Help!! Redtailed hawks decimated four of my five hens in 90 days

[AllenK RGV]

My birds hate not being free but I occasionally have to confine them due to hawks. While I sometimes have way too many birds it's always when I'm down to just small breeding flocks that a hawk will get one of my best hens.
I do have large runs and the bird netting has been effective at keeping the hawks out I'd prefer to free range them but sometimes don't have any to spare especially for free... So they get jailed...
Try tightening up the netting covering all holes, or maybe use heavy fishing line criss crossed at spots where it's not easy to enclose with netting?

I never confine mine nor do I mess with closing the coop door. The do whatever they like whenever they like. The hawks fail miserably over and over they waste their time trying to poach my flock. The coyotes and other predators also have yet to get us probably because we have our chain link hurricane fence nailed down so they can't get under it.

I honestly think it might be about the breeds kept at this point. In my case most US raptors overwinter where I live we have Sumatras and they have done great!

 

[Morrigan]

I have tons of raptors where I live. We have had good luck with putting netting over our yard, but we learned that hard way that if you leave any kind of gap, the hawk will find it. Now that the gaps are sealed, we haven't had any hawks squeeze, or tear, through the actual netting material, but I may just be lucky. If they figure out how to get through the netting, I will have to re-think my whole set-up.

 

[lissalischicks]

We had the same problem. I thought we just had hawks but apparently we have falcons too in our area. We put bird netting up and so far that as worked even with the gaps... but spring is coming so I am concerned.

My friends tried crisscrossing fishing line and it has worked for him. He said the fishing line is tougher than the bird netting....


I am sorry for your loss as this is one of my biggest fears.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I have tons of raptors where I live. We have had good luck with putting netting over our yard, but we learned that hard way that if you leave any kind of gap, the hawk will find it. Now that the gaps are sealed, we haven't had any hawks squeeze, or tear, through the actual netting material, but I may just be lucky. If they figure out how to get through the netting, I will have to re-think my whole set-up.

We had the same problem. I thought we just had hawks but apparently we have falcons too in our area. We put bird netting up and so far that as worked even with the gaps... but spring is coming so I am concerned.

My friends tried crisscrossing fishing line and it has worked for him. He said the fishing line is tougher than the bird netting....


I am sorry for your loss as this is one of my biggest fears.

It really was my biggest fear, but my roosters and chooks free range the property without the benefit of netting or even an enclosed coop without issue. I do have a primitive breed, but dang they take care of themselves, and if the dogs get to the predators, well...

 

[junebuggena]

It really was my biggest fear, but my roosters and chooks free range the property without the benefit of netting or even an enclosed coop without issue. I do have a primitive breed, but dang they take care of themselves, and if the dogs get to the predators, well...

Never say never. You've just been very lucky it hasn't happened yet. It will happen eventually though. It's inevitable.
I've got several very watchful roosters in my flock. The predators still find ways to take birds.

 

[Welshies]

OP, here are some great preventatives. Other posts have given you great advice. For the time being, your one bird is going to be lonely, so get her a buddy or two or put up a mirror in the coop. I would keep her locked up until you figure out what to do.

• Roosters are a great protector. A good rooster will cut down losses by 50% or more. You can still eat fertile eggs and as long as you have 3 or more hens he won't overmate them.
• Shiny things can help deter hawks and falcons, like hanging spoons, old discs, or glass around your coop.
• Covering your run with materials is a good idea. Some people roof their entire run, or put wire over it all, but with a big run this is hard to do. I have a 450 square foot run. I cover mine with garden netting. The right type is strong, keeping hawks and falcons out, but easy to staple to fencing and buildings. It is quite cheap as well. Some people have success with bird or deer netting, while others use fishing line, or very fine mesh. When covering your run, consider that if it snows in your area, you want the holes to be large enough to let snow pass through.
• A guard dog is a great way to guard your animals, although for most people this is not an option.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Never say never. You've just been very lucky it hasn't happened yet. It will happen eventually though. It's inevitable.
I've got several very watchful roosters in my flock. The predators still find ways to take birds.

Yes I am much more worried about the possums or Raccoons. They will be a force once spring hits. I know how lucky I have been, but my birds seem to be bulletproof against raptors. I just hope when the raccoons show up my security lighting gives them a fighting chance.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

• Roosters are a great protector. A good rooster will cut down losses by 50% or more. You can still eat fertile eggs and as long as you have 3 or more hens he won't overmate them.

I recently just asked about the ratio of roosters to hens and the recommended ratio is at least 1 to 10 (12 is even better.)

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

As far as netting and wires over a run, you also have to think about snow load. If the netting gets bogged down by the snow, it will allow the hawks to get in especially if there is already a gap.
Also, @hoosierhen101 if you are looking for a buddy for the 1 hen, there might be someone on the Indiana thread that would be able to help with that.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Never say never. You've just been very lucky it hasn't happened yet. It will happen eventually though. It's inevitable.
I've got several very watchful roosters in my flock. The predators still find ways to take birds.

I still expect my three guard dogs to make me aware of issues as they protect the chooks as their own. And unless a mature Jaguar crosses the border they can deal with it.