How to repel hawks and other predators from area?

[AChickenBoi]

one of my chicks got killed by an unknown predator. I’m pretty sure it was a hawk that got her, as they are a common occurrence, there were only a few feathers left and no body, and very little cats are seen in my neighborhood. If it wasn’t a hawk, and rather the very little chance it was a cat, what methods have worked to keep them away. This is my first time losing a bird as well, so it was a very sad night for me to come home and hear one of my babies were killed. I really need some help.

Edit: ok, I now know it was a ****ing hawk for sure. That hoe was antagonizing other birds in my neighbor’s tree and my mom saw.

 

[FortCluck]

Do you have your run predator proofed?

A pic of your run would be great so that we can see what you have...

A lot of people use bird netting on top of their runs because it keeps anything from flying in. Some people use hardware cloth all the way around their run because that makes it predator proof as well.

I free range so I don't have the ability to completely cover every single square inch of my free range area... I string up fishing wire in certain areas so the my chickens can hide under those area if there is a threat. I also have a lot of woods in my free range area so my chickens can hide in the brush and can camouflage when there are predators.

 

[cmom]

I encourage the crows to hang around. When they see a hawk they usually chase it off. I do have several game cameras up on my property and most nights, when the predators are roaming around here, I see mostly coyotes but sometimes other predators including cats. We lost a chick once a few years ago. I had the chicks in the yard in a small pen next to the garage where my hubby was cutting some wood on a saw about 10 feet away. A hawk swooped down and snatched a chick. It happened so fast that there wasn't time to react. Good luck and have fun with the rest of your flock...

 

[centrarchid]

one of my chicks got killed by an unknown predator. I’m pretty sure it was a hawk that got her, as they are a common occurrence, there were only a few feathers left and no body, and very little cats are seen in my neighborhood. If it wasn’t a hawk, and rather the very little chance it was a cat, what methods have worked to keep them away. This is my first time losing a bird as well, so it was a very sad night for me too come home and hear one of my babies were killed. I really need some help.

Odds are a hawk is not involved, unless the chicken was very small like less than a pound. Predator was more likely big enough to carry victim away to consume elsewhere. Your location not obvious so predator assemblage you have not known to me. If US then opossum and raccoon you can rule out as they are messier at killing and eating with carcass seldom being moved far from kill sight. Neither is particularly good at hunting during day. Fox or Coyote are the more common daytime chicken thieves that run off with carcass, but a Bobcat can do same.

 

[AChickenBoi]

Odds are a hawk is not involved, unless the chicken was very small like less than a pound. Predator was more likely big enough to carry victim away to consume elsewhere. Your location not obvious so predator assemblage you have not known to me. If US then opossum and raccoon you can rule out as they are messier at killing and eating with carcass seldom being moved far from kill sight. Neither is particularly good at hunting during day. Fox or Coyote are the more common daytime chicken thieves that run off with carcass, but a Bobcat can do same.

I know for sure it was a hawk. I live in a big Neighborhood where it would be impossible for a coyote or fox to get far without being 1. Mauled to death by big dogs, or 2. Being sighted and hunted down by the neighborhood watch. Even if it did get that far in, it would have fun getting into my backyard (5-6 foot tall fence that was just repaired a few weeks ago). I live in the US and have never seen a bobcat. Pepper was small enough to be held in my hand, so I’m pretty sure a hawk could quickly swoop in and take off with her. I’m looking at every possible predator but a hawk sounds like the most reliable answer. I just hope it doesn’t happen to any of my other chickens, especially Shadow and Blue (my silkie babies)

 

[cmom]

Bobcats are just about everywhere but rarely sighted. I had a bobcat kill 14 birds. I got the bobcat. It made the mistake of coming back for more.

 

[glassdragonfly]

We had a hawk problem here for awhile,red tails and they are big enough to take half grown barred rock roosters. I put up a fence post and tied tin pie pans to it with yarn so they flap around. Hawks do not like the noise and light reflections. No problems since.Plus we have lots of crows and I started putting bread on the hay bales when I see them chase off the hawks. Hoping they get the hint