How To Keep Hawks Away?

[Mossy500]

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

 

[Mossy500]

I lost 2 of my girls to a hawk over the winter and 1 last winter. Hawks don't seem to bother them during the summer months. I think that because the spring, summer and fall present the hawks with lots of food choices. The winters in the northeast probably give the hawks less options and my chickens are out in the yard all day. Unless there is snow on the ground. I leave my dogs out whenever possible but... Like you I just cant lock them up all day. They are happiest when roaming and ruining my yard.

 

[Chickenbrainiac]

Protecting from birds of prey:

Chicks are very vulnerable to hawks, owls, etc.
Once they are adult sized, the risk is greatly lowered.

Having a rooster (or 2) amongst the flock is wise in free range situations.
The hens are interested in what they can find on the ground, so that is where their eyes are focused.
The roosters are the ones looking skywards. They will sound the alarm when needed.

The birds need cover to hide under. Bird netting is expensive, and difficult to keep moving.
Also, the hens will not recognize it as protection.
Having a tarp raised 12-18 inches above ground gives them a visible sanctuary to run to in times of danger.

You can get a 7'4" x 9'6" tarp from Harbor Freight for $4.99
Make a quick framework to elevate it from 2x2s, or PVC pipe.

Here is more on how to keep hawks away from chickens

 

[Jaybo712]

Discharging firearms in direction of any protected animal such as hawks, owls, etc is very illegal! Just say if you was outside in your back yard shooting off rounds or even bottle rockets in the same direction as the Red Tailed Hawk trying to your chickens and lets say a conservation officer in area to witness such, your going directly to jail dont pass go dont collect $200. Even though you didnt hit the bird and had no means to there is still that possibility which in the officer eyes and by law wouldve been an attempt to. Where im from, (Indiana) they DO NOT play around. Besides, instead of killing or injuring such beautiful creatures take $3.00 down to Tractor Supply and buy another damn chicken! Ive had chickens for last 5 years now and have lost 12 over those years to a fox, raccoon, 3 species of Hawks, and a Great Horned Owl, that lives in a tree in my back yard but if you was to open my coop you would count 20 chickens still. I would never kill another animal over a $3.00 chicken thats just hungry and or trying to feed its young. Put it this way, how can i be that pissed off at a animal wanting to fill its belly on one of my chickens when I myself eat chicken once maybe twice a week. For free ranging theres absolutely nothing thats 100% predator proof. But what ive done is put together a number of different things in my back yard that is guaranteed to help give ya some chicken protection.
Installed a dog lead/run 3 feet away from my coop and placed my yapping Border Collie on but make sure your dog is chicken friendly. Small bushy trees, big shrubbery, or brier patches work great against birds of prey for the chickens will take refuge under. Paper plats on fishin line seems to work as well. Tie a sinker on your pole and cast it over a couple of trees then tie off the line. Ive also purchased a roll of chain link fence and fenced in a small area butted up against my coop because if a predator is lurking my dog will let me know and the most common for me is Hawks which they will give themselves away when ya walk outside and listen for their loud screech. Thats when i round em up and put i side the fencing. Ive even had close calls with a couple of eagle that nest nearby but they're after my yorkies so now when i take em out they are leashed to my hand. Theres always other ways to deal with animals besides killing them off.