Hawks! How do I keep them away?

[Fancychooklady]

Oh that's very sad

, sorry. We have 40 ft high gum trees near our coop and I find they just serve to be a good vantage point for the predators to check out their prey. I was sitting have a cuppa with my peeps when 2 Roos sounded the alarm. It was hilarious, the hens scattered and 2 ran straight into the wire front of the coop before finding the door. Now , I sat there for 10 minutes watching that hawk, he landed right above me. The Roos continued to make a low growling noise the whole time, keeping the hens motionless all the while. When the hawk flew off the roo flapped his wings in a most regal manor, and it was as if someone had pressed the
" play " button, and everyone went back to their scratching. Curios creatures!

 

[scooter147]

The hawk now knows where he can get a relatively easy meal. He will be back. The only solution is a secure coop and run.

 

[keesmom]

Thank you again. I think I'm dealing with Cooper Hawks. I've looked up a few things. One thing that will help is not letting them out first thing in the am. I was letting them out around 7-7:30. I've learned that's kinda asking for trouble. I'll let them into the run in the am, and then let them free range later in the day.

I also am going to look on BYC and see if anyone needs to re-home a rooster. I might need to expand my coop some to get a bigger flock and I'm not sure it I'm ready for that. My husband told me not to get to attached that these were not "pets", but I didn't listen and have even names some. I hate to think what it would be like to lose on of them, but also understand it comes with the territory. Doesn't mean I like it though.

Thanks again for all the help with this.

Hawks can come around at any time of day. Cooper's are my worst problem here. Even with plenty of cover and roosters I've still lost some over the years. I've even had them follow the chickens into the coop through their small pop door. Last winter I watched one go through a foot of snow to get at the juncos hiding in the bushes. Several minutes later I saw it come back up through a snow bank with a bird. They hunt through the trees making them hard for the chickens to see, and they are very persistent. I even had a pair of redtails willing to hunt under the trees last year.

Now that I have a breeding flock of heritage birds I confine them to a run to make sure I don't lose any. One other suggestion I can make is if the hawks keep returning you could try keeping your chickens confined for several days. If the hawks can't locate dinner they'll stop coming by.

 

[scooter147]

Both red tails and coopers will definitely go to ground and chase chickens from their hiding spots. I have seen them do it.

 

[Nambroth]

Goshawks are also notorious for chasing prey on the ground, and maneuvering through very tight spaces. I have read about them chasing grouse through thickets on foot.

 

[woodmort]

After reading though this I'll add my $.02 worth. As above, giving the birds someplace to hide will help and the quicker they can get to this protection the better. I've done this by not clear-cutting my chicken yard but letting a lot of tall goldenrod get going--I figure if the hawks can't spot chickens from the sky then they won't come in. Also when I was having problems with a cooper a couple of years ago I strung fish line over one part of the chicken yard--he hit that once and never returned. A couple of good roosters will give advanced warning--I've seen them clear our yard of chickens in less than 30 seconds. Also, believe it or not, encouraging crows will help keep hawks (and owls) away. They will mob any hawks in the area and drive them out. I have a resident flock of about 5 crows that are always on guard and if they are making a fuss I keep my chickens locked up until it is over. Finally, young birds--i.e. pullets--seem to be the most likely to become victims , keeping these in a more protected area will save a few lives.

Remember all hawks are protected both by state and federal law so, whatever you do, don't kill them.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Goshawks are also notorious for chasing prey on the ground, and maneuvering through very tight spaces. I have read about them chasing grouse through thickets on foot.

I had a white goss hawk in the coop one morning,cause I hadn't closed the gate. It had landed on the ground and hopped in to the coop, ate my silkie hen and 2 chicks. It couldn't find it's way out though. I had to go in behind it and herd it towards the door. I got a real good look at him and even though he'd taken my chicks, I found myself thinking how beautiful he was. Pure white, striking yellow eyes and big clean yellow talons. I wouldn't dream of killing him, I just have to out smart him, if I want to keep chickens. Keep them cooped at night and give better protection for the youngsters. In 10 years I've only lost 2 to the hawk, but 9 to stray dogs. At least the hawk was just killing for the " sport " of it.

 

[Junibutt]

This morning, I heard some chicken alarms and turned around to see this bird sitting on our fence which looked like a hawk. I took a picture of the bird and posting here. Picture is not very clear because it was cloudy and is taken from a cell phone. You guys can confirm if its a hawk or not. It stayed for a good 10 minutes. Then my son and I tried to scare it with a broom, ran and yelled after it with no effect. Finally it left chasing a sparrow. I am worried about letting my hens especially the pullets out. The pullets are new and they did not get alarmed at all which means they don't know the danger.

P.S. I live right in the middle of city of Chicago so it was very unusual to see a hawk here.

 

[Fancychooklady]

That's a hawk!

 

[appps]

Oh that's very sad

, sorry. We have 40 ft high gum trees near our coop and I find they just serve to be a good vantage point for the predators to check out their prey. I was sitting have a cuppa with my peeps when 2 Roos sounded the alarm. It was hilarious, the hens scattered and 2 ran straight into the wire front of the coop before finding the door. Now , I sat there for 10 minutes watching that hawk, he landed right above me. The Roos continued to make a low growling noise the whole time, keeping the hens motionless all the while. When the hawk flew off the roo flapped his wings in a most regal manor, and it was as if someone had pressed the
" play " button, and everyone went back to their scratching. Curios creatures!

Interesting to hear about them from someone more local. I tend to dismiss them a bit as a USA problem. My hens also do that same noise and statues routine when something spooks them from above. So far its only been a kite though not a hawk and he has just watched.