Hawks??

[DuckMochi]

So about a week ago when I was sitting outside with our chickens and ducks, I noticed something flying in the air. I mean noticing it was circling around and the shape of its wings it didn't take me long to realize it was a hawk. I was pretty shocked considering I live in a place where you never see hawks. In my 19 years being alive and living in our house I don't believe I have EVER seen a hawk here because we live in a neighborhood in a big city. I know nothing stops hawks from flying where they want, it just seems like a weird place for them to be.

I saw him again the day after and another day since. I haven't been paying too much attention to him because he has not been circling over our house particularly, sometimes he is pretty far away. But today while I was sitting outside I saw the hawk again but this time with two other hawks. There were three of them circling/flying together... not over my house luckily but I could see them in the distance. So great! Three hawks now. And to make it even worse, ANOTHER hawk flew over our yard from the opposite direction causing our birds to run for cover under our trees. The hawk wasn't swooping/diving for them, he was just flying over the yard to get wherever he was going but he sure scared the birds and I. But including him, that makes 4 hawks (possibly). I do not know what kind of hawks they are... I'm going to assume they're Red Tails...

Now I'm a bit concerned. I'm pretty sure red tailed hawks can easily attack/kill a chicken right? We've never had to worry about any predators where we are because there really aren't any aside from the dangerous insects like scorpions and black widows. But as for larger predators we have none... is there any way to make sure these guys don't come near the chickens? I know in the end there's no way to stop a hawk from doing its thing but is there any way to make them not come near our yard?

 

[IvanK]

Hi!
We have loads of raptors around our farm. While beautiful and not without their place, they can be efficient chicken hunters.
All of our birds are pastured and are free to come and go from the coop as they please so we've definitely had some close calls. I've found that having a few good roosters really helps as they alert the hens to overhead dangers. When the rooster sounds the alarm, they all scramble for shelter....even if a crow or a jay flies over. Also, roosters can and will fight to the death against predators (to protect their girls) so they are valuable members of the flock. Of course tragedies can still happen...this is no magic bullet solution but they do help.
Dogs raised as pups and socialized with the chickens (or pre-trained) can be great if not better than roos. Just the presence of a dog (or human if you are around) is enough to scare off raptors. Breeds like Great Pyrenees are amazing at keeping your other animals alive.
Other solutions include overhead fencing in the run or if they are pastured you could try planting some shrubs or building little shelters which could give the hens a chance to escape and hide in time. Perhaps you could build something like a chicken tractor? Most birds such as raptors are very intelligent so if they figure a meal is not worth the risk, they will not try. Furthermore, being creatures of habit, they will not associate your land with the idea of "easy dinner" if you practice good prevention and if they feel uncomfortable.
Hope this helps. Good luck!

 

[imnukensc]

Are you sure you're seeing hawks and not buzzards? Hawks don't usually fly together in groups. In any case, your area can be home to any different number of hawks and also at this time of year, they will often migrate to warmer areas.

http://www.birderfrommaricopa.com/vultures--hawks--eagles--and-falcons.htm

 

[Izzychicky]

I have hawks by me that have grabbed a handful of feathers and left a traumatized chicken. But I have heard of people training dogs like IvanK said.

 

[azygous]

You're probably noticing more hawks than usual because fall is their migratory season and they're heading south to your neighborhood. By January, they're heading back north again. They are pretty much everywhere all of the time.

January 1 was the day I lost a young Buff Brahma hen to a red-tail. I came back from shoveling snow to find my Cleopatra dead and the red-tail sitting on a wood pile four feet away watching over its kill.

While the only sure way to protect a flock from hawks is a covered run, some swear by shiny streamers whipping in the wind to discourage hawks. I never allow my flock out unless I'm going to be right there with them, but that hasn't stopped hawks from diving at my chickens just mere feet away from where I stood.

Roosters are going to get killed by hawks as easily as hens. They shouldn't be considered a flock protector except for issuing an alert call when they see a hawk. Often, crows are a very good way to keep hawks out of your vicinity. They hate hawks and will gang up on one if it enters their territory. I feed them dead mice when I find them in my traps. That encourages them to come around to see if I've left them anything.

 

[Stayc]

I thought hawks were solo hunters. I had one in the city before i had chickens. I went to let my dog out and i noticed the large bird right by my tree. I scared it off with the noise of the door. It had a squirrel in its talons. I thought it was dead. But after a minute the squirrel ran up the tree. I saw an injury on it. After that crows came and taunted the hawk til it left. I havent seen one here yet, lots of buzzards though they circle and there are usually a few. I have seen up to 10. Good luck w your predator issue.

 

[DuckMochi]

I just googled buzzard to check and I am kicking myself because this entire time I thought that a buzzard was the same as a vulture... so they’re probably buzzards in that case. My mistake... thanks for all the replies though!

As for the suggestions, it’s actually illegally for us to own a rooster in our city. We don’t live in an area where everyone has an acre of land and roosters are too loud so we only have hens... we have two ducks as well. A mallard female and a pekin duckling whom I’m pretty sure is a male so I’m sure he’ll become the flock protector once he’s fully grown.

Anyways I really do feel stupid for thinking buzzards were just vultures...

 

[Stayc]

I just googled buzzard to check and I am kicking myself because this entire time I thought that a buzzard was the same as a vulture... so they’re probably buzzards in that case. My mistake... thanks for all the replies though!

As for the suggestions, it’s actually illegally for us to own a rooster in our city. We don’t live in an area where everyone has an acre of land and roosters are too loud so we only have hens... we have two ducks as well. A mallard female and a pekin duckling whom I’m pretty sure is a male so I’m sure he’ll become the flock protector once he’s fully grown.

Anyways I really do feel stupid for thinking buzzards were just vultures...

I spent the entire summer scaring buzzards off before my hubby came out one day and was like "thats not a hawk...they are buzzards"

 

[happyfrenchman]

Both my dogs will chase off a hawk, the problem is they like staying in the air conditioning. My rooster was tangled with a female Coopers hawk once and I think he would have died if I had not heard the commotion. Hawks are everywhere and 95% of them do not bother your chickens.... I have seen Buteo (Red Tails and their kin) hawks flying with flocks of buzzards. They generally eat squirrels and rabbits, mice, rats.... The type of hawk that is the most dangerous to chickens are the Coopers (Accipiters) Bird hunters. (in England, buteo type hawks are called buzzards and accipiters are called sparrow hawks. They are ambush predators that come from the trees, they don't do alot of soaring. They are relentless and will chase your chickens back and forth to seperate a hen, and then pin her against a barrier. It is tough to defend against a determined and experienced chicken killing hawk. When I know they are around, I will leave my birds in. I see buzzards and vultures all the time.... they are not a threat to your birds as both are types of scavengers.

 

[eight is enough]

I have hawks by me that have grabbed a handful of feathers and left a traumatized chicken. But I have heard of people training dogs like IvanK said.

I had that exact thing happen yesterday. A hawk landed on my barred rock Allie. I saw it in time to chase it off. She has no physical wounds but was terrified to come out from under the cedar tree. The other 7 chickens went to the coop easily and I got her in eventually. Then she wouldn't come out of the coop.