Hawks

[hen madame]

I don't know, I'm in southern NC now and never had chickens up in Maryland. You may need to reenforce it better than I did.
We don't get snow every year, and when we do it's one light dusting that's gone in a couple hours.
We've been here for 5 years and only once have we had "real" snow-- it was a good 6" and the governor deemed it a state of emergency and shut down EVERYTHING!
No school, no daycare, no grocery stores, no military installations for a WEEK-- it was pretty insane!
Granted they don't have any salt trucks or snow plows down here, but I grew up in Maryland it's got to be a blizzard to shut things down.

I have to admit I do get a chuckle when what we consider a minimal amount of snow can close down everything in a southern state. Though I also have to knowledge that I am a tad bit jealous when I think of a winter with little to no snow and relatively warm temps. I have learned to survive here, but am I ever happy when Spring comes (which isn't until May).

 

[TulsaChick]

2 weeks ago I had a hawk come at my solid black hen. Oh and I was only 3 feet away from her. I flew out of my chair towards the hawk and it shot straight up in the air. My girl was safe. So I don't know about the white theory. I have a feeling they saw small easy to carry off food.

 

[TulsaChick]

Oh and you guys have snow? For real? Asking because its like 98 degrees here. Hotter than heck!

 

[hen madame]

Oh and you guys have snow? For real? Asking because its like 98 degrees here. Hotter than heck!

No, no...no snow here. We were just discussing winter in general.

 

[MsChickenMomma]

Well it looks like I'm screwed... We can't afford to build a covered run big enough for my 23 chickens, and I can't keep them closed inside forever. The hawk seems to like to come at my girls in the morning, so I am going to sit in the un-mowed grass right next to my barn with two trash can lids. If the hawk comes I'll start banging them together and yell like crazy in hopes that it scares it off for good. If that doesn't work I don't know what I'm going to do...

 

[TulsaChick]

If I'm not outside neither are my girls. I put them up before I go in. Yep mornings seem to make our neighborhood haws more aggressive

 

[MsChickenMomma]

If I'm not outside neither are my girls. I put them up before I go in. Yep mornings seem to make our neighborhood haws more aggressive

I've tried doing that with mine, but I can't ever get them all to go back inside. I've tried calling with the treat can and everything. Some of my girls are incredibly stubborn. :/

 

[gwydiana]

I would not hesitate to shoot the hawk. If you are within hearing distance of neighbors, use a pellet gun. I have a super soaker water gun that I use to shoo the hawks away from my squirrels at our local lake, but that is just a temporary fix.

 

[MuadDib]

Had a not so pleasant experience with two hawks this morning. Went outside and watched a small hawk fly off. Ran to the coop and could only find 6 of my 23 chickens. I looked all over the yard and un-mowed grass for an hour and was able to find all of the chickens except one. My Black Australorp. It has been 3 hours and I still can't find any trace of her.

My question is, these two hawks have a nest in the woods right by our property, and now they know there is an excellent food source close by. How do I keep them from getting my chickens? I have been free ranging my chickens here for a year and a half and this is the first time the hawks have attacked my chickens. I'm guessing now that they have had the taste of chicken, they'll most definitely be back.

RIP Lilly...

check with your local game warden on the laws concerning hawks here its against the law to kill them.

Edited by staff

 

[hosspak]

I would use Shakira, Britney, or New Kids CD's...