Protection against hawks

[Rachel5589]

This has not been the best month regarding my chickens!
First I went through an illness with them at the beginning of the month. Thankfully they have all recovered and did not lose any to that.
But THEN, I've lost TWO of my chickens to a hawk, with the most recent being last night with my favorite hen out of my whole flock.
She always had a special place in my heart as she was born with a bad leg and always had a funny little walk. So I know she was probably picked off because of that since she could not run quite as fast as the others. My heart is broke, she will be truly missed.

The first chicken I lost to the hawk was a 4 month old bantam rooster. He was the only small chicken I had, the rest are standard size so I'm guessing he got picked off because of his size. Plus, he had no fight in him at all. He was a sweet rooster. When the grown hens would pick on him to keep the pecking order in line, he would not fight back.

I can tell the rest of the flock is on edge after yesterday's incident.

So now my question is....
What is the best protection against hawks?
I've obviously searched online and read ideas but I would like to hear other's experiences of what works best.
My (now) 11 chickens free range in a fenced yard during the day and are locked up very secure at night in their coop.
I've the majority of them for about a year and a half and this month is the first time we have had any problems with predators.

I do have one rooster and 10 hens. He is very protective. He attacks us whenever we go into the fenced area they free range in, which I am okay with if he protects his girls. I just take a large fish net in there with me whenever I go to check eggs or feed or whatever and it seems to keep him away for the most part. Maybe their area is too large and he can't keep an eye on all of them when they spread out?

I heard that guinneas were good at protecting chickens as they are very vocal...any one have experience with them?

I know one of the main things people say to use is the fake owls but do they REALLY work?
The hawks live in a large old tree next door, I've seen them perched there many times.
So wouldn't they eventually catch on that the owl was not real?

Any help is appreciated! I do NOT want to lose anymore chickens!!!

 

[DobieLover]

This has not been the best month regarding my chickens!
First I went through an illness with them at the beginning of the month. Thankfully they have all recovered and did not lose any to that.
But THEN, I've lost TWO of my chickens to a hawk, with the most recent being last night with my favorite hen out of my whole flock.
She always had a special place in my heart as she was born with a bad leg and always had a funny little walk. So I know she was probably picked off because of that since she could not run quite as fast as the others. My heart is broke, she will be truly missed.

The first chicken I lost to the hawk was a 4 month old bantam rooster. He was the only small chicken I had, the rest are standard size so I'm guessing he got picked off because of his size. Plus, he had no fight in him at all. He was a sweet rooster. When the grown hens would pick on him to keep the pecking order in line, he would not fight back.

I can tell the rest of the flock is on edge after yesterday's incident.

So now my question is....
What is the best protection against hawks?
I've obviously searched online and read ideas but I would like to hear other's experiences of what works best.
My (now) 11 chickens free range in a fenced yard during the day and are locked up very secure at night in their coop.
I've the majority of them for about a year and a half and this month is the first time we have had any problems with predators.

I do have one rooster and 10 hens. He is very protective. He attacks us whenever we go into the fenced area they free range in, which I am okay with if he protects his girls. I just take a large fish net in there with me whenever I go to check eggs or feed or whatever and it seems to keep him away for the most part. Maybe their area is too large and he can't keep an eye on all of them when they spread out?

I heard that guinneas were good at protecting chickens as they are very vocal...any one have experience with them?

I know one of the main things people say to use is the fake owls but do they REALLY work?
The hawks live in a large old tree next door, I've seen them perched there many times.
So wouldn't they eventually catch on that the owl was not real?

Any help is appreciated! I do NOT want to lose anymore chickens!!!

Sorry you've had losses to the hawks.
The only real protection is to keep them in a covered run. A rooster can sound an aerial predator alert to give the hens a chance to run for cover but that's all. There are instances when a rooster or hen successfully fought off a hawk but they are very rare.
Do you have any cover in your run other than everyone having to run back into the coop?
Here are my thoughts on fake owls and their effectiveness in deterring hawks:

 

[Rachel5589]

Haha @ the picture! Guess that answers my question about the owl decoy.

My chickens have an enclosed coop with roost they sleep in at night and attached to that is a covered/fenced run that is about 5x15, just a little space for them to walk around until their automatic door opens on the run in the morning and then once it opens they are allowed to free range.

There are a few trees in their free range area that they like to hang out under for shade on hot days. They especially like the magnolia tree and perch on the limbs for naps. Would Hawks Chase them under the trees or do they like to do a quick swoop in the open areas?

 

[Soy Milano]

The best protection is putting up netting. However, other predators are just going to come kill them if you don't predator proof your run. Here is an infographic on how to do this - http://www.poultrydvm.com/featured-infographic/tips-for-protecting-poultry-from-predators

 

[centrarchid]

But THEN, I've lost TWO of my chickens to a hawk, with the most recent being last night with my favorite hen out of my whole flock.

Possible this is an owl at night? If so, correction may be easier than with a hawk.

 

[Folly's place]

It's about having them safe in a coop and covered run, and not free ranging at all for two or three weeks, until that particular hawk leaves. Hopefully. If it's a resident nearby, you may need to confine your birds much longer to keep them safe.
A human aggressive rooster isn't a better flock protector! You might get lucky, and have him taken next, but if he's thinking about attacking you, he's not paying attention to the real threats that are present.
Some roosters and big hens can win against some hawks, but don't plan on it!
In a year or two, with appropriate fencing, lots of money, and time training, the right dogs could protect your chickens, but a big safe run will actually be less expensive, and faster to accomplish.
Mary

 

[Rachel5589]

Possible this is an owl at night? If so, correction may be easier than with a hawk.

Sorry about that, it was more evening. About 4:30ish when we found her.

 

[Rachel5589]

It's about having them safe in a coop and covered run, and not free ranging at all for two or three weeks, until that particular hawk leaves. Hopefully. If it's a resident nearby, you may need to confine your birds much longer to keep them safe.
A human aggressive rooster isn't a better flock protector! You might get lucky, and have him taken next, but if he's thinking about attacking you, he's not paying attention to the real threats that are present.
Some roosters and big hens can win against some hawks, but don't plan on it!
In a year or two, with appropriate fencing, lots of money, and time training, the right dogs could protect your chickens, but a big safe run will actually be less expensive, and faster to accomplish.
Mary

We are definitely learning as we go along with our chickens. We never grew up around them or anything so I did research before I got them in August 2018, trying to learn as much as I could about them and more research as new problems arise. I don't know a whole lot about roosters, I didn't even want him lol. He was supposed to be a hen when I first purchased my chicks at the beginning. I just assumed if he was trying to attack humans that he must REALLY love his hens, therefore was a good protector for them. Guess not.

 

[B-Goock]

Hawks are highly maneuverable. Trees won't protect the chickens. Limiting their free ranging until the hawk decides hunting your birds is nonfruitful and moves on. He'll be back though.
Freerange you have to expect some losses. Everything likes eating chicken.

I have about a 10x25 secured pen and a huge fenced run with no overhead netting. Hawks are still a potential problem.
I had a fox getting brave and there are only two solutions. Catch and relocate or eliminate. A car hit him so problem solved for now.

 

[Al Gerhart]

An avian predator's main diet is not chickens. It is mice and rats or other small mammals. Or fish, sometimes insects for smaller predators. But if you have mice and rats hanging around stealing your chicken feed the hawks and owls will be attracted to the area and suddenly those plump chickens look mighty tasty.

Force their main food out into the wild or to the neighbor's coop. Store your bulk feed in metal barrels with lids, get a treadle feeder, if you have a compost heap surround it with hardware cloth. Your chickens might still be a target of opportunity but at least they won't have vermin attracting the predators.