Hawwwwwwk!!!

[kelidei]

I don't think a hawk would go under a deck... Unless it is really high. Our deck at it's highest point is just a couple of feet off the ground. Trees may help camouflage the birds but if a hawk sees one they easily dive through the trees... My back yard has a canopy of very old, gigantic oak trees... on occasion I have seen them sitting in the tops of trees and I have seen them dive through them to get smaller animals... that being said they may help prevent the hawks from noticing as they fly overhead.

Ohhh... wanted to add that I think that from what I have read here that if you keep chickens from time to time you are going to loose one. I haven't lost any to predators yet because my husband built coops and runs as sturdy as Ft. Knox.... I have lost some to various other calamities... in fact this morning I found a hen dead in one coop

... she was perfectly fine last night... no marks, no injuries... I think it may have been a egg laying issue... I found a funky soft egg in one of the nest boxes... but sooner or later, once we have a fence, I have a feeling I have to deal with that issue from time to time... as they say it is just part and parcel... I know that it is much harder when you only have a few hens... I've got about 80... I have my favorites .... it is hard to loose those. Good luck to you!

 

[Moonkit]

Quote:
Ok.. so teamwork isn't their best skill..

 

[chickensarefamily2me]

Now, technically, hawks are protected. But on the other hand, Chickens are considered livestock in the state of Texas. Hawks do not move on, and the only thing that has stopped my hawks from striking again is me watching my birds while they play. Not that many people would want to sit outside and watch your chickens roam, but this is the only way I've stopped the hawk from getting my babies. I going to try a scarecrow next. It's a good bonding experience.
My hawk has taken my favorite bird, and several small cats and dogs. Chickens are livestock, and the instant that hawk took my poor Lindsey, it has become liable to be shot. I'm not sure where you live, but where there's one hawk, it's a family. Be careful. Don't learn what I learned the hard way.



Love my babies... Don't come between Mama Hen and her chicks! <3

 

[Oregon Blues]

I'd be careful about that livestock idea. Hawks are Federally protected and federal law trumps state law. Fines are gigantic, as in multiple thousands of dollars gigantic.

Secure housing is the only practical option.

 

[Kikiriki]

My sister has had hawk attacks inside her barn, as well as one actually flying into an a-frame chicken tractor when the door was open. My brother in law had left it open while he washed out the waterer.

I have them here, and am dying to know what could deter them. I saw one swoop down into my yard going after a squirrel, so I don't know how comfortable I'll be letting the hens out there without at least a big net over top of them. Does the plastic net stop hawks?

 

[Pinky]

Quote:
I've seen mockingbirds and blue jays chase off hawks.

 

[rivers2011]

Hardware cloth will stop a diving hawk dead in its tracks. I saw a video of a hawk so determined to get at its prey that it broke through netting above an aviary. Perhaps covering with a tarp so the hawk can't see movement from directly overhead?

 

[tiffanyg2]

OK what about *SHINY THINGS* I've heard

but don't know enough yet about it... it's suppose to deter the hawks from swooping down in the yard because of the reflective shine?? Now I happen to have all these cute decorative shiny garden ornaments in most of my trees... not as tacky as it sounds! But I wonder if there is a possibility it does help?? Of course my dogs being outside some of the times probably helps to. Also they have those shiny spinny pinwheels. I actually put a few in with my vege garden because supposedly squirrels don't like them! I know there are hawks around here because they like to hang out in the really tall trees. I haven't seen any in my yard for quite some time. I'm sure there up there watching...

 

[Trapper Dan]

A neighbor had a 2 x 2 square foot hole in the top of his chicken run where he would place food and water and a hawk landed there and went through the hole to get it's lunch. They'll go where there's an opportunity.

 

[animalpro24]

I would be amazed to see a place without hawks! No, keeping your chickens in their coop for a bit will do nothing. Is it possible for you to cover your run with netting or something?