I know now what killed my bird. What next?

[SarahLadd]

I was in the yard today, sunbathing 3 feet from the coop, when I saw it. A hawk came over the house, barely visible because it was so high. And then it circled around. And again. And kept coming lower until I could really see the detail on it. Taking no chances, I ran to grab my birds. I must have looked insane hugging six birds in my arms running like a madman across my yard, but they're all safely inside and the hawk took off.

So, that kind of confirms my suspicions. I have two things that are excruciatingly detrimental going on with my flock; one is that my d'anvers are snack size, two is that they're nearly white and stick out like delicious sore thumbs on my green grass. Seeking answers to my problem, the solutions provided have many mixed reviews. A few current topics on hawks suggest owl decoys are worthless, and I am worthless to try and protect them by being in the yard with them. I'm unsure about the efficacy of things that glitter and shine, such as strung up CD's/mirrors, any commentary on this is helpful.

My question is, I watch crows, blue jays and ravens bully the snot out of hawks and eagles on the regular. The aerial catfights are interesting to watch (when you're not worried about your pets becoming snacks). I have never, ever seen an owl attack a hawk. So why are owls even a suggestion as a decoy to deter hawks? Would raven/crow/jay decoys not be better? Has anyone tried this? I don't know that they exist, but I'm crafty and I know I can "nail it" for accuracy if that's what I gotta do.

Besides keeping them penned in for the rest of their lives, is there anything that works? Like, actually works?

Thanks everyone.

 

[McChooky]

I was in the yard today, sunbathing 3 feet from the coop, when I saw it. A hawk came over the house, barely visible because it was so high. And then it circled around. And again. And kept coming lower until I could really see the detail on it. Taking no chances, I ran to grab my birds. I must have looked insane hugging six birds in my arms running like a madman across my yard, but they're all safely inside and the hawk took off.

So, that kind of confirms my suspicions. I have two things that are excruciatingly detrimental going on with my flock; one is that my d'anvers are snack size, two is that they're nearly white and stick out like delicious sore thumbs on my green grass. Seeking answers to my problem, the solutions provided have many mixed reviews. A few current topics on hawks suggest owl decoys are worthless, and I am worthless to try and protect them by being in the yard with them. I'm unsure about the efficacy of things that glitter and shine, such as strung up CD's/mirrors, any commentary on this is helpful.

My question is, I watch crows, blue jays and ravens bully the snot out of hawks and eagles on the regular. The aerial catfights are interesting to watch (when you're not worried about your pets becoming snacks). I have never, ever seen an owl attack a hawk. So why are owls even a suggestion as a decoy to deter hawks? Would raven/crow/jay decoys not be better? Has anyone tried this? I don't know that they exist, but I'm crafty and I know I can "nail it" for accuracy if that's what I gotta do.

Besides keeping them penned in for the rest of their lives, is there anything that works? Like, actually works?

Thanks everyone.

Everything works until it doesn't as you've already found. Sorry .Watching for predators and intervening on their behalf won't always work. Sooner of later you'll lose one or more to predators if you free range your flock.There are ways you can"intervene" so a birds of prey can't dive down and carry one away but it can still get a chicken thats not under the net.

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

Everything works until it doesn't as you've already found. Sorry .Watching for predators and intervening on their behalf won't always work. Sooner of later you'll lose one or more to predators if you free range your flock.There are ways you can"intervene" so a birds of prey can't dive down and carry one away but it can still get a chicken thats not under the net.

Hawks aren't afraid of other birds, they just put up with them. Watching a bluejay act up on top of a platform bird feeder, that was six feet off the ground, one morning got really interesting. While I was watching the Jay showboat there was a blur and a sudden plume of blue feather drifting to the ground where the Jay had been standing. Following the blur I identified it as a large red tail hawk with something hanging out of its talons. Pretty sure it was mister showboat. A blink of the eye and it was over.

edit: oops quoted the wrong post ... Meant to quote SarahLadd

 

[SarahLadd]

Hawks aren't afraid of other birds, they just put up with them. Watching a bluejay act up on top of a platform bird feeder, that was six feet off the ground, one morning got really interesting. While I was watching the Jay showboat there was a blur and a sudden plume of blue feather drifting to the ground where the Jay had been standing. Following the blur I identified it as a large red tail hawk with something hanging out of its talons. Pretty sure it was mister showboat. A blink of the eye and it was over.

edit: oops quoted the wrong post ... Meant to quote SarahLadd

I think the reason jays and crows attack hawks is because they are natural prey for hawks. A single jay is asking for it. I think I'd need to attract a family unit. They attack in groups to defend themselves.

This is actually the next thing I'm going to try for now. It's playing the long game, but if I can lure jays and crows to the area I think it's my best bet. In the background I'll be building a chicken tractor covered in hardware cloth. If what I'm reading is true, my redtail will come back again and again daily forever and given the draught conditions we're experiencing, it won't stop for my dogs, for me, for decoys, for jack shit and I'm hosed. Now I just need to figure out how I can feed the corvids without feeding the squirrels, too. I don't need any more of those stupid things burying my neighbor's acorns in my grass.

 

[SarahLadd]

I kinda wanna make a decoy pullet that's got a speaker and a sensor inside that would blast a foghorn when the sensor senses a presence. Or get a midget to sit in my yard wearing a rooster suit armed with a machete. (this is a joke I will not harm any birds)

 

[saysfaa]

I think people say "owl" instead of "crow" because owl decoys are readily available and crow decoys aren't.

I also think nothing works dependably except a good fence and everything else works until it doesn't. Basically, other things work as long as the hawk/deer/whatever isn't hungry/curious/whatever enough to bother defeating whatever it is.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I have a murder of crows that patrol my property. Problem is that they also patrol many other properties. I make sure to feed the crows every day. We have A LOT of hawks in the area. My roosters free range throughout the day and they keep an eye on the sky to alert for a mere butterfly or anything that moves in the sky. They tend to freak out anytime they see a hawk so I'm assuming they know their predators. Do you have a rooster? They won't always alert and I believe they rarely protect, but there are some amazing roosters out there. Sadly, everything likes a chicken meal, so short of keeping them up in a secure coop and run, I'm not sure that anything is 100%

Edited to add: Another helpful tip, make sure you have a lot of low things for the birds to hide under. Shrubs and bushes, leaning shelter (secured so they don't get crushed), etc just things they can easily and quickly hide under

 

[McChooky]

I cannot free range because we have too many predators .The losses would be great.I'd be raising chicks year round trying to replace the ones they killed if I did. I don't want a big flock,just a couple good egg layers. Whatever method you choose to raise yours is fine just be sure to get a breed you like and one thats predator savvy.

 

[McChooky]

I kinda wanna make a decoy pullet that's got a speaker and a sensor inside that would blast a foghorn when the sensor senses a presence. Or get a midget to sit in my yard wearing a rooster suit armed with a machete. (this is a joke I will not harm any birds)

Problem is hunting, trapping and shooting predators is about the only way you'll stop them

 

[Smileybans]

I read about this fencing method to deter hawks. Mind you I have not tried it because my yard is not big enough. It allows the chickens to still range in a larger area than a run and you don’t have to cover it. Basically the idea is to place fencing four feet apart in a maze type senario. The hawks won’t be able to spread their wings once they’re inside the fencing because of the close quarters. Will they land on the fencing? I’m sure they will. Will they dive bomb into the fencing? I can see that happening. This is just a different method of placing fencing, specifically to deter arial predators, I read about.

I babysit my flock while they free range. Keeping music playing and listening to my roosters has kept the juvenile, and adult, hawks away. One day I had 10 turkey vultures watching my flock. I scared them all off with a loud bang from a metal stick I carry just for those jerks. I do have fake owls but those work better to keep the foxes away. Fake crows will attract real crows to your yard. I have seen the crows around my yard scare off the hawks but they aren’t always reliable.