If You Have Chickens, They Will Come.

Yes, hawks can go after full grown chickens. I haven't had a problem with them in a few years, but when I did, the hawk was very brazen about eating my hen to pieces right in front of me and about 20 feet from my back door.

My dogs scare them away. And my chickens have a lot of cover to go to when one flies overhead: under decks, under outbuildings, in bushes, under the porch.

I'd say, if the hawk can see them in the woods and they haven't taken cover, yes, the hawk can get them. Some people hang CDs and tin plates around their grazing areas. That sometimes scares them away. Some people have really done a good job about trying to keep them away and posted images in this section.

 

Yes.... Eat them right on the spot! Eagles will also, I'm in Ohio and we have Eagles, Bears, even Rats that will eat chickens, it's the other white meat you know.

 

I have heard a lot about hawk dive bombing full grown chickens and leaving a big pile of feathers as a result.

I have no idea if they would attack in a heavily treed area, although i doubt it would deter them.

I hear that if you hang CDs in your trees, it keeps them away, although it might look a little tacky



hey, if you have chickens, and love them, people already assume you're crazy

 

You won't even notice those hanging CDs after awhile. Except to smile to yourself and say, "Keep on working, please keep on working..so far, so good".

 

They will sometimes just drop down into a pen and walk up to a bird and kill and eat it. Especially young chicks. No defense for that outside of a net. Criss-crossing it with polypropylene twine and hanging pie tins or cd discs is a way to stop a swoop & grab by a hawk. Chicken hawks will take full-grown hens on a swoop & grab. Redtails are smaller, but are chicken killers nonetheless. Don't know if they can carry off a full grown chicken tho. They all try to target a smaller prey if possible, but are opportunists.