how to get rid of a hawk killing my chickens

[ChicNmom]

We have some Australorps. Neither have been attacked but our black star and a black mixed breed hen have been attacked. We only lost one younger bird to a hawk while we weren't home and in the middle of winter. That ended the unlimited free ranging. We only let ours out while we are home. We have a camera surveillance system so my husband can keep an eye on the yard while working from home. We are surrounded by woods and have driveway motion sensors in the woods since last year when a coyote ran out and killed a hen but didn't get away with her. We lost another who would not stay with the group to an unknown predator in the woods. I heard her scream but never even found a feather so I think that was the bobcat.

There are various hiding spots in the yard and in clear areas we have some A frames so they have cover until we get outside. So far it has worked well. 3 losses and 3 injured but survived in 9 years.

I don’t understand the logic of putting defenseless prey (chickens) outside in the open that birds of prey (hawks) by nature will eat because it’s instinct, and then killing the hawk for trying to eat when you’ve placed a buffet at their feet. Just secure the chickens. You can’t blame raptors for hunting defenseless prey left outside - they are easy kills. It’s like leaving a box of baby bunny rabbits outside on the lawn and getting upset when a fox eats one. I don’t want my chickens eaten by hawks, so I don’t leave them out unattended. I also have great respect for hawks as well as other raptors. It is the flock tenders job to secure the flock in a safe enclosure, it isn’t their job to blow away animals that they have basically lured to the open buffet.

I can appreciate your thoughts. The hawks are beautiful and just doing their job. However, we live in the woods. There is an unlimited buffet of squirrels, chipmunks, mice, woodsrats, other types of wild birds etc for the raptors to eat. They have options. They are not starving. Bad choices can sometimes have bad consequences if the people at the top of the food chain feel some kind of action is necessary. Some losses are expected. I'm not sure what would happen if I had a problem raptor decimating my flock. I hope I never have to deal with that but would never judge another person for protecting their pets or livestock.

Half of the reason we got the chickens was for tick control after I got Lyme. They have done a great job of keeping the ticks down so keeping them locked up defeats part of the reason we got them in the first place.

We have gotten some funny reactions from the cameras and sensors. People think it's crazy that they are all for the chickens.


Oh, also, be careful of the crows. They will go after young chicks if they get the chance.

 

[Ila88]

I lost two favourites to a hawk. Now I keep my alpacas with the chickens and have also strung some lines with fluttering flags to deter them from swooping or landing here. So far, so good.

 

[The Kooky Kiwi]

I have had my fair share of run-ins with birds of prey - in my location the most common is Red Tailed Hawk and less commonly the NZ Falcon. Hawks and Falcon are both protected so shooting them is not a "legal" option. I found a combination of the following has worked for me:

I covered the portion of my run that is most at risk. The remainder of the run already has some shelter from nearby trees and I have planted some additional trees (avocado & nectarine) that will soon be big enough to provide reasonable cover and evasion opportunities. It's not completely hawk proof but it gives the chickens options.

Then I figured if the hawks were hungry, and other carrion is in short supply, then a man made food diversion was in order. What ISN'T protected here are the pukeko's and hares - they are pests and open season - SO we shoot those (bonus!) and leave the carcasses out in the paddocks WELL away from the chicken run area.

Result is: The hawks get to eat, full hawks no longer need to hunt the chickens, and because the resident pair of hawks are so well fed here they are strict about keeping other hawks away. So far I've gone two season without a loss to the hawks.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

I have not had many hawk issues, prob because I have giant brahmas (or almost giant), so they are to big.

 

[KyCoop]

I did the string thing. It worked really well for the huge coopers hawk but not so much for the little redtail. I will be webbing more string into the current and see. So far so good.
We also have a nice big population of blue jays my girls have learned to listen for.
As far as dogs go Im out out of luck. They are 6 lbs. A perfect grab and go snack for the coopers. They dont free range.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

I prob have said this before (I love braging about my dog), but he is 120 lbs and good at chasing every thing of the property...this does not help you though so ignore me.

 

[589205]

Hawks are just being hawks. They see flocks as easy meal pickings & take advantage of it whenever possible. They don't like wandering too far from their home nest sites during the cold seasons so it's quite normal to see them come around more often during this time of the year. My advice would be to only let the chooks out to free range when you're home & able to keep a close eye on them at all times. I'm out here in Hawkeye state where they come around checking on my flock several times a day but they don't ever stick around for long when I'm out there with them. Our little native birds are awesome helpers as well. They be mobbing!

 

[589205]

Hawks don't stick around for long when their cover is blown/exposed cause they know they won't be getting anything but trouble!

 

[589205]

Getting a guard goose is another good solution as well.

 

[cmom]

The only way to save your birds is for them to have a secure space. I'm rural and have a lot of space. I made large covered pens for my birds as I posted previously. Many years ago as my flocks grew I extended the pens out to 60 feet, prior they were 50 feet. Most of the pens are around 20 +/- feet wide. All total 60 x 200 feet The birds have a lot of room. When I have let my birds out, before long they all go back into their pens. I think they feel safer, but my land is mostly open pasture. Again, good luck...

This may not be the only way to protect birds from hawks but it works for me. I have good heavy duty netting covering my nice large pens.