Hawks

[JustCluckin84]

I am wondering if anyone who has experience with hawks getting their chickens happens to know how persistent the birds can be. I am 95% sure that it was a hake who got my 6 week old girlie. Once I discovered the chicken I looked through many boards here and saw that CDs help deter the hawks. Although my chicken run looks slightly like a voodoo camp I think it is doing its job! The day I hung the CDs up the hawk came back three times- each time all my chickids ran to hide! I realize I can't stand guard of my chickids every hour of every day. So I am wondering if anyone who has had a problem with hawks in the past can provide insight to the hawks persistence. I haven't seen the hawk in 2 days and I am not sure if that is because I have been on guard or if it's because my CDs are working.

 

[WesleyBeal]

Hawks will know where food is available, and continue to look for food there. If you haven't seen him in a few days, don't worry, he or she will be back.

I just take it for granted that they'll be by, looking for a meal.

My chickens are good at watching for them, sounding the alarm and taking cover anytime one is around.

I help increase their chances by making sure there are places for them to take cover when necessary. Of course, my older birds range farther away now, and they're going out into areas where I haven't provided extra cover for them. But they're grown, and I think beyond the point where a hawk is likely to attempt to take them.

 

[chickens really]

My friend put up a large plastic decoy owl and also so decoy crows... No hawks anymore.....

 

[centrarchid]

I had a Coopers Hawk coming in after young chickens last fall. Hen of another brood got a piece of him before I could get hawk out of pen. Hawk was handled briefly prior to release. Hen would have killed him in short order. He did not come back even though targeted brood was still present. Problem noted later was multiple Coopers were visiting one at a time although only an adult female had similar interest in chickens. I still have a hawk coming hen but it does not go after a brood of chicks still just under 2 weeks of age.