Hen Savers--Hawk Protection???

[woodmort]

Was standing for 45 minutes waiting to check out at TSC today and picked up a copy of their magazine. An article there caught my eye--has anyone ever tried these? http://www.tractorsupply.com/content/magazine/current/winter_2010_hen_savers

 

[wood&feathers]

I dunno - I have a homemade saddle on one hen 'cause of rooster tracks, but I don't think it would have saved the cockerel I lost this afternoon. It looks like the hawk hit him really hard about 1" below the head, on his neck.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Maybe if they cover a larger area of the bird's body than shown in the photo, and are made of kevlar?

 

[33yardbirds]

I would think anything with a cloth weave could give the tallons a gripping surface for a larger hawk or eagle. The velocity of some attacks would stun the chicken for a 2nd or 3rd hit. Also the cost of the armor and the # of attacks just doesn't justify itself. I've had two hawk attacks and both were failures on the hawk's part. But the chickens learned a vauluable lesson and scoot even when the sillouett of a buzzard appears.

 

[dsqard]

I wonder if you put sewed "eyes" on the center of an apron if that would help? Just thinking of the masks that people in India wear on the backs of their heads to discourage tiger attacks. I don't know if that would work for a raptor but I wonder if they thought that the chicken was "looking" at them they might think twice about attacking? Just a thought.

 

[dmccann]

That is an interesting idea! But i wonder what the other chickens would do, mine seem to be nuts!