HAWKS! HELP!

[TheCrochetChick]

I live in FL and am havig a serious Cooper Hawk prob.
Before i got chickens i loved seeing them, but now, not so much.

I have begun putting my 3 week old EE chicks out during the day - and they LOVE it.
There have been no hawks bothering them yet- for the past week. Mainly b/c they are in a closed coop run w/
a solid roof so they really are not visible. Until today.
I was inside for a stinkin minute and they all started screaming. I ran out and there on top of the coop was a Cooper hawk looking quite pleased with himself for making such a discovery- fresh chick.

I chased him off and the chicks who were crowding in the corner all ran to me. So i climbed into the coop's run and held them all in my lap till they all calmed down, but i am pretty sure they were about to have a heart attack.

One of them panted for about an hour. This was their first experience with a hawk.

My question is- what should i do to keep these hawks at bay? I know there are 3 different ones and they are being very brave. I need a low cost option! HELP PLEASE!!!!

 

[RosemaryDuck]

I live in FL and am havig a serious Cooper Hawk prob.
Before i got chickens i loved seeing them, but now, not so much.

I have begun putting my 3 week old EE chicks out during the day - and they LOVE it.
There have been no hawks bothering them yet- for the past week. Mainly b/c they are in a closed coop run w/
a solid roof so they really are not visible. Until today.
I was inside for a stinkin minute and they all started screaming. I ran out and there on top of the coop was a Cooper hawk looking quite pleased with himself for making such a discovery- fresh chick.

I chased him off and the chicks who were crowding in the corner all ran to me. So i climbed into the coop's run and held them all in my lap till they all calmed down, but i am pretty sure they were about to have a heart attack.

One of them panted for about an hour. This was their first experience with a hawk.

My question is- what should i do to keep these hawks at bay? I know there are 3 different ones and they are being very brave. I need a low cost option! HELP PLEASE!!!!

Are they free range or contained within the coop at all times? If they're inside the coop, they should be alright. You may want to add extra wire onto the outside so the hawk can't pull any of them through. You can also put a plastic owl up on top of the coop and it will scare the hawk. They don't like other predators in their territory.

 

[TheCrochetChick]

Are they free range or contained within the coop at all times? If they're inside the coop, they should be alright. You may want to add extra wire onto the outside so the hawk can't pull any of them through. You can also put a plastic owl up on top of the coop and it will scare the hawk. They don't like other predators in their territory.

I saw those plastic owls but wondered if they actually worked. I guess they might? They are in the coop for about 8 hrs a day and then back inside they go for the night. They are only 3 wks.

 

[Sequel]

If your coop and run are secure, your birds will be fine but might appreciate something to hide under. Poor little guys must have been terrified! It’s also hard on the chicken parent!

 

[chickentrains]

keep them in the coop and get them something to hide under. Poor babies must of been horrified!

 

[chickentrains]

Hmph, how awful.

 

[N F C]

A reminder...

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits the taking, killing, capturing, transporting, harboring of the birds or hatching eggs, that which are Native to the United States of America. All are protected by state and federal agencies.

https://www.fws.gov/birds/policies-and-regulations/laws-legislations/migratory-bird-treaty-act.php

Any threads started on this subject will be closed and posts deleted.

Thank you for your understanding.

-BYC Staff

 

[ChicNmom]

I'm going to try hanging some old CD's on fishing line around the yard this summer. I've heard on BYC and other places that the reflection is annoying to the hawks.

 

[KyCoop]

After that particular hawk figures out they are not easy prey, it will move on. It might take a couple of weeks. But there will be other hawks that will also try. Be very very sure there is no way the hawk can grab them from the sides of the run. The only thing that saved my baby leghorn was hardware cloth and a 2x4. Give them an air raid shelter where they can be safe. Your babies will be OK. They are hawk aware now.