Holy C***!!!!

[chickerdoodle]

I can only imagine the frightening scene! I believe I would've done the same and ran out myself with dogs in pursuit--also not thinking about what I'd do if I got to the hawk! I know I wouldn't want to hurt it just scare the crap out of it. I do not plan on my hens running loose with out netting as I live in the PNW which has lots of hawks. I did spend a few early mornings and evenings with a broom in hand waiting to scare the holy cr*%!p out of a blue heron who ate my 12 year old pet fish out of our pond. I defeated the racoons by the pond being too deep but that didn't deter the six foot tall heron

. Darn heron never came back. Now the pond has floating netting which they are too afraid of touching. Glad your chickens are OK!

 

[ellieroo]

We are in Wash state. Lots of hawks esp with a pigeon loft and chicken coop in back yard! Had a copers in the barn couple years back He just couldn't fly out the door?? Finally dropped in exhaustion to the floor.Got a jacket gathetred him up and he just sat in my hands for a few minutes catching his breath then away he went. The ones that scare me are the great horned owls who float overhead at night!!!

 

[Barred Rocker]

I have a terrible time with hawks fortunately my chickens seem to be hawk savvy and keep clost to cover just in case. Its made several attempts but always flew away empty clawed. I lost a 2 month old last summer to a hawk. So if they're young I baby sit them, the older ones seem to know how to take care of themselves............so far, knock on wood.

 

[featherbaby]

If you have to run toward a hawk empty handed, make the sound of a growling, howling, hissing cat ! One of their natural enemies is a bobcat or other large feline species. Sometimes the cat sound along with your arm waiving charge will confuse and alarm him enough to forget about stalking. I've heard of some people installing a flashing laser light (random time intervals between flashes) to discourage owls at night. I haven't tried it personally but if I were an owl and saw a bright flash of light .....I wouldn't chance it.

In my neighborhood the main problem is raccoon raiders. I've trapped (and relocated) 67 of them before I just gave up. And no. I didn't trap the same ones over and over. I marked them to be sure. They are so destructive and I'm told more than half of them carry rabies.

Then there was the day the Osprey/hawk (?) made a dive for my cockatoos in cages right inside my window. He hit the glass with a terrible thump. He bounced off and landed on the deck where he sat, dazed for a few minutes. When he regained his senses, he paced back and forth in front of the window, looking up and down trying to find a way in! My parrots were so freaked out to be stalked I had to close the blinds to get him to give up and leave.