multiple Hawks are casing our yard

[centrarchid]

I elevate pallets on concrete blocks all through the run to give them places to hide from the hawks. I have other hawk shelters too that I built for them. Mine wouldn't live through the day if they couldn't hide. I also have heavy knotted netting over my bantam pen but you have to think snow load when hanging that...might not be practical if you get a huge amt. of snow. I still do have hawk losses though- and owl losses- even despite these measures. For anyone who doesn't know, it is illegal to harass or kill birds of prey like that. So the only thing you can do is give your chickens shelter.

I have as many hawks as anyone but keep losses to very low. Dogs are my big guns but a combination of cover and roosters seems to be key. Cover must be easily accessed even by a panicking chicken and deny hawk the ability to fly if is decided to enter. Rooster must be full adult and standard sized so that when he does launch his attack hawk will be at a disadvantage. My roosters work only from cover and from there are very effective. Setup above has cover but it is not deep enough and birds are likely to corner themselves in netting making hawks job even easier. Best option for me is not all that pretty. Put a game rooster in there and look what plant species occur locally can be adapted to forming a dense patch. For me best are brambles and wild roses.

 

[orpington13]

our girls run right home when there is a Hawk. but in Case it dive bombs them before they se it one of them raises a LOUD alarm. when a hawk did almost get one we didn't even see her do it but we found her under a clematis a minute later but we seen the Hawk come down and were right there. but still didn't see where that crazy Hen went but she Is perfectly fine now

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Once afoot in a bamboo thicket, a hawk looks more like a trephine with his neck stuck out, than it resembles an agile T-Rex raptor. Twenty foot or taller bamboo provides a perfect neck breaking environment to any hawk foolish enough swoop into it. Once a hawk is on the ground in a bamboo thicket, most dogs can easily take care of business because the hawk is unable to take off. However you must study the bamboo species and fully understand how to prevent its general spread. If not you may need a helicopter to mow your lawn.

Besides that, the shade and cool earth beneath the bamboo is a wonderful place for any bird descended from either the Red or Gray Jungle Fowl to hang while they chill out in their dust baths. A bamboo thicket to a chickens is like going back to its ancestral jungle home. To the hawk a bamboo jungle is a scary and alien world. Just don't plant you bamboo or build any pens, fences, or walls in such a way that the hawk can corner or pin a fleeing chicken against them. Oh yes, it requires time for the bamboo to take root and grow.

 

[cracked egg]

My birds free range, my trouble is a pair of bald eagles. Lots of cover,good roosters and some sharp eyed turkeys usually prevents the problem as birds quickly disappear.

 

[chiknhurder]

We have always let our flocks free range just because it makes happy birds and for pest control. We have also always had a cooper and red tail infestation in our area and it seems after a few weeks of being home watching the problem is worse then ever. The girls are dying to roam but the wife and I are reminded of last season when we lost a full grown roo to the birds of prey. This year we have noticed how huge the female/mommy is and no doubt her chicks will be hatching any day now. We don't let them out of the coops unless we or the dogs are outside watching them. Has anyone here had a similar issue and if so what measures have you taken to prevent loss in the flock?----thanks
Our daughter Bella on hawk watch!!!!

Hawks are migratory birds and the reason for a lot of them in your area right now is because they are migrating through. Hopefully not too many of them will hang around very long. I'm having the same problem and lost a 14 week old pullet just this week to a hawk. It's been visiting every day now but I've been outside working so even though it lands in the trees and watches, it's unable to do anything with me watching it. I carry a .22 with bird shot in it. Very effective at scaring them off and possibly stinging them pretty good but won't kill it.

 

[iwiw60]

Hawks are migratory birds and the reason for a lot of them in your area right now is because they are migrating through. Hopefully not too many of them will hang around very long. I'm having the same problem and lost a 14 week old pullet just this week to a hawk. It's been visiting every day now but I've been outside working so even though it lands in the trees and watches, it's unable to do anything with me watching it. I carry a .22 with bird shot in it. Very effective at scaring them off and possibly stinging them pretty good but won't kill it.

They may be migratory, but here in this neck of the woods they are not just passing through. While I agree with you about carrying a .22 with birdshot, if you live in Oregon and get caught or reported by a neighbor for shooting at ANY hawks (especially red-tails) you're in some deep doo-doo. My solution (am only speaking for myself) is my girls are never allowed to free-range. Sounds radical I know, but I'd rather give them a large run and know they're safe...JMHO

 

[COCKmasters999]

Well they are not just passing though here. The last 3 seasons they have built nest right on our property! I know you cant kill them but geez...I have done what others on this thread suggested and built multiple structures out of pallets to give them more sanctuary to hide away and the second they were set up the chicks started using them. We do keep our dog outside on the run during the day and while this does offer some protection its not set in stone the hawks wont grow brass balls and come in for the kill. I start work again on monday and I have a feeling that with the added cover that they will be fine....Lets hope anyway.

 

[chiknhurder]

They may be migratory, but here in this neck of the woods they are not just passing through. While I agree with you about carrying a .22 with birdshot, if you live in Oregon and get caught or reported by a neighbor for shooting at ANY hawks (especially red-tails) you're in some deep doo-doo. My solution (am only speaking for myself) is my girls are never allowed to free-range. Sounds radical I know, but I'd rather give them a large run and know they're safe...JMHO

Yes, they migrate and there will be a few that hang on but most them will move on. Red-tailed hawks are very territorial and don't tolerate others invading their territory and will chase off owls, eagles or other hawks/raptors. They mate for life so if you see a couple of them around your place, they're more than likely a pair. All of this info is straight from the web.

The suggestion to use the .22 with bird shots was made by my states conservation agent that I contacted about the problem. It's meant to scare them and not kill or harm them. In the states eyes, I have every right to protect my flock. It's a federal issue and a hawk would have to be very close in order for that type of load to do any damage.

My birds were in a large run, 40 feet by 100 feet, when a hawk killed and ate a 14 week old pullet just last week. Unless it's covered they're just as vulnerable as birds free-ranging outside the run.