How long will the hawk return for?

[Kaesi2020]

Hi all, we have a flock of six pullets. They stay in the coop and covered run unless I am physically outside and able to monitor them free range and usually just for an hour or so daily this winter. I've been especially careful and observant since noticing a juvenile red tail a few weeks back. On average he sits in the tree across from our road daily between 3 and 5 pm, right before dark. He started this weeks ago and has not given up yet. I usually scare him off just with him noticing my presence but I'm surprised he is still coming despite (*fingers crossed) no luck getting dinner yet. How long does this usually continue for? Its been easy to supervise the chickens during that short free range time because I keep them under our deck behind a boat so they cannot be seen (it's in the back yard and the hawk is in the front yard) plus they are afraid of the snow so they do not go anywhere else right now.

Thank you!

 

[MissMonty]

I have a hawk that lives on our property, he's lived here for years now. We so far hasn't really messed with the chickens or any of our animals so he hasn't been an issue but I definitely take precautions since I have seen him.

Honestly, its best to always assume you have a hawk around even if you don't see them. If you scare this one off there will likely always be another

 

[Kaesi2020]

I have a hawk that lives on our property, he's lived here for years now. We so far hasn't really messed with the chickens or any of our animals so he hasn't been an issue but I definitely take precautions since I have seen him.

Honestly, its best to always assume you have a hawk around even if you don't see them. If you scare this one off there will likely always be another

Thank you! I look back on the summer time and all the risks I took with my flock- I would leave them unattended all the time in clear sight. After all of this hawk activity I plan on changing things up come summertime!

 

[MissMonty]

Thank you! I look back on the summer time and all the risks I took with my flock- I would leave them unattended all the time in clear sight. After all of this hawk activity I plan on changing things up come summertime!

To be 100% honest I have done the same with our hawk friend. I use to free range my chickens for a good year or two knowing he was there and never honestly had a problem. I did however have a problem when one night they decided not to come in and I wasn't feeling well so I let them roost in a barn and random dog (yes dog not coyote) came and killed my entire flock and went after one of my other non-chicken animals as well.

After that I started taking precautions. I was playing with fire leaving them out all the time anyways with that hawk.

 

[TreeStrepek]

I have the same hawk dynamic on my farm. I was running out there & watching them closely too. After a lot of unwanted hawk attention— I acquired a friendly rooster. Problem solved. Be careful- some roosters are aggressive. We have a hand fed Wyndotta. He’s a good boy. Very protective

 

[Kaesi2020]

I have the same hawk dynamic on my farm. I was running out there & watching them closely too. After a lot of unwanted hawk attention— I acquired a friendly rooster. Problem solved. Be careful- some roosters are aggressive. We have a hand fed Wyndotta. He’s a good boy. Very protective

I've heard that about roosters. If we ever grow our flock I think we would go the rooster route too!