when they are out in the yard. one day 4 of us were sitting under the gazebo and a cooper hawk flew in and sat on the fence 5 feet from a crow decoy - with all of us yelling at it till it finally flew off. a couple weeks later i was out in the yard with them and a bald eagle swooped down, saw me and pulled up, but then perched in a tree watching. since then i added posts to the fence line with string about 3 feet above the fence and mylar streamers every 4 feet or so. i still see hawks in the trees from time to time. a never ending battle. it's worse in winter too when there's less other prey for them. i only let the girls out when i can be out with them and usually have my full auto bb gun close by in case i see anyone hanging around.

 

[McChooky]

Its not against the law to protect our chickens from predators but birds of prey are off limits (this includes disturbing their nests sites, chicks and eggs) Chickens are healthier when we free range them but Hawks have to eat so locking them up is necessary

 

[Evadig]

I am wondering if anyone has used garden hoops and bird netting to protect girls while free ranging?

I’m sorry this doesn’t really answer your question; they’re just a couple ideas that have worked for me - I have a nesting pair of Coopers Hawks nearby.

You could try making a chicken tractor or even just a moveable pen with this black netting, garden stakes, wire (for overhead support).

Letting them out in the afternoon sometimes helps (hawks seem to be around in the morning) or mixing the times/days.

Hope this helps .

 

[Bawkbok]

Once the hawks and Bald Eagles discover your chickens, they will return regularly to look for opportunities.

We live in a city and have raptor visitors fly over every day, RTHs and Bald Eagles. Yesterday we had a BE swoop down through trees when it saw one of the chickens. The fact we have an eagle here is cool to look at but sad in that they are in this densely populated area desperately seeking food.
Today seven vultures were circling about 20 feet over the yard. One of them swooned in to within about 8 feet of our chickens but diverted quickly when it saw us standing there.

Food is scarce and the raptors are hungry. For us, we've discovered just being in the yard is not good enough but being directly located with the chickens is the best deterrent. I'd rather invest the time to protect the birds by following them around as they forage than have to run 100 feet in hopes I get to the chicken before the predator does. It's a huge investment of time but I also see it as an opportunity to watch their behavior, observe them for heath checks and sometimes I might actually get a minor yard chore accomplished.

I can only imagine the aerial "traffic" you guys living in country have to contend with.

 

[Walkbarefoot]

I’m sorry this doesn’t really answer your question; they’re just a couple ideas that have worked for me - I have a nesting pair of Coopers Hawks nearby.

You could try making a chicken tractor or even just a moveable pen with this black netting, garden stakes, wire (for overhead support).

Letting them out in the afternoon sometimes helps (hawks seem to be around in the morning) or mixing the times/days.

Hope this helps .

thank you