Ideas needed!!! Hawk problem!

[Sylviaanne]

There is netting that comes in large sizes for pheasant aviaries. Netting is usually sufficient to keep hawks out. You can use poles to support it across the span.

A good rooster with each flock has kept hawks from taking any of my hens.

When one thinks they don't have predators looking for a free chicken dinner, they need to think again. Hawks, raccoons, opossums, foxes, coyotes, weasels, dogs and feral cats are virtually everywhere.

I have no idea how much one would cost but could a parachute from a supply store work?

 

[Celizwalsh]

I second the idea of using netting. There is a pheasant farm around the corner from my house that uses it over very large areas with wooden posts to help support it throughout. It looks like this ---> https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8388/8525450791_e988b4644e_z.jpg

Another idea would be to mount one of those owl decoys with the moving heads by your coop. Like this ---> http://marvingardensstore.com/dalen-solar-rotating-head-owl-decoy.html

 

[blucoondawg]

I have netting over my run. I ordered it off amazon. It wasn't very expensive I think it was 30 something dollars for a 25x50 foot piece of 2 inch mesh. It is a heavy nylon string mesh not the plastic junk. They have larger sizes as well. Go on amazon and search aviary netting you should come up with a few different sources for this mesh

 

[Frizzlett]

Well we have the top covered but we need to cover a little on the sides and we'll be done! 2 of my older chickens hurt themselves trying to get away from the hawk. They both hurt their combs. One a little worse than the other. I feel so bad that I wasn't there. But they're all ok now. They want to come outside finally. I hope they'll get to today. Thanks for your advice! It was really helpful.

 

[Frizzlett]

I have netting over my run. I ordered it off amazon. It wasn't very expensive I think it was 30 something dollars for a 25x50 foot piece of 2 inch mesh. It is a heavy nylon string mesh not the plastic junk. They have larger sizes as well. Go on amazon and search aviary netting you should come up with a few different sources for this mesh

I found some but I we don't need to buy any now. We used some chicken wire on the top which worked pretty well. Just hope in the winter the snow will fall through. We'll have to wait and see.

 

[Frizzlett]

I second the idea of using netting. There is a pheasant farm around the corner from my house that uses it over very large areas with wooden posts to help support it throughout. It looks like this ---> https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8388/8525450791_e988b4644e_z.jpg

Another idea would be to mount one of those owl decoys with the moving heads by your coop. Like this ---> http://marvingardensstore.com/dalen-solar-rotating-head-owl-decoy.html

Wow! That's a lot of netting! I was thinking of doing something like that but we figured out a different way.

 

[blucoondawg]

I found some but I we don't need to buy any now. We used some chicken wire on the top which worked pretty well. Just hope in the winter the snow will fall through. We'll have to wait and see.

I only have snow issues when we get the real wet heavy stuff. It hasnt broken the netting but it weighs it down to the point that on one occasion it did pull my run sides over. Basically collapsed the run. I reinforced it with a few treated 2x4s it will be fine now

 

[MyPetNugget]

I am so sorry that happened!

We have terrible hawk problems too, but luckily we have never lost a chicken to them. They like to swoop down low and sit in a tree until I stop looking, then they try and grab them. Only a few of my chickens are smart enough to see a hawk and run for cover. Then they make a squakking sound and everybody else comes in too.
I only do supervised free ranging, because there are just so many!!

I think a chicken tractor might help for now. We are going to make one very soon to protect them.