Second Hawk Attack - YIKES!

[elliemay0305]

we have hawk problems to. just about have cleaned us out! now im going to tell you what i was told about hawks. becareful b/c if they are hungry enough and you get in the way it might attack you. now we know it cant carry you off but to get bit or clawed by that thing would be horrible. i was out side in our chicken run one day when one came from across the yard. it came around the play house and went to swoop in and seen me. he threw on his breaks and left but after i was talking to people they told me to be careful. its spring time and they are nesting so they are out to get easy food and not only that everything is growing up again and the mice and rabbits can hide better. one more thing. i havent tried this, dont know why or how this would work but someone told me to put up a really high pole int he middle of my yard and put a hat on it. now it seems to me wouldnt that just give him somewhere to land and watch my chickens even better? your not suppose to kill them but you know...people do what they have to do!

 

[tcbosco1]

I've been having problems with feather picking as well. Since rooster booster pick-no-more, black salve, and Blu-kote didn't work, I purchased some pinless peepers.

We put them on about a week ago (on everyone except the silkie) and they seemed to be doing the trick, but once the hawk attacked and I've been limiting their free range time, they all have bare bums again.

I suppose it all boils down to taking calculated risks. That's not very enjoyable, however!

 

[kees]

I'm not sure that being right there with them will help much. My daughter lost her favorite chicken to a hawk even though both us of us were right by the birds.

Suzy

 

[estpr13]

It seems that hawks go for the smaller birds first. Lost all my bantam Barred rocks last winter. This past winter one of my older hens was squaked and was calling loudly so I went to the door and she came in the house.

I think this is interesting so I pick her up and take her to a nest. then go to check on my other hens and they are all hiding under some juniper bush/shrubs.

As I walk outside a small hawk flys off. I then see lots of small feathers. So I go back and check on the hen that I just brought in and it was difficult to tell but she had lost some feathers on her underside. The hawk looked to be smaller than my hen.

A couple of years ago I was in the yard guarding my hens when a large hawk swooped down and attacked some juvenile chicks. I got to within two feet of the hawk grabbing at it before it flew off. But only to a neighbors tree where it watched me.

It seems that once they learn that there is a lunch to be had in your yard they will come back again and again, year after year. It seems that winter is the worst time of year.

I think netting may be my best option. Or keep them in a limited run.

 

[basicliving]

The hawks are worse right now than I remember them being last year. Even though my chickens have been penned in their covered run for a couple of days, hawks (or it may be the same one) have been tormenting them through the fence by sitting right at it. I hear the chickens carrying on and run outside and a hawk flies off.

tcbosco1 - while your chickens are confined, have you tried adding leaves/grass/straw to the run or coop and sprinkling treats throughout it so they have to scratch around and stay busy with that for a while? You may also consider putting pine tar on the picked bums - it's nasty stuff to work with, but I have had success with it. Also, maybe hang some cabbage or fruits for them to jump at and try to get. Anything to keep them busy. I absolutely know what you mean about the risks of free ranging - for me it is usually worth it and I have accepted I may lose one or two. But right now, I believe the hawks would pick through my entire flock! So they are staying confined for a while.

ETA: You may also want to up their protein while they are confined. I scrambled up 18 eggs and sprinkled it through the run today.

 

[wisefool]

Some people say that turkeys, geese or ducks (if you have water) will help on the open ranged situations. The trick is that you need them to not be internal bullies to the flock. Kinda like the rotweiler concept. They don't start fights but if there is one they'll get into it. We are raising turkeys with this flock from the start hoping for this setup. But I have already lost a 4 week old turkey to a hawk, back when I had fort knox version 1.2. Now we are on version 2.0 and no problems since. knock, knock, knock.

As far as the protected status, I agree. They are EVERYWHERE. I think the conservation scientists see them as the consistant sink for rodent control, since they seem less prone to go through the boom,overpoulation,disease,bust, rebuild cycle that other rodent regulators (coytes, foxes, etc) go through. Although hawks do seem overpopulated to me now too.

 

[Schrady]

Hawk attack yesterday, can't afford to cover the pen. For $4 I bought a large roll of 80lb. test fishing line and criss-crossed it over the pen forming a web. I don't want to kill the hawk and I think it will see the shiny "web" before it strikes and will have to flap it's wings to slow down. Maybe this will be just enough warning to frighten the chickens to take cover. Think it will work?

 

[jjthink]

Quote:
Deer netting is also very inexpensive - can be put over a wire network such as yours and and "twist tied" to the wire and to the neighboring section of netting (just did this and found that picture hanging wire makes great twist ties).
JJ

 

[Schrady]

Thank you so much for your reply. If the fishing line doesn't work then I shall try your suggestion. I lived in a different county in Missouri for 20 years and never once had a problem with hawks. I was on 1100 acres. Now I'm on 3 acres and can't believe the audacity of these hawks in this area. Go figure.

 

[tcbosco1]

The hawk came back today...but my new friend the crow not only alerted me to the impending danger, but attacked the hawk in mid air. Quite a sight.

During the "dog fight" I managed to get the ladies back home without losing a feather. Phew!

Thanks for the pine-tar suggestion. I guess that's next on my list (right after building that run!)

I already went the protein route, scratch in the coop, goodies daily, cabbage for exercise, but it seems the most fun (for them) is pulling out each others' feathers! I think they may even be pulling out their own feathers. Hard to tell because I can never seem to catch them in the act...

(edited because it's nice to spell words correctly)