Predator scare and free ranging

[Marcymom3]

Having had wild bird feeders for a few years, I'm no stranger to hawks. A sharp shinned hawk flew right through the screen of the back porch door one day when she swooped down to dine at the Wild Bird Buffet. We had a job on our hands getting her out of the porch.

In May I got chicks for the first time and now let them run around in the fenced backyard when I'm at home. The other day my dog was outside barking her head off and was in the "I'm really mad now!" pose. She thinks the chickens are her property.

When I went outside there was a hawk gliding around between the trees. It looked like a much bigger one than the one who was on my porch. She never landed or dropped down to yard level.

Will a hawk mess with a chicken when there is a dog also in the yard?

Thanks for all your information!

 

[mishellez]

When we first got chickens, we intended to just let them free-range all day and got a secure coop for night time. Come fall the hawks schooled us big-time. One chicken killed in the front yard...shortly after, one chicken killed in the backyard. We put them on lockdown in their fenced enclosure...one chicken killed in the enclosure. At the time we had no idea what was killing the hens. Next day was a snowstorm and what shows up at 8AM and is agitated and jumping limb-to-limb in the oak tree over the enclosure during the blizzard? Coopers Hawk, looking for the one he knew he'd left there the night before. Couldn't believe it, since the chickens are twice the size of the hawk. Since then we strung fishing line over the enclosure. We've had several attempts by the hawk during supervised outies but since we are vigilant, the hawk hasn't been successful. As a result of no free chicken dinners for the past year, the hawk is much less aggressive and bold in his attempts but he still hangs around looking for any opportunity. We have to deal with him 6 months of the year; for some reason he doesn't bother the chickens spring and summer. Could be he migrates elsewhere during that time.

 

[Gvnam]

Hawks are territorial birds. There is no use in waiting until tou don't see the hawk. He is still around, just out of sight. I let my chickens free range for hours at a time. I leave the cage door open and will leave them on there own. About every hour or so I will go out and spend a few minutes with them. I have lost one pulley to a hawk, but they were out ALL day. Today I had to chase a hawk off with the help of my dog. I suggest getting a chicken friendly dog to keep watch. Too answer your question, I highly doubt a hawk will mess around with a decent sized dog around. My dog was jumping up at the hawk that was fooling around my pullets. She almost got it too!