How To Keep Hawks Away?

[Lazy Farmer]

This is what I suggest, at least what I plan to do if I had time, to grab a shotgun and shoot at the blasted thing

You are publishing a criminal act, be careful. Hawks are Protected by Uncle Sam. It is a Federal Offense to launch anything at or near them. Prison and an big take out of your wallet.
I have learned that it is easier to care and feed my flock when not in jail.
I have lost birds. Then the Hawks move on. This time of year is the worst.
Free ranging is not free totally, sometimes it comes with a price.

 

[Mahen100]

Like GldnValleyHens, I would never shoot a hawk. That doesn't prevent me, though, from firing off whistling bottle rockets (with report) at them when they come after my chickens. Those are not legal where I live, and I am not sure exploding them near the hawk in air actually prevents it from returning, but doing so makes me feel better.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Like GldnValleyHens, I would never shoot a hawk. That doesn't prevent me, though, from firing off whistling bottle rockets (with report) at them when they come after my chickens. Those are not legal where I live, and I am not sure exploding them near the hawk in air actually prevents it from returning, but doing so makes me feel better.

Sorry but it is. A ping pong ball thrown at them is illegal on a Federal level. IN ALL U.S.
Bottle rockets are super illegal. I have talked to the feds and was warned awhile back.
All you are allowed to do is yell and wave your arms.
Fox, possom, coon, cyote, skunks you can dispatch if on your property.
Owls, Hawks, Eagles.. IF Someone calls.. bye bye.

Don't think this site is immune to Federal Employees.
Anyway, good luck. I gave fair warning.
Did not post out of starting a debate. Just posted to inform.
Just if you commit a federal crime, it's not wise to publish it on a site with 5 million members and growing bigger everyday.
Best regards.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

I would never kill a hawk, but if shooting next to it is also illegal, then that better not happen either.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

I apologize for my rash words, I just really don't like predators like hawks who eat my beloved chickies

 

[guineapeeps]

This morning we had our first experience with a chicken hawk.

We live in a suburban area, with a small coop and four chickens: 2 barred rocks, a golden sex link and a white silkie. Luckily, we were right by the window and saw the hawk drop down, so we ran outside and shooed it away. At first we were scared because we could only find one chicken out of the four, and lots of feathers on the ground. It turns out that the one we found ran into the coop, and the other three found hiding spots around the yard. We are scared that the hawk will come back soon.

As far as protection goes, we allow our chickens to scratch around the yard during the day, and keep the coop open for them to lay as they please, and then lock the pen up around 7pm. We have two boxers and two cats that get along with the chickens, and we usually let them out every few hours for a half-hour to an hour, or until they scratch at the door.

We have tried keeping the chickens in the coop, but they throw a huge hissy fit and squak until they are let out. We don't want our neighbors to file a complaint about noise. I looked into a net, but the way our backyard is set up it wouldn't work. Is there anything, such as a fake-owl or something along those lines to keep away hawks? We love our chickens dearly and don't want anything to happen to them. Any help or ideas will be greatly appreciated

If you live in an area where you can have guinea fowl, you might consider getting some. They are great alarm systems when predators show up; however, they are loud, so if you have neighbors nearby, they’re probably not a good idea.
I swear my guineas could sense hawks and eagles before they could even see them. They would sound the alarm long before they came into the yard and everyone would scatter and hide, which would allow me time to go outside, waving my arms and yelling like a lunatic to scare it away! (Probably a good thing I didn’t have close neighbors!) Despite having many birds of prey near our property, I never lost a guinea to one.

 

[imnukensc]

Despite some earlier responses to the contrary, it is not illegal to scare a bird of prey by firing a firearm near it or exploding fireworks near it UNLESS that bird of prey is on the endangered or threatened species list which includes bald eagles and golden eagles.

http://icwdm.org/handbook/birds/HawksOwls.asp

 

[lazy gardener]

Thank you for putting to rest the myth that it's not ok to protect your animals. Scaring a predator away is acceptable. I lost 3 birds in a very short length of time to Northern Goshawk several years ago.

 

[ChikinDaddy]

Let my Bantams out to range with the big girls today for the first time, went to unload some play sand for their lobster pool dust bath and I'll be damned if I didn't look up to see what I assume to be a momma and a baby hawk both taking off with something....ran out back and sure enough...They made off with one of my black Silkies and my Easter Egger Roo! GUBMENT CAME AN TOOK MUH BABY! First freaking day they got to go outside and they got to run and jump for the first time...Wishing I had just integrated them in with my roomates big hens in one house instead if insisting on building my own Coop....Maybe Black Jerry could have protected them too! Maybe I'll enroll them in Taekwondo, or get them all a concealed carry permit!

 

[Molpet]

Let my Bantams out to range with the big girls today for the first time, went to unload some play sand for their lobster pool dust bath and I'll be damned if I didn't look up to see what I assume to be a momma and a baby hawk both taking off with something....ran out back and sure enough...They made off with one of my black Silkies and my Easter Egger Roo! GUBMENT CAME AN TOOK MUH BABY! First freaking day they got to go outside and they got to run and jump for the first time...Wishing I had just integrated them in with my roomates big hens in one house instead if insisting on building my own Coop....Maybe Black Jerry could have protected them too! Maybe I'll enroll them in Taekwondo, or get them all a concealed carry permit!