I'm pretty sure its a Red Shouldered Hawk. We saw one in our trees way back in Spring and according to an Audobon app - those are the cries we're hearing. We hear several calling to each other - tree to tree - yard to yard. The neighbor's say they saw them - in their yard and ours. I have yet to see them.
We have some open space in the center of the yard and two trees in the center - around three sides of the yard are trees, bushes and/or shrubs of some sort of cover. The fourth side being the house and our porch.
We do not have a run. I plan on building a covered run when we can get the materials. We don't have the money to pay for the materials and I was hoping to recycle. For the time being they free range. Sometimes we're outside with them - sometimes we're just in the house and sometimes I'll be out for a quick errand. If I'm gone for a few hours I'll leave them in the coop til I return. I'd like a run eventually so we have the option of leaving them out when I'm gonna be gone for a few hours or on vacation (a neighbor can come by and leave them in the run for a while...) but I want them to free range primarily anyhow - ideally, of course.
They are six - almost 4 mo old pullets - 5 red sex links and 1 amber link.
Here are some things I'm considering - all or any combination of:
1. Leaving them in the coop til the hawks move on (although I've spotted at least one before we had chickens so I don't know how viable this option is...)
2. hanging up cd's - does this work at all? If there's even the possibility I don't mind hanging a bunch all around - lol
3. How much would a rooster help?
4. How much would a dog help? (I've been trying to convince DH to get us a dog anyhow - lol). We were thinking yellow or black lab - obviously some breeds would be better suited than others but is the presence of any dog deterrent enough?
5. We have LOTS of crows about. I hear them calling just as much as I hear the hawks. From the forum I read that the jury is out if the crows are helpful at keeping the hawks at bay. I'd be interested in hearing from a believer about WHY that is.
Any other ideas?
We have some open space in the center of the yard and two trees in the center - around three sides of the yard are trees, bushes and/or shrubs of some sort of cover. The fourth side being the house and our porch.
We do not have a run. I plan on building a covered run when we can get the materials. We don't have the money to pay for the materials and I was hoping to recycle. For the time being they free range. Sometimes we're outside with them - sometimes we're just in the house and sometimes I'll be out for a quick errand. If I'm gone for a few hours I'll leave them in the coop til I return. I'd like a run eventually so we have the option of leaving them out when I'm gonna be gone for a few hours or on vacation (a neighbor can come by and leave them in the run for a while...) but I want them to free range primarily anyhow - ideally, of course.
They are six - almost 4 mo old pullets - 5 red sex links and 1 amber link.
Here are some things I'm considering - all or any combination of:
1. Leaving them in the coop til the hawks move on (although I've spotted at least one before we had chickens so I don't know how viable this option is...)
2. hanging up cd's - does this work at all? If there's even the possibility I don't mind hanging a bunch all around - lol
3. How much would a rooster help?
4. How much would a dog help? (I've been trying to convince DH to get us a dog anyhow - lol). We were thinking yellow or black lab - obviously some breeds would be better suited than others but is the presence of any dog deterrent enough?
5. We have LOTS of crows about. I hear them calling just as much as I hear the hawks. From the forum I read that the jury is out if the crows are helpful at keeping the hawks at bay. I'd be interested in hearing from a believer about WHY that is.
Any other ideas?
