hawks

[amcconnell]

Lost a chicken yesterday to a young hawk. We had the chickens out free ranging in the yard while we were out. We went into the house and were only in there for about 30 to 45 min and went back outside to find a dead hen and my roosters feathers everywhere. Not sure if it tried for the rooster or what but rooster is ok...just lost feathers. We flushed the hawk out of a tree and it flew off. It was a young hawk probably practicing. It's against the law I believe to shoot hawks but I don't want it picking off my chicken either!

 

[zazouse]

I read these events so many times, darn hawks

 

[Kikiriki]

My dog caught a hawk going after a rabbit in the barn where he used to live. LGD is livestock guardian dog and is what to look for in a dog that can help if you need to be away from them. Otherwise you going to have to have a mobile pen with a hawk proof cover especially now that the hawk knows where to go for dinner...

To check how a dog does, put them near the chicken enclosure... They should not run up to them, or even pay too much attention to them by staring or alerting or stalking. They will look at the chickens with "soft eyes" meaning indirect glances and not that wide eyed alert stare.

So sorry you lost a hen..... To bad we cant eat hawk meat...

 

[amcconnell]

yeah...thanks you guys. I do have a blue heeler (australian cattle dog) and he usually alerts us when a hawk comes in but he was on the front part of the property when it happened.

 

[barnyard pimp]

Don't worry, that hawk will be back. If he don't, another will. I had my chickens in a building with a run on the back of it. I would watch the hawks all the time trying to figure out how to get to them. I made a chicken tractor this year 4-5 days they kept coming around looking. Once they figure out where dinner is they will keep coming!

 

[Jaxon4141]

Lost a chicken yesterday to a young hawk. We had the chickens out free ranging in the yard while we were out. We went into the house and were only in there for about 30 to 45 min and went back outside to find a dead hen and my roosters feathers everywhere. Not sure if it tried for the rooster or what but rooster is ok...just lost feathers. We flushed the hawk out of a tree and it flew off. It was a young hawk probably practicing. It's against the law I believe to shoot hawks but I don't want it picking off my chicken either!

Having chickens free ranging is a rewarding experience, but there is no way to free range and not have loses. Losing a chicken you raised is hard and even people with LGD have loses on free ranging chickens. Have you considered an alternative?

 

[amcconnell]

My idea of backyard chickens was 8 to 10 chickens including rooster. I had 21 in all (with some of them being chicks) so I can handle a loss I guess....I just hate that it came that way, especially since I know the hawk will be back now. I may only let them free range when I'm outside doing yard work for a few hours and have the dog with us and then put them back in the coop. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[HouseCat]

There are a few American Eagle nests around my place. About a month ago one dropped into my yard and killed two of my 10 week old chicks. But before it could carry them off, a group of crows and starlings chased him off. I watched as they chased that eagle clear over a mile. He kept trying to turn back but they would just pile on him until he just about fell out of the sky.
From that day on, I have kept them around by feeding them sunflower seeds and chicken scratch. They are better than a guard dog. I also have a family of Sandhill Cranes that come up from the ponds in my backyard to feed their babies some chicken scratch. I'm sure they keep the predators at bay too.
A fox ran into my yard yesterday so I started throwing a little extra scratch out for the cranes. If 2 six foot birds don't keep him out of my yard, nothing will,

 

[loratorrance]

I have lost so many chickens to hawks i have shot bb guns and pellet guns at them. I was told to put yard flags or those cheap metal pie pans by were the chickens are and it helps keep them away. I have to get some aoon because i have lost 7 in 3 weeks and I know it is hawks because I jist find a pile of feathers