Red Tailed Hawks in Maryland

[Chickassan]

They do move on to their own territory but if they have a good nest spot they return every year.
Feed your crows anywhere that isn't within view of where your hens lay.
If they ever see where your eggs are you'll have a hard time ever getting any for yourself.

Yes I figured they were working on chicks which is discouraging because I’d imagine they’re nesting very close by. Do they move on after hatching and growing out?

I will be out running errand and will look for some blow up deterrents!! And yes I am more than happy to have the crows around. Hoping to forge a relationship there as they were very effective at chasing the hawks away yesterday. Can I feed them somewhat near the chicken run or would they prefer the open part of my yard?

 

[Vhope77]

I use a mannequin head and made a real looking scarecrow and have a fake owl and I haven’t ever had a bird problem

 

[chicksofclaridon]

I'm having the same issue right now! They're so bold, they don't seem to care if I'm around or not. I had one land about 8 feet away from me when I was letting my girls out and it didn't even seem all that bothered by my presence. I yelled at it, trying to scare it off, and it seemed more annoyed than scared!

 

[Firefoot]

I'm having the same issue right now! They're so bold, they don't seem to care if I'm around or not. I had one land about 8 feet away from me when I was letting my girls out and it didn't even seem all that bothered by my presence. I yelled at it, trying to scare it off, and it seemed more annoyed than scared!

Yeah I'm really worried about them hanging around permanently. I've seen so many accounts on here and FB of people having chickens attacked right in front of them in their yard. The hawks are bold af. I worry that the ones I have will be so bold and I won't even be able to let my chickens out chaperoned.

 

[chicksofclaridon]

Yeah I'm really worried about them hanging around permanently. I've seen so many accounts on here and FB of people having chickens attacked right in front of them in their yard. The hawks are bold af. I worry that the ones I have will be so bold and I won't even be able to let my chickens out chaperoned.

I know exactly how you feel! With as rough a winter as it’s been lately (at least in Ohio) I’m sure they’re hungry and desperate. I’m hoping when it warms up they’ll settle down and things can go back to normal.

 

[Rammy]

Yeah I'm really worried about them hanging around permanently. I've seen so many accounts on here and FB of people having chickens attacked right in front of them in their yard. The hawks are bold af. I worry that the ones I have will be so bold and I won't even be able to let my chickens out chaperoned.

That happened with my neighbor. He was in his backyard talking to a freind with his chickens free ranging. One hen wasnt but three feet away from him when a hawk swooped in and tried to grab her. He yelled at it and waved his arms and it flew off. He had to keep them locked up for months after that.

 

[llombardo]

Chickens aside I have had a couple encounters with Hawks and they are pretty bold.

I used to live near a pond and ducks would would use the back deck area. I was hanging up a bird fedder and a hawk swooped down to get one ofthe ducks. I felt the wind as it swooped down, it's wing almost touched my head-did not get the duck.

Same place but in fronton house...outside with my dog, not a small dog, full grown german shepherd. She was sitting pretty still and the hawk was making a beeline for her. She was staring at it as it came at her. It swooped up as it got over her. I have no clue what the hawk was thinking.

At eork we had a nest of robins in a bush. They were pretty far in there. The hawk landed on the bush and started eating thrm. The Robin mom was attacking the hawk trying to protect her babies. I went out there and no shooing was moving that hawk. I was a foot away from it. I got an umbrella with a pointed end and was poking the hawk. When it left I put the umbrella Over the bush. The hawk came bsck and moved it. I went into the pond area, got the umbrella and put it back over that bush so it couldn't move it.

They are very determined and don't scare easily. People don't scare them either.

 

[Firefoot]

Chickens aside I have had a couple encounters with Hawks and they are pretty bold.

I used to live near a pond and ducks would would use the back deck area. I was hanging up a bird fedder and a hawk swooped down to get one ofthe ducks. I felt the wind as it swooped down, it's wing almost touched my head-did not get the duck.

Same place but in fronton house...outside with my dog, not a small dog, full grown german shepherd. She was sitting pretty still and the hawk was making a beeline for her. She was staring at it as it came at her. It swooped up as it got over her. I have no clue what the hawk was thinking.

At eork we had a nest of robins in a bush. They were pretty far in there. The hawk landed on the bush and started eating thrm. The Robin mom was attacking the hawk trying to protect her babies. I went out there and no shooing was moving that hawk. I was a foot away from it. I got an umbrella with a pointed end and was poking the hawk. When it left I put the umbrella Over the bush. The hawk came bsck and moved it. I went into the pond area, got the umbrella and put it back over that bush so it couldn't move it.

They are very determined and don't scare easily. People don't scare them either.

Wow!!! They are bold suckers. This is why I’m so reluctant to let them out with supervision. It probably won’t do anything! And at the same time I hear a lot about how adult hawks won’t bother chickens, it’s only if they get the taste of chickens as juveniles. But that can’t be right for these birds to be as totally fearless as they are.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I feel your pain. Last summer a pair of nesting hawks took up residence in the tree across the street. They had 3 babies. All lovely healthy specimens. I thought the parents were pretty active when they were feeding the triplets in the nest, but OMG! when they were teaching them how to hunt. One of my neighbors who was letting her chickens free range all day unsupervised lost 3 chickens. My chickens were not allowed to free range at all. Eventually the babies moved on, but Mom & Dad are still around. Here's a picture of one of the babies on my garden shed. Just last week a lovely pair of bald eagles flew over. It's going to be a fun summer. (I'm buying a net).

 

[531202]

We've always combatted hawks by stringing fishing line tied with sparkly ribbon above our yard. We also keep an AM radio on during daylight hours. Both have proven more effective than scarecrows, owl decoys, etc. Maybe try that?

I've grown to utterly despise hawks. They're EVERYWHERE. A constant threat when our flock's free ranging. Out in the yard, the red tails hunt them. In the woods, it's the coopers hawks. I can't understand why they're protected. If the amount of hawks in our area is any indication of broader abundance, it seems highly improbable there's a present day concern of engagement. Frankly, they're a nuisance.