How to get rid of Andrey the goshawk?

[AxelCoon]

Hi.
So i am a local brandy maker from Romania which happens to own a quite large orchard. I also have many chickens that i use for eggs and pest control.
But there is this huge goshawk i call Andrey - he's been around for many years which is giving me a headache. At first, chickens used to hide from him under the trees but he soon found their hiding spot and grabbed them straight from the orchard. He comes around daily between 1PM and 6PM, floating around with his huge wings looking for easy prey. He usually flies away if he sees me but as soon as i'm gone, he comes right back. I used to have pigeons a couple of years ago; he has killed them all. And then started hunting my chickens.
He is not afraid of scarecrows or firecrackers.
Please - how can i get rid of him? I must leave the farm daily with other work to do and he always attacks when i am not around.
Thank you!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Goshawks are likely protected by the EU and the Bern Convention.
'He' isn't likely the only one. If you persuade him to leave, another will probably take its place.
How many chickens do you have? Have you tried adding roosters to your flock?
I used to lose chickens to hawks but since running at least one large Mediterranean rooster with each flock, the hawks have given up.
Firecrackers may not deter him but I've found bottle rockets of some effect since the explosion goes off up in the air where the raptor is rather than on the ground.

 

[AxelCoon]

I have around 60 chickens.
I've had a friend who is a bird hobbyist come over and have a look at him with binoculars; he said the goshawk is likely an old male. Unfortunately, with his wings open he is way bigger than any of my roosters and he is not afraid of them, neither people.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It is always a tough quandary when a raptor has taken up residence. What breed/s are your roosters?

 

[AxelCoon]

They are Sussex and Kabirs

 

[Folly's place]

How about a couple of dogs? They would be more expensive to keep, but might discourage that hawk. Or, keep the flock under netting. Anyone locally have ideas?
Mary

 

[wyoDreamer]

Maybe you can create hiding spaces for the chickens throughout the orchard. Something low that they can get under but that the goshawk can't fly under. I'm thinking 4 concrete blocks with a piece of plywood on top.
Or maybe run some wire between the trees and hang old CDs from it. The breeze will make the CDs move and they will "flash". The wire will make it harder for the bird to fly through the area.
It works for deer in my garden - so far. I have a night light up so there is light to flash all night. I move the CDs around so they are not always in the same location.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

So from what I know, I guess you have the Kabirs for broiler/meat birds?
In spite of their size, they won't be agile enough to challenge a big hawk.
Can you obtain Minorcas, Catalanas, White Faced Black Spanish or Penedesencas of the Black variety? Those are big, agile, alert and protective breeds.
My Black Penes have taken hawks down.

 

[AxelCoon]

Well the chickens usually hide under the quince trees as they have the largest and leafiest branches but Andrey already figured that out and when he is not flying above in circles, he closely watches his prey perched in one of the trees. I might try to lure him away from my farm area somehow..

 

[Kessel23]

I know a few farmers who use geese, or should I say a goose, to protect their chickens. They raised the chicks with one gosling and it became a guard goose, they tell me it is useful for beating the heck out of hawks and raccoons. One of them actually had their guard goose kill an aggressive rooster though so It might not be the best idea. I do not have a guard goose though so I can't speak from experience.

I have only had one hawk attack this year, that I can remember, and it happened yesterday. It was a sharp shinned hawk that grabbed 1 out of 25+ cockerels, the other cockerels just ran and hid, a few mature roosters stood around and made the alarm call but I had to step in and save him. I was really disappointed in those roosters, a sharp shinned hawk is not much bigger than a blue jay and none of them could step in? I am sure there are some bigger, more aggressive, roosters that would have stepped in though. I am not sure if there is any rooster big enough or strong enough to do anything to a Goshawk though, I am not sure if a goose would even do anything, Goshawks are one of the most aggressive hawks in the world, they are like a hawk version of the golden eagle or wolverine, they are one of the few natural predators of the mink and also one of few raptors that will hunt crows. Not only is the goshawk a very aggressive and strong hunter, it is also an extraordinarily agile and intelligent. I am not sure what you could do besides keep them in a secure run.

Here are a few videos of Goshawks--