Possible Hawk Deterrent Idea? Any Input? :)

[Binki]

My friend and I googled chicken costumes yesterday for laughs and we came across one wearing this fluffy white and baby blue stuffed shark along it's body, the chicken looked pretty comfortable, I believe it was pecking at the ground which gives the full shark effect with the head down, lol.

Suddenly I thought, would something like this deter predators? Hawks in particular? We live next to a forest so it's a big concern of ours because we want our girls out as much as possible.

I thought of the indigenous people that live in tiger territory - they have used masks on the back of their heads for protection because tigers like to attack from behind.

What if the chickens could wear a light felt material human mask saddle or scary face or something crazy enough that the hawk either doesn't recognize it as prey or isn't sure what abomination is going on here so they steer clear?

The chickens could go about their business but have at least a hawk deterrent I would hope?? Lol any thoughts??

 

[Binki]

I've read a lot of how hawks hate crows and will stay away from them. When a group of crows (called a murder, actually lol) spot a hawk, they will insessantly harass it out of the area, while alerting everything else alive in the area that there's a hawk on the hunt.

Crow calls apparently can be effective, I'm considering dressing the chickens up like crows or something REALLY weird, lol.

I know that some predators, especially ones that rely on flight (birds of prey) and speed (cheetahs), will only go after easy kills or they risk harming themselves and slowly starving to death because they can no longer chase down food.

For this reason, I'm hoping that putting weird things on and around the chickens will keep a hawk from swooping... At the very least, I can do a padded "fin" or something to hope the hawk does the death latch onto that until I could chase it off...

I am also wanting to place some crow/raven statues (like the feathered, scary and realistic ones they sell around Halloween) on my backyard roof and maybe in some trees or on the fence gate, etc.

The only problem with this is that I rehabilitate birds and once they're released I want to encourage them to visit to feed for a while to increase their chances and the crow figurines may keep them away as well.

 

[Binki]

Had a hawk on their coop today. Good thing I took the threat seriously. I'll figure it out myself because conventional hawk deterrents like shiny CDs and noise aren't effective enough, at least after some time has passed.

Thanks for your feedback guys! ..........

 

[21hens-incharge]

http://chickens.wikia.com/wiki/Hen_Saddle
I have no idea if they work or not. Neat idea having the eyes on them.

 

[Binki]

Wow thanks!! This is what I'm going for, the link is awesome

While I was researching some more, a poster mentioned they learned from a farmer who traditionally used baler twine strung at 5ft across to prevent hawks from landing on the birds. They said they had great success for years... It would make sense that the bird wouldn't risk clipping off the end of it's flight feathers to make a kill - then it wouldn't be able to make subsequent kills very easily.

I'm also going to try and get my hands on some sort of decoy chick to have out when we are supervising (super closely!) our real birds outside - the hope is that IF a hawk is around and IF it wants to try my chickens for a meal, it will target the decoy because it's off in the open a bit away from us and maybe it will learn chicks taste like plushies

 

[21hens-incharge]

The decoy will fail for two main reasons.

Hawks have far superior eye sight.
The decoy is not moving.

I think bird netting would be better than the twine. The Hawk can see it and will not attempt anything. Hawks can maneuver through some amazingly small spaces.

This video shows a goshwak in motion and at slow speed.

Hawks are designed to move through forests and branches pose obstacles they are designed to move past and move fast.

 

[Binki]

Thanks for your advice and the link !

What a great video - it may have even been a northern goshawk that was on their cage

Incredible maneuvering! I knew most hawks were great flying around in forests (not to this extent! Lol) but I was thinking that it could work for those people because a bird of prey would need to extend it's wings the last several feet before it landed, even if it landed on top of something so low level twine would still prevent a swoop attack? They couldn't land on it either but it would still be visible.

That was actually my concern about the netting - some people said it was so great that hawks bounced right off of it (and some right through and still made their kill). I definitely do not want to hurt the hawk and could imagine the risk of serious damage from busting through metal mesh. Hence, the twine seemed like a good fit for supervised and close to us time.

After watching how good that hawk is in that video though, I'm worried it would be able to do some sort of split second wing tuck maneuver to bypass the twine whether it was at three feet or whatever feet.

Haha the decoy I was thinking along the lines of this - http://babytoys-review.blogspot.ca/2009/11/vulli-sophie-giraffe-teether-brown.html?m=1

LOL a poor helpless baby duckling, fluffy with beady eyes and realistic bill, makes noises, moves and flaps it's wings stick in half under a tree in some longisher grass and we may very well trick a hawk!

I hear they prefer rodents to birds so maybe I'll try a rat or mouse decoy if I can find one that moves.... I wish I knew how to build a robotic pullet... And taxidermy it! Yes I'm desperate

 

[21hens-incharge]

The bird netting is made to keep birds off of fruit trees especially cherry trees. It is nylon not metal so would not harm the hawk. They actually see it and swerve to avoid it.
My run is covered with chicken wire. I know it wont keep a coon out but then if a coon did get in it would be when the hens are locked in the coop so no harm really.

I was at the store today and saw a balloon with predator eyes on it. It is like the ones the car dealerships have on a pole or stick kind of thing. The wind would make it sway.

Really the only way to keep predators from getting the chickens is to keep them locked up. Even being in the yard or free range area with them 100% of the time is not guarantee a hawk wont swoop in and grab a chicken. Polish and other crested breeds are at a great disadvantage since they cannot see above themselves.