Really shaken by my first hawk encounter

[Folly's place]

I agree. Our Belgian d'Uccles have been lost to hawks more than any others. We have bantam EEs too, and they are also at higher risk.
Mary

 

[McChooky]

My pullets have been hidden out of sight in a 48 sq ft enclosed run with a metal top since they feathered out but now they're in an enclosed 120 sq ft addition covered with hardware cloth and bird netting over an open top. The top is framed up for hardware cloth but will be vulnerable until I can get it attached . Me and my neighbors have noticed crows have started hanging around now.They didn't do this before. I've always read crows won't mess with adult chickens so why are they hanging out here?My pullets are 18 weeks old. (Dominiques) I don't leave my chickens out in the big run alone. (The small run is secure) I'm wondering if maybe I have a hawk hidden in the trees overhead and the crows are just warning me? I have ordered a camera but its not here yet. Thanks for any help!

 

[Shezadandy]

As others have said, as long as your hardware cloth is firmly secured over the top of your run, the birds in there will be safe. That's a step up from my aviary netting, which has had a 100% success rate stretched tightly across the run with support poles keeping it 8-9ft off the ground. I've seen multiple hawks try to dive on my flock and bounce off my netting.

I'm not completely sure about the lifecycle timing of hawks but my best guess is you've got a couple of youngsters who have been booted out to go make their own living- and they will try the (apparently, to them) easiest meals first. I would cease free ranging activity in uncovered areas, and look closely for any gaps in any part of your run and coop. If you can come up with a cover system for your backyard, they can be out safely. It is work and it took more than one impolite utterance to complete- here are a couple pictures of how we did our run.

Because I'm on a serious slope, I've got a bunch of posts - far more than needed to hold the material itself - holding the net up to 8-9ft at all points along the slope. The aviary net is light weight and therefore easy to support over large spans. Its only 'issue' has been during heavy ice storms (not normal where I live) where it took on many times its own weight for several days and still only had minimal damage. In the couple years we've been here, the bushes have grown up through the netting so it's even more inconspicuous now.

 

[Chickassan]

Crows are opportunistic they are looking for any food that your chickens have or any eggs they could grab..
Right now this years crow babies are starting to learn where to get food by watching mom and dad and since they're all about the same size you probably have some families trying to teach the kids.
Bright side crows don't permit hawks in their territory and since crows have a huge social group that territory and the number of crows in it can add year round protection for your birds that only strengthens with each passing year.

My pullets have been hidden out of sight in a 48 sq ft enclosed run with a metal top since they feathered out but now they're in an enclosed 120 sq ft addition covered with hardware cloth and bird netting over an open top. The top is framed up for hardware cloth but will be vulnerable until I can get it attached . Me and my neighbors have noticed crows have started hanging around now.They didn't do this before. I've always read crows won't mess with adult chickens so why are they hanging out here?My pullets are 18 weeks old. (Dominiques) I don't leave my chickens out in the big run alone. (The small run is secure) I'm wondering if maybe I have a hawk hidden in the trees overhead and the crows are just warning me? I have ordered a camera but its not here yet. Thanks for any help!

 

[McChooky]

Crows are opportunistic they are looking for any food that your chickens have or any eggs they could grab..
Right now this years crow babies are starting to learn where to get food by watching mom and dad and since they're all about the same size you probably have some families trying to teach the kids.
Bright side crows don't permit hawks in their territory and since crows have a huge social group that territory and the number of crows in it can add year round protection for your birds that only strengthens with each passing year.

I have offered food to the crows but they don't trust me well enough to eat any of it yet. I've yet to make a feeding area for them.

Thanks!

 

[topochico225]

Thanks for your help, everyone! The pullets have a nice big new coop/run and a separate mobile run for a change of scenery.

 

[McChooky]

Crows are opportunistic they are looking for any food that your chickens have or any eggs they could grab..
Right now this years crow babies are starting to learn where to get food by watching mom and dad and since they're all about the same size you probably have some families trying to teach the kids.
Bright side crows don't permit hawks in their territory and since crows have a huge social group that territory and the number of crows in it can add year round protection for your birds that only strengthens with each passing year.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Chickassan]

You're welcome, the crows will come to trust you.
They watch how your birds behave towards you to judge how much you can be trusted.

Thanks for your help!