hawks hunting my RIR

[centrarchid]

Crows do not congregate in any numbers on my place although I do get some protection from nesting eastern kingbirds (several nests on property). Some difference in value of crows maybe that not all crows are the same. In Missouri we have two crow species, American and fish, with former most common and largest. Crows here , even though considered to be same as American crows elsewhere may have different cultures and relationships with red-tailed hawks. I would not be surprized if American crow is actually more than one species.

It is the open field that gets free range chickens into trouble. I am purposely allowing / promoting growth of brambles, osage oranges, and sumac to provide cover from red-tailed hawks. My problem with rooster option to keep red-tails at bay is that I can not use multiple game roosters at numbers needed. They do not seem inclined to defend chicks they are not bonded to (I produce a fair number of free range meat birds and intend to push 400 annually) and roosters, well they fight each other. I made some dominique x game cockerols and will attempt next year to get them to bond with free range chicks and to guard groups of chicks without fighting each other. I also have a dog and in about a year will get a second. Long-term problem will not be hawks but rather coyotes and red foxes. Area of about 8 acres two large for one dog when predator willing to do snatch and grab.


The consumption of head only by hawk maybe because that is all hawk can eat quickly and it does not feel comfortable sitting on ground with so many large birds around. Also live target more enticing than going back to finish something already dead.

 

[Jerseycoop]

Quote:
This is very interesting..thank you for sharing!

 

[m4bowman]

Thanks so much for all the info! I have learned so much in only one day!

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Cover is absolutely the best defense against hawks, followed closely by guard animals. I have only had one attempted hawk attack in a year: They went after my juvenile runner ducks (don't worry everyone is safe-details below). My bigger problem is that we have one pair of barred owls that roosts in the trees over the chicken pasture, but I've had only one loss of a bantam rooster to them (he was re-homed here and tried hiding outside instead of going in at night).

My flock of 67 free ranges every day from 7 to 7 during the summer and whatever hours of full daylight they get during the winter: I go out and chase in any stragglers every night before dusk to make sure the owls get no dinner. We have many absolutely huge hawks that fly overhead daily: They have attacked the neighbor's chickens several times but never mine. The neighbor has his ladies in a large chain link enclosure that's completely in the open and has only one piece of metal over a single corner...no netting on top or anything. The only cover he gave them is a pallet set on some concrete blocks...they don't even have a house (I really don't like this guy on many levels).

My flock goes out into a fenced 100x300 area that is 3/4 covered with mature live oaks that have created a low, overlapping canopy. I put the animal enclosure there for the shade initially, but the tree canopy preventing hawks from diving has been an added bonus. However, I have one large area of the pasture that is about 60x75 with no tree cover at all. So, I picked up a free 15' trampoline off Craigslist (insurance company made them get rid of it) and parked it in the middle of that area. First, my daughter likes using it when the goats aren't under it and second, the chickens use it for intermediate cover if the see a hawk and are too afraid to try for the coop, run, or goat house.

I have also found that free ranging the chickens with larger animals is a good deterrent for hawks as well. I have three 100 lb+ goats that are in that pasture nearly full time and a 1000lb milk cow that comes to visit the roll of hay in their daily. The hawks will circle overhead for a while every few days and then move on...all the while the chickens are standing frozen by or under the nearest cover with the "chicken eye on the sky": They know the hawks are here before I ever figure it out.

I also keep guineas, but they go all over our 7 acres so are rarely in with the chickens. A few weeks ago, the guineas got to be the heroes of the foiled duck attack mentioned above. I saw the hawk diving for the duck's fence and before I could take my first step to run that way, three guineas went hurtling through the air toward the hawk while sounding their alarm at the top of their lungs. They tag teamed it and chased it off the property: It was lucky to have lived through it since they managed to knock it to the ground with their initial assualt. Not all guineas do this, but some will: One lady on the guinea thread had her flock attack a coyote. Since that point, I have covered a very large portion of the duck yard with doubled up shade cloth (had used a smaller piece prior to that) and had no further hawk interest.

My aunt used to keep a big goose to protect her chickens: It was a fine watch dog for her house too. You could walk over any of her four dogs without worry, but didn't dare get out of your car unless you knew where that goose was at: Ouch. I don't recall her losing too many chickens and they slept in the barn with the cows.

I have also read the following suggestions on other threads or sites: Suspend strings, or baling twine on tall posts and form large x patterns or crisscrosses above your chicken pasture. This again, would force the hawk on the ground where it is less effective. You could also use the 7' deer netting they sell place like Tractor Supply to create safe areas for the chickens. I would think that you could drive a few t-posts into the ground and make little tents or canopies for the birds. The netting allows the sun through, so doesn't damage the grass and the t-posts could be pulled and moved leaving only a small hole.
One lady suggested the use of Mylar helium balloons as well: I don't know how that would work, but may be a good temporary measure.

Oh and as to the crows: We have a huge bunch of them that nest on an adjacent property. I have never seen them attack or chase the hawks, but then again, these are not small hawks...so maybe that makes a difference? Either way, the crows don't bother us, the garden, or the chickens, so we don't bother them either.

Just some suggestions and what has worked for me. Good luck keeping your feathered family members safe from air attacks!