Help!!!HAWKS!!!

[Farm life101]

Hello,
I have 20 free roam chickens 2 roosters and 18 hens. One of my hens nearly got killed about 3 months ago, her feathers had been ripped off and she had a couple wounds. We knew it was a hawk or a bird of prey. About a week ago i have been seeing two red tail hawks coming and swooping down and sitting in trees terrorizing my girls. Every time a rooster sees the hawk(s) he will bring his ladies to the coop or under our shed. I hung CD's everywhere but that's obviously not working. When i see a hawk i let my lab out and he chases them off but they wont stop coming. How can i get them to leave and stay away without getting an outside dog or killing them?

 

[wamtazlady]

If you lock your birds in for a week the hawks might decide there is no food to be had at your place and move on.

 

[Farm life101]

Okay Thank You!

 

[Folly's place]

I lock my flock in their coop and safe run for at least a week, or two. Once it was three weeks, with a very bold and persistent Coopers hawk. It just takes time for the bird to give up and move on.
I have both bantams and standards, and the bantams are most at risk here. Having lots of cover helps too while they are free ranging.
Mary

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Place bird feeders around your property. The feeders will attract mocking birds, black birds etc. Some wild birds will chase off the raptors if they see them. More bird houses you have, the more little bird-"hawk chasers" you have.

 

[Folly's place]

And the more exposure your flock will have to mites and lice! Ideally, wild bird feeders should be away from places that your chickens visit.
Mary

 

[Zinjifrah]

Keep in mind; killing a hawk is a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and as such, a federal offense with heavy penalties.

https://www.fws.gov/birds/policies-and-regulations/laws-legislations/migratory-bird-treaty-act.php

 

[chickengeorgeto]

... About a week ago i have been seeing two red tail hawks... sitting in trees terrorizing my girls. Every time a rooster sees the hawk(s) he will bring his ladies to the coop or under our shed. I hung CD's everywhere but that's obviously not working. When i see a hawk i let my lab out and he chases them off but they wont stop coming. How can i get them to leave and stay away without getting an outside dog or killing them?

It is forever more illegal to kill, injure, harass, or make a face at a hawk. Of course the oldtimers who you all are trying to emulate didn't have to worry about any of this PC Bull.

As a young man NO hawk would sit still on a power pole, or phone line while you drove buy. The reason was that most of the oldtimers kept free range hens and any hawk that presented itself as a stationary target didn't have long to live. No-a-days the hawks sit in your own trees and thumb their beaks at you.

All I can say is that the catching always comes before the hanging.

 

[Bocktobery 10]

Yes, I second locking the birds up for a bit- Heck, the food is so prevalent around here that I only have to lock them up for a few days and they are gone... at least for a bit.

The other thing I heard to use ( have not tried as I have no idea where to get or use ) is those screaming fireworks- the ones that scream and then have a bang at the end. You aren't supposed to aim for the hawk, obviously, but it scares them off I guess I heard. I make a lot of noise when I see one. I wave my arms and whistle loudly and scream up and at them... I probably look like a total nut job doing that, and it probably doesn't do anything, but I want to let them know I'm there and I'm not going to let it take one of my hens. It seems to work, then again, I've got lots of cover for my birds on the ground.

 

[Bocktobery 10]

It is forever more illegal to kill, injure, harass, or make a face at a hawk. ...

Even 'harass' them... exactly what does harassing a hawk look like? Is it a one time deal, or do they mean repeatedly trying to bother one in its natural habitat?

Oh, or were you being facetious?