Is there a way to keep hawks away from the yard?

[Jemma Rider]

I have five chickens currently and a large run to accommodate them, but i would still like to let them out a bit more. I have hawk nests in both of my neighbors yard and I've noticed one watching my chickens recently. I only let them out of the run while i am out watching but I'd like to feel a bit safer turning my back for a while while they're out there. So I'm just wondering if anybody knows any ways to keep hawks away from my chickens while they are free ranging. Thanks in advance.

 

[The Phantom]

I have one hawk trying to make friends with my birds!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Make yourself a mobile run with a top (tarp & shade cloth) ... No clue as to how to keep a hawk away, they're a predator, fast & if they're nesting got chicks to feed.

 

[2 many chickens]

Lost a couple of birds to a hawk. I sat outside with them and would yell and clap my hands everytime I saw one lol. I was sick of it. I hung cds, things that would make noise when the wind blew, made some scarecrows, etc. Got sick of it, so I got a rooster x2. He and his bro watch them all day and alerts whenever the hawks around. No deaths from a hawk since. Not sure if you want a rooster lol but they are great protection for the hens.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I would LOVE a ROOSTER but don't think my neighbors would I live in a residential area, did think a bantam would have a quieter crow but learn not so

 

[RWise]

Most of the hawks here prefer squirrel, and there are plenty if both! So many the yard was full of them steeling the chicken food. I sat out live traps and moved them far far away (check with your local wildlife management for where to take them). This has helped in that the hawks no longer fly over hunting these tree rats.
Another thing I do is take a shotgun and make noise for them, they do not like this and stay away from the chickens. (blanks or light bird-shot will not harm the hawk unless point blank)
Oh ya did I mention they nest on this property? And I have not lost a bird that I can prove to a hawk! (maybe lucky)
I also have roosters, and covers in the yard for the birds to get under. Like old shell campers sat on cinder blocks, wooden decks and so on.

 

[Jemma Rider]

Lost a couple of birds to a hawk. I sat outside with them and would yell and clap my hands everytime I saw one lol. I was sick of it. I hung cds, things that would make noise when the wind blew, made some scarecrows, etc. Got sick of it, so I got a rooster x2. He and his bro watch them all day and alerts whenever the hawks around. No deaths from a hawk since. Not sure if you want a rooster lol but they are great protection for the hens.

I've got a rooster, he's a good boy and not very loud. He did run after a hawk a few months back but the hawk wasn't attacking so i chased him off before Roo got himself killed.

 

[Jemma Rider]

Most of the hawks here prefer squirrel, and there are plenty if both! So many the yard was full of them steeling the chicken food. I sat out live traps and moved them far far away (check with your local wildlife management for where to take them). This has helped in that the hawks no longer fly over hunting these tree rats.
Another thing I do is take a shotgun and make noise for them, they do not like this and stay away from the chickens. (blanks or light bird-shot will not harm the hawk unless point blank)
Oh ya did I mention they nest on this property? And I have not lost a bird that I can prove to a hawk! (maybe lucky)
I also have roosters, and covers in the yard for the birds to get under. Like old shell campers sat on cinder blocks, wooden decks and so on.

Thanks, the squirrels here are menaces. The hawks surround us on three sides and have multiple nests. There are more and more every year so i assume they're breeding.

 

[deepbluesea]

I lost one and had one maimed (she recovered and is back to laying!) by a red-tailed hawk, and there are sharp-shinned and osprey here as well. I hung cds several places, a friend's daughter loaned me her glittery pom poms so I hund them as well. Bought an owl and as far as I can tell, the hawk just knocks it over.

I have a very overgrown hedge and a swingset with monkey bars that mess up a hawk's dive path--that's probably the best thing. I actually had a young red-tailed dive for one of my newbie isbars, which are pretty small and slender, but she was able to dive into the hedge. Between me yelling and it getting fowled (hah!) up, it didn't have a good experience.