Latest Crisis... Hawks!

[Chickenaddict]

Put out some feed for the wild birds such as crows, blue jays, robins ect. They will protect their food source and run the hawks out of the yard. I have lost only 1 chicken to a hawk in 4 years, since I have been feeding the birds I haven't lost one! Now to find something to run off the neighborhood bear!!!

 

[gsim]

Oh, they have noticed them if you have seen hawks at all. Their eyesight is phenomenal. You are on the right track. lots of bright reflective objects and also criss-crossing the entire run with lots of polypropylene twine. They can see the twine from hundreds of feet away and cannot do a snatch-and grab swoop. They will still land and walk in to a spot to kill chicks tho. Full-sized birds fare better by far than chicks.

 

[loralei]

I have noticed the crows flying around, calling more while the hawks are present, Chickenaddict. I will put out some feeders for the wild birds. In fact I will probably incorporate all of the suggestions ya'll have given me here in some way. CDs are easy... my office goes thru bunches of em' and I like the thought of reusing them.

 

[Wanda]

I have only had 6 hens for quite a while and never have noticed any hawks. about 2 weeks ago I got a rooster and sure enough the other day I heard hawks in the trees. My thought was the same that the rooster crows so loud the hawks pick up on it. I believe their hearing is very sharp too and they can pick up on the crowing before they are even close enough to see the chickens, JMO.

Wanda

 

[citrusdreams]

I lost three chickens to hawks three years ago. There was a drought in our area, and I think they just couldn't find food?

Anyway, ever since then, I haven't had a problem. There are hawks around, and my chickens free range, but they have a lot of cover (trees, under outbuildings, under decks and porches, in their run, in the henhouse, etc. When I see hawks overhead, or I hear the rooster making a rucus, I just let all my dogs out, and the hawks just go away.

Maybe you need a dog or two to watch over your chickens?

 

[loralei]

My dogs haven't quite adjusted to the chickens yet. My old girl, a chow, is amused by them but I certainly wouldn't trust her with them. My 9 mo pit bull looks at them and says "mmm chicken!" and my daft shepherd looks at them and says "hmmm I wonder if they really do taste like chicken"? lol

I have only seen the big hawk a couple of times. After I shot at him (just to scare him!) I think he decided the chickens aren't worth the trouble. The younger hawk is not big enough to do a dive and dash. Most of my gals are as big as he is. He'll get bigger tho!

I just wish the bad ol' hawks would go away! Ya'll have given me some great ideas. I'll just do what I can. I'm crazy bout them goofy chickens!

 

[chicknchick]

I think the hawks are very active this time of year. I was reading this chain at work today during my lunch break and thought of my 6 girls free ranging in my fenced in yard. I thought that it might be a good idead to buy that scare eye ball as a safeguard. I have seen hawks in the area before but the girls always seemed to see them long before me and would quickly hide in the bushes. When I got home today, I immediately went out to check on them. As I stepped out, I saw a huge hawk taking off from my back yard. My immediate reaction was "NOOOOOO!" I ran further and saw the devastation. My poor baby had been picked to shreds. The other girls were so terrified that it took everything I had to get them out of the bushes and back in their coop. This was a hard lesson learned. Even if you think they will be fine, the bottom line is that they need to be in a secure run. My DH is building a bigger coop and run for the girls. Until then they will be locked in their smaller coop. I have no doubt that the hawk will be back and I am not willing to take the risk. I am also so thankful that I have my 5 other babies still!! It could have been much worse.

 

[SandyK]

My first week of having my chickens this year, we think one was lost to a hawk. The netting went up immediately on their run. Then just recently I noticed our Dobi barking like something was near her yard. Sure enough, went down to see where she was barking at and saw a fox running through the woods. Ran over to check on the chickens in their run, and there it was staring at them through the fence. Clapped my hands and he ran. I guess there is always going to be something that would like to make dinner out of them. Now they don't free range unless I'm in the yard with them. We also put that extra layer of fencing under the ground and secured it to the upright fence in case they dig.

 

[loralei]

Oh chicknchick! I am so sorry for you! That's the type of thing I fear and want to prevent if at all possible. Raising chickens can be so heartbreaking!

**Hugs**
Laura

 

[Balfour Girl]

I've lost one hen to a bird (hawk, owl?), two to coyotes and two to raccoons. Hard lessons learned, all of them, but I'm still allowing my gang to free range. As long as they stay in our yard, and we're home, they seem fine... but lately they've been wandering. A relative who was house sitting for us a couple of weeks ago didn't like them eating the cat food so she was kicking them away every time they came on the porch. I think they left home because they didn't feel welcome (and unfortunately discovered a whole new world of bugs and stuff). Now I'm trying to train them to stay home (can you train a chicken?!). I adore my chickens and get so much enjoyment out of them... but I want them to enjoy free ranging, even if it does increase the likelihood of an untimely end. Chickens are cheap and I know that their life with me is heaven, even if it does end up being short!