I have a redtailed hawk sitting on my chicken fence

[Lollipop]

Do what ya gotta do and play dumb.

 

[dave27889]

You know what. Last year I had two tom turkeys in with my pullets and I had no hawks around. SandS poultry live near me and they have tom turkeys. I was careful with worming last year and had no problems with blackhead either. Lots of people around here raise turkeys and chickens together. I think I might get a tom or two. My Rooster did challange the hawk but I don't want him hurt or killed either. I think I will leave the wildlife people out of this and see what happens. Thanks for the help, dave27889

 

[Buster]

I've heard that hanging pie pans can help too. Apparently they don't like reflecting things.

 

[chicklady63]

They figured the animals were confused by the blue tarp covering it, and thought it was a body of water.

Do bodies of water that pristine even exist any more? I would think maybe the brown side would probably be more confusing (if such a thing even could confuse a goose).

Just my take on the matter.

FYI: the larger breeds of Geese (I have dewlap Africans) are good for keeping hawks at bay as well. We recently replaced a shelter over part of my chicken yard. With the shelter absent for an hour or so, the hawks could see the chickens better & appeared out of no where. We counted 15 circling above us - the most I've ever seen at one time though 4-5 is not uncommon. We brought the dogs & geese out & they quickly disappeared.

 

[WalkingWolf]

I have two everyday that circle the pens. I moved my wife's close line over the pens and keep clothes on them all the time. It has helped, the hawks did make a attempt at one of the small pens under the trees two days ago. I looked out the window to see him in the pen, but he did not get any birds. I guess he could not dive and had to negotiate the limbs gave the bantams enough time to seek cover. They still make a attempt everyday but the lines trees and clothes slow them down to much to make a dive. One of them hit a line the other day and it seemed to daze him and he stood on the ground until one of my ducks attacked him. I have never seen so many hawks as this year, maybe it is the cold driving them south, but I sure wish they would pick on somebody else.

I have also moved as many obstacles into the pens as I can find in the yard. Picnick tables, statues whatever my wife has out there I moved to create obstacles. I may order some rebar cut and drive in the ground it will not affect the chickens but the bigger hawk will have to negotiate them.

 

[Bard's Rock!]

Quote:
YES!

 

[Andora]

A big hawk swooped down at my chickens yesterday afternoon! I saw it out the window. We live in a suburb and I've never had a hawk problem here before. Luckily most of the birds dove under my daughter's swing set club house, and the rest ran under the coop. One of my roosters flew at the hawk and that combined with me screaming at the window in shock must have startled it because it flew off. My two Polish roosters were just sitting out in the yard, they were the only birds who didn't notice anything happening.

I had no idea owning a tom turkey would help keep hawks away. If we ever get to move to farmland I will have to keep that in mind...

 

[Buster]

Quote:
Those are all great ideas! I planted lots of sunflower seeds and hollyhocks in the chicken yard last fall in hopes of making some obstacles and giving some cover too. I just threw them out randomly. Lots and lots of seeds so hopefully I will have some good ground cover this summer.

 

[Buster]

Quote:
I've heard that the crest on breeds like Polish and Silkies interfere with them being able to see things above them.

 

[amazondoc]

Just a small correction --

Red-tailed hawks aren't the same thing as Cooper's hawks. It's either one, or the other. Or some other kind.

There are lots of things you can do to discourage hawks. Many of em have already been mentioned. I don't remember seeing the suggestion to string twine or other lines over the chicken yard area to make a spiderweb of sorts -- hawks have a hard time negotiating it. People also have success with hanging CDs or tin can lids (I did see someone mention pie plates). And providing as much cover as possible -- bushes, old pallets propped up, old cars, whatever -- gives the girls a place to run.

Good luck!