Okay to start off, this is a question pertaining more to my friend than myself. I have chickens AND chihuahuas, she has chihuahuas only. She has lost one to a coyote and since then spent a ton of money on fencing with roll bars? at the top. Now she is worried about hawks. We know one woman who lost more than one to a hawk. One of her babies disappeared and the next day while she was still putting up fliers/calling neighbors,etc - she watched a hawk come down and snatch another one. My question...is there a netting or some type of topper she could utilize? Her yard is not that large. She is even thinking of getting a large dog to be out with the little ones. Also someone told her hawks are afraid of turkeys!?? Really? I would think a turkey might be too noisy to live in her neighborhood though... Any suggestions aside from illegally shooting the them?
I never saw a hawk in the last place I lived, until I got a chihauhau puppie and took him outside in the morning for potty time...then the hawk came to the telphone pole right over the yard...it took several doves and a bluejay from the feeder. Ya gotta put a roof over the pen, its the only real protection, they will sweep in a 10 foot wide area, snatch, and fly away before anybody sees it, stealthy critters. there are all kinds of netting and screening available, you decide
I have small dogs and they go outside though a dog door and into an enclosed kennel with livestock paneling over the top. It's not just the hawks and owls. I've had a Magpie try to take a puppy and I know someone who had a Seagull take a puppy up and then drop it to kill it. Crows will try for a small puppy, too. The coyotes are the biggest danger where I am, but I've got Eagles and Great Horned Owls, too. Security for dogs is high priority at my house.
Thanks. Puppies, of course, wouldn't be left out alone anyway. My adults are out in a pack of around ten so perhaps that helps. There is always a large dog out for protection at all times. As for my friend, sounds like she is going with the netting. A LOT of netting. lol.
