Redtail Hawk Deterrent

[dufus]

i put out bird feeders for the birds, and some crows started coming to them. i then bought a 10# of peanuts in the shell, and put them out for the crows. now the crows are here regularly, looking for a handout. a hawk does not have a chance, with a gang of sharp-eyed crows around. and,, the chickens know to seek cover when the crows start a ruckus. and,, the crows will work for peanuts..

 

[Nambroth]

While they are not guaranteed to deter predators, I love seeing folks 'use' natural, native deterrents like this. A feisty territorial kestrel is great at keeping some of the other raptors away! Of course beware that they might take small chicks.
Crows and jays are often equally good if not better at mobbing hawks and getting them out of the area. If crows are nesting in your yard they will be even more diligent. Both of these species can take small chicks, too, though.

In conclusion, nearly everything will eat a baby chicken, but some birds will ward off others from your adult chickens if you let them!

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

I've never heard of a kestrel. Are they common in Southern California?

We have a redtail hawk that stops by to lurk in our oak trees several times a day in hopes of snagging one of our flock. Thus, I have to limit their free-range time to when I'm outside with them and can shoo the hawk away . He doesn't shoo very far - he seems to know that I'm not the boss of him.

We have dozens of crows on our property. I haven't seen them effectively deter the hawk although they sometimes raise a ruckus when he stops by. He apparently got a crow in our chicken yard one day because we found black bloody feathers everywhere - I didn't know that hawks preyed on crows.

I've gotten to where I can kind of sense that the hawk is in play because all the little ground birds go silent and there's a stillness in the yard that tells me to gather my hens. So far, so good, but I know that hawk has staying power - it's a daily battle.

 

[Pinky]

Quote:
That's why the crows will mob hawks, they know the hawk is a predator and usually if a predator's cover is blown it won't attack.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Pinky - thank you for that info - I need a reason to like those darn crows!