Red-tailed Hawk

[MeridianChick]

My flock has been endangered in the past by a local kestrel and red-tailed hawk. Do any of you have tips on keeping these threats away from my coop? Just asking because now that it's summer, I want to let my hens run freely around my yard.

 

[rIrs roost]

You can do a search on here for ways to keep them away. I'm not sure if anything really works though unless you want to build a big cage in you yard. I lose a biddy to hawks once in awhile. I don't like it but I understand that they're doing what they have to do.

 

[Chickassan]

Feed the crows, sounds dumb but it works.

 

[MeridianChick]

Chickassan, I agree. I've spotted a couple of crows chase off the hawk, but they don't stop at our bird feeder regularly.

 

[rIrs roost]

Chickassan, I agree. I've spotted a couple of crows chase off the hawk, but they don't stop at our bird feeder regularly.

Bluejays will also chase them..

 

[MeridianChick]

Awesome! We have two bluejays that hang-out around the bird feeder.

 

[rIrs roost]

Now that's not saying that they won't still swoop down after the chickens. But I have seen bluejays chase the and harass them.

 

[MeridianChick]

Thanks for telling me that. Just yesterday, the hawk came back but the bluejays chased him off.

 

[centrarchid]

Pay particular attention of species ID of "hawks" you are dealing with. Not all are treated in the same way because one will go after Blue Jays in a big way. To others in your area, one large and one small, will not cause chickens issues.