Hawks

[7 Biddies]

I just started free ranging my girls over Memorial Day weekend, and so far so good. I have a senior flock of hens and a junior flock of pullets, each with their own "residence" ... naturally, the "kids" want to stay out until dark while the "grown ups" go in their hen house about 7:30pm

Tonight, at 8pm, I saw a hawk dive bomb the area right in front of the hen house ... fortunately, the younger girls were not in immediate range - they were right behind the hen house. It swooped down to about 8 feet, then climbed out quickly before hitting the trees. I saw 2 crows chase after it. I live in the Blue Ridge mountains, so no way to avoid predators, and don't want to keep the girls locked up all the time. Currently, I let them out when I'm home, but keep them in their runs if I'm going to be away.

I live on a hill with lots of trees and gardens, so there's not a whole lot of room for a hawk to maneuver in. Plus, I have lots of crows, which seem to deter them somewhat. Other than "house arrest", any ideas to keep my girls from becoming dinner for a hawk?

 

[Duckopolis]

Are animal traps an option?

 

[aart]

All birds of prey are federally protected, so no duckpolis, traps are not an option unless you want to risk heavy fines.


@7 Biddies ...the crows are a good thing, but no guarantee, as they will chase the hawks from the area.
Lots of cover can help for sure, but some hawks are plenty proficient at flying thru trees.
Maybe putting up some cover in the more open areas will help, sheets of plywood on cinder blocks for example.

Free ranging is always a risk, you have to weigh your priorities and make the decision.

Searching for and reading others experiences might help for more ideas:
advanced search>titles only> hawks

 

[7 Biddies]

Thanks for the replies. I checked your link and got one idea from it: I'm going to hang a couple of pie tins from a pole in the area in front of the hen house. That may prove to be a deterrence.

 

[aart]

Thanks for the replies. I checked your link and got one idea from it: I'm going to hang a couple of pie tins from a pole in the area in front of the hen house. That may prove to be a deterrence.

I've read a ton of things like hanging all kinds of shiny things, webs of ropes, flags, owl statues.......no real evidence that they worked and some instances where they decidedly did not work.


I covered my runs because of this:

 

[7 Biddies]

I've read a ton of things like hanging all kinds of shiny things, webs of ropes, flags, owl statues.......no real evidence that they worked and some instances where they decidedly did not work.


I covered my runs because of this:

Oh, they have a covered run, chicken tractors, and portable fencing that I cover, but nothing's as good as free ranging. The color of their egg yolks has darkened even more since I let them run loose. Of course, now it's the berry patches that I've had to fence in.

 

[centrarchid]

This critter when cover is abundant very effectively repels hawks. Needs to be full sized and fully adult to do job.