How to get rid of hawks?

[Donnigan]

I just chased off a hawk that was sitting on the chicken fence! How can I get rid of those things? We have three of them!

 

[Ameraucanas]

Here are some ideas-
-Remove bird feeders (that you put out for wild birds)
-Plant small shrubs for chickens to hide in
-Put spikes on fence (so that it can't perch on it)
-Scare hawks away with things such as loud whistles, recorded bird distress calls, or even a motion-sensored water sprinkler that shoots the hawk whenever it comes near- however change the type and location of these things frequently, as hawks are very smart animals and will soon overcome their fear if you don't constantly change these things
-Cover the coop/pen with chicken wire to protect the chickens
-Close entryways to sheds, barns, and other places where hawks might nest (however be sure to get any existing nests out safely first)

Hope that helps!
-Ameraucanas

 

[imnukensc]

Get a nice pellet gun and shoot the hawk in the face for trying to hurt your babies

Shooting a hawk with a gun, even a pellet gun, is a federal offense.

 

[centrarchid]

I have two hawk species with very different hunting strategies. As a result methods for controlling losses to them differ.

The larger Red-tailed Hawks hunt from a perch where they can usually glide in to catch chicken in the open to kill it on the spot regardless of victims size. Chickens response to this species is to get into cover that hawk cannot fly through. Generally the chickens are more capable of running through such cover. The cover patches I have that works need to be at least 6' across their narrowest dimension with stems spaced about 12" apart on average. This species can take even fully adult roosters, but it is a struggle. Dog of any quality shut this species down so long as dogs know what is going on.

The smaller and more agile Coopers Hawk is much more varied as it will hunt from a perch or move through a series of low flights in a stealthy manner to get close. This species will also pursue victims into heavy cover. In my setting the Coopers Hawk specializes in eating smaller chickens. Generally, the largest game chickens I loose them are about 10 weeks old. Larger chickens, especially adults are a very different story and can attack the hawk. Broody hens and fully adult roosters can be a mortal threat to even female Coopers Hawks. Adult chickens usually shut this critter down. Exception to that is when the Coopers Hawk can capture chicks that are just weaned and more than 50 feet away from adults. The hawk snatches such small victims and flies off with catch still alive and squawling. On more than one occasion we have have adult game hens over take such hawks from behind while in the air forcing hawk to give of catch, although most of the time the hawk get away with catch. Simply having free-range roosters within about 50 feet shuts this guy down.

I am really wanting to smack people when they do not even discern between hawk species and life stage of chickens being targeted.

 

[nzpouter]

What country? We are allowed to shoot them where we are but it's easier to have the dogs watch for them.

 

[Sjisty]

In my experience, nothing works with the red-tailed hawk. They aren't afraid of anything. It's not legal to shoot them. We just switched to large chickens.

We had a Jersey Giant who was dust bathing. A hawk landed on the ground right in front of her. Bertha raised up out of the hollow she had made, growled at the hawk, and started to go after it! Needless to say, that day the hawk decided to eat mice or a nice rabbit! I watched it all from my kitchen window.

We only have a problem now when we have chicks, so we don't free range them until they're big.

 

[CountryGirl1120]

Ive heard people will draw crows to their property and they chase the hawks off. I dont know how well that works however. I have many other predators so I myself invested in a guard dog.

 

[jessicamitchell]

Well, the real solution is to put a net above your yard, not too high though.
Hawks will get caught up and will learn their lesson pretty soon.

 

[Tilly6]

We just had a hawk in the yard, it actually came closer to us as we moved in front of our ducks! We called our dog over too, nothing would budge that bird! The ducks have an enclosed run, but they are going to be super depressed if they can't roam the fenced yard tomorrow. There are lots of hiding places, and usually at least one dog roaming the yard, I don't know if I should risk it. It was a red tailed hawk

 

[the chick guy]

Hello
Put fake crows and owls up on like poles some where crows and hawks hate same with all birds of prey just Remer to move them so it looks real and it's illegal to kill birds of prey

2 one is hang cd's up it hurts the birds eyes when the sun shines into it but it won't blind them

3rd put shrubs throughout your yard so theyou can run under them also helps to have a rooster to give a warning call

4th I don't like this one because it might injury the bird but put a 1 in to 1 1/2 in mesh net

Hope this helps I wish the best to you and your chickens