Hawks??

[sdaikus]

I'm in the city and having the same issue. I'm not sure if he's a hawk or buzzard, but he has swooped down twice with me out there! My girls have a covered run, but there are gaps in the cover. The cover was more to keep them in when I had to let the dogs out.. I have had more predator issues in the city then when we lived in the country. Now I'm going to have to keep them in their run at all times. It's not worth the loss..

Will a hawk/buzzard go through a small opening to get to my chickens? He's definitely interested in them. He hung around for hours yesterday stalking them. I finally put them inside their coop bc I didn't want them to get hurt.

 

[Zoomie]

@sdaikus: if the opening is big enough yes, the hawk will go through it. They are highly intelligent and can easily figure out a simple puzzle like going through a door or something.

That said, an opening big enough for a hawk is a pretty big concern because lots of other things can get through it too - like a weasel for example. So if you do have an opening big enough for a hawk you would probably be best advised to close it up.

 

[Grenadianexpat]

I'm in a different environment, and probably covered by different laws, but anything that threatens my livestock stands a strong chance of not going home.

We have Chicken Hawks, so the clue is in the name. They come by in ones or as a pair from time to time. As long as they circle in the distance they are wonderful creatures I admire, and respect. Should they sit on a tree looking down on the chickens they don't get to fly away.

I kind of gave them a pass for a long time, until one took a straggling chick not five feet from where I was standing.

 

[sdaikus]

I'm in a different environment, and probably covered by different laws, but anything that threatens my livestock stands a strong chance of not going home.

We have Chicken Hawks, so the clue is in the name. They come by in ones or as a pair from time to time. As long as they circle in the distance they are wonderful creatures I admire, and respect. Should they sit on a tree looking down on the chickens they don't get to fly away.

I kind of gave them a pass for a long time, until one took a straggling chick not five feet from where I was standing.

I'd loved to be under that law haha but here it can be a $15k fine and up to 6 months in jail for killing a hawk..

 

[Grenadianexpat]

I'd loved to be under that law haha but here it can be a $15k fine and up to 6 months in jail for killing a hawk..

We do have a closed hunting season for Manikou(Possum) Tatu(Armadillo) Monkey, Iguana and a form of Dove, but I don't think Hawk is on the list, and self defense isn't hunting. Mongoose was a foolishly introduced pest, so I don't think that gets a stay of execution either.

I hasten to add I do not hunt, I merely defend.

 

[sdaikus]

We do have a closed hunting season for Manikou(Possum) Tatu(Armadillo) Monkey, Iguana and a form of Dove, but I don't think Hawk is on the list, and self defense isn't hunting. Mongoose was a foolishly introduced pest, so I don't think that gets a stay of execution either.

I hasten to add I do not hunt, I merely defend.

Good point!

 

[igorsMistress]

Late to this thread, but make sure your birds have lots of cover. Hawks take prey with their talons and fly away. If they are red tails and there were three, that's a family likely and the female will possibly be large enough to take off with a chicken.
Low cover like large bushes rather than trees they can drop out of above your birds are best.

 

[SA&P]

I notice that this thread was posted in November last year. I’ve been looking for information on this!
I live in Cumbria (UK) and we have a hawk flying around

I have Silkies. Two hens and a rooster. More hens to come, but we have four pairs of doves and a robin come to snaffle a little of the hen feed from the garden (my chickens are free range) I think the hawk sees my garden as a kind of Mac Donald’s.....a fast food take out!! Hopefully my rooster will see it off so along with him, lots of shrubs and bushes and my dogs, the hawk will move on for an easier target

 

[Robert G]

Just joined BYC, and already love all the information available. I recently started to raise some bantams and have only worried about stray cats in the neighborhood. I let them wonder around the yard during the day. Well one of my hens had 13 chicks which just turned 2 months and while I was working on the yard, I head the ugliest scream from her. All of a sudden I saw a chicken hawk just swoop down and catch a chick! The mom tried to attack it and in seconds it was in the air carrying the baby chick. I couldn't believe my eyes! It's been about 2 weeks and haven't seen it again. I hope it's gone but been told since it took a chick it won't forget where it got it.

 

[SA&P]

Just joined BYC, and already love all the information available. I recently started to raise some bantams and have only worried about stray cats in the neighborhood. I let them wonder around the yard during the day. Well one of my hens had 13 chicks which just turned 2 months and while I was working on the yard, I head the ugliest scream from her. All of a sudden I saw a chicken hawk just swoop down and catch a chick! The mom tried to attack it and in seconds it was in the air carrying the baby chick. I couldn't believe my eyes! It's been about 2 weeks and haven't seen it again. I hope it's gone but been told since it took a chick it won't
forget where it got it.

Oh, I’m so sorry
Yeah, I think you’re right, it’ll remember!
Someone posted that they’d put a number of coloured streamers in their garden and that had helped. I’m going to give it a try if I see ‘my’ hawk again.
Last year BC (before chickens!) I found a feathered mess in the middle of the lawn......thinking back that’ll have been a dove. I have four pairs this year so I hope to stay hawk free.
I hope the 12 chicks stay safe. Good luck

Just mentioned this article to hubbie..........he saw a hawk yesterday!!!