Second Hawk Attack - YIKES!

[tcbosco1]

I was wondering the same thing myself. I saw a couple of nifty decoys on Cabelas.com, but they're a bit pricey.

I'd like to know if anyone has had success with this type of hawk defense before I shell out the dough!

 

[BirdMom]

We lost a hen to probably a hawk a couple of days ago. We just started free-ranging them the day before. They had hardly come out of the barn their coop is in the first day, and the second day, barely left the safety of the barn, and the roo was with them, after 20 minutes we go out and do a headcount, one missing. No trace. No feathers anywhere, no blood, nothing. We looked all over the place for hours, didn't find her.

We're going to be making a chicken tractor this week for them before we let them out again. The poor things hate being left inside and try to get out of the coop every time we go feed or water them or collect eggs.

We have free-ranged our guineas and Pekin ducks for months without any big hawk problem, though we do have tons of them flying overhead and occasionally landing in the trees. I bought a "MegaBlast" whistle thing in the novelty toys at Walmart. It was 88 cents. It makes a really loud noise, and my kids go out and blow that every time they see a hawk coming close. The hawks wing it away quickly. They stay farther away now we've got that, but we had the chickens free-ranging out back and couldn't see them or any hawks checking them out.

I think a regular whistle might help scare the hawks away, too. I just whistle really shrill if I'm out there and see a hawk, and they always turn around and fly somewhere else. I can whistle pretty dang loud and shrill, so I don't need the hawk horn, as we call it, but if you just find something loud and annoying, you might try that to scare them away. Even a child's cap gun might work.

We live way out in the country, lots of fields and woods around us, so prime hawk area. We won't be free-ranging the chickens anymore. They're just not bright enough to avoid the hawks, I think. Our ducks seem to be way too big for a hawk to try anything with, and the guineas make their own loud noise whenever they see a hawk, plus they're good at knowing to run and hide. Our chickens might learn that with time, but I'm not going to take the chance of losing a bunch of them while they learn. We've only got seven hens and a roo, not enough to take losses on without some effect.

Good luck with keeping the hawks away!

 

[jprinc44]

I have read that an air horn such as the type used for boating are effective. See a hawk around your yard, and blast him once or twice- they tend not to return to that area. Have heard several people say this works well, I have one at the ready, but have not had to use it yet. HTH, Janet

 

[tcbosco1]

For the most part, the only times I've seen the hawk are when it's got one of my girls! It's very stealthy!

I did see it one other time when the crow attacked it.

I live in a residential neighborhood. We're not zoned for roosters (noise nuisance), so I can just imagine how my neighbors would feel about me blasting an airhorn now and then (although, I haven't ruled it out)! I already get the hairy eyeball when I play my crow fight tape!

I was really hoping for a quiter solution.

How about those crow decoys? Any luck with them, anyone?

 

[LynneP]

Some hawks will actually fly to a tree, land and walk through the branches as they hunt. They're nearly impossible to see. I had never believed this until I saw a sparrow hawk attack a blue jay, and I was in the yard near it at the time!

If we hadn't roofed our run we'd have NO chickens. Not just hawks, we're in a high predator zone...

 

[Schrady]

MYLAR BALLOONS!!!!!! Just discovered that hawks and turkey vultures hate mylar balloons. When tied to the fence or the branches of the trees, the balloons twist and sway and look ominous and spooky. No predators all week! The chickens don't seem fazed by the balloons. It doesn't take but 1 or 2 of them to do the job so far. I'm always looking to spend less and I found that these balloons are sold for 1$ apiece at the local dollar store. It's made the barnyard look very festive. The neighbors think I hold baby showers out there all week long. I'm such a party gal.

 

[chickndoglover]

This subject is perfect timing for me, I have lost 2 chickens and 1 young running duck to something from the sky, has anyone put rope or line crisscross over the yard. I havent had a problem when my border collie is out in the yard but he goes to work with me and the chickens are not happy with being penned up.

 

[tcbosco1]

Quote:
That sounds promising! How did you "discover" this?

Please keep up posted on if the balloons continue to work. My fear is that the birds of prey will eventually get used to the balloons.

 

[Schrady]

Yes, I agree with you. I might start moving the balloons to different spots along the fence and trees in hopes that they won't get too used to them.

 

[tcbosco1]

This just in: The crazy chicken lady (me) was out with the girls, anti-hawk rake in hand, my crow/hawk fight tape blaring, when I noticed that the tape was attracting sea gulls!

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?!!! I know that sea gulls are scavengers, so I guess it's just a funny thing!