Severe hawk problems, help!!

[Fishersfarms]

we have lost 7 out of our 25 hens this week, yes, 7 in one week. They used to free range but now they have to stay inside their run so no more get attacked. The first 4 were killed in the run, before we filled in the gaps with more netting, but we can't keep them locked up forever. 2 days ago we put a net over their yard, the one they free range in, but no luck, the hawk pried it off and killed my roosters. Quite honestly, I want that hawk dead. Is there anything else we can do? We haven't gotten very many eggs because my girls are so nervous. Please I BEG you is there anything else we can even try???

 

[BluRoo Farm OH]

we have lost 7 out of our 25 hens this week, yes, 7 in one week. They used to free range but now they have to stay inside their run so no more get attacked. The first 4 were killed in the run, before we filled in the gaps with more netting, but we can't keep them locked up forever. 2 days ago we put a net over their yard, the one they free range in, but no luck, the hawk pried it off and killed my roosters. Quite honestly, I want that hawk dead. Is there anything else we can do? We haven't gotten very many eggs because my girls are so nervous. Please I BEG you is there anything else we can even try???

Our large dog has been the best remedy for hawks. Even if you could borrow a friend's dog, until the hawk decides to move on...

 

[centrarchid]

Species of hawk? Age / size of rooster killed? Please post picture run.

 

[Zoomie]

Why can't you keep them locked up forever? I do that with my flock and they are fine, as opposed to being dead.

Keeping a chicken in an enclosed run is not a horrible thing to do. Chickens are agoraphobic or in other words they are nervous about open spaces, because predators can "get" them there. This makes sense: chickens are descended from jungle fowl who, you guessed it, live in the jungle where there is a TON of cover. I've seen jungle that was so thick you COULD NOT walk off the path without a machete. No way is a hawk going to nab a chicken in there. They are FINE with a cover over them.

I would suggest you keep your chickens in a covered run. The hawks can not get them in there, and you can enjoy both chickens AND hawks, who, after all, are birds too. As far as a hawk prying up the cover, yes, birds are highly intelligent. Do not underestimate them. But you are a person with a big brain and opposing thumbs. You can do this!

 

[Fishersfarms]

Species of hawk? Age / size of rooster killed? Please post picture run.

Red tailed hawk, 10 month old Americana rooster, and its currently storming outside so I will post a photo when I have the chance to get one.

 

[Fishersfarms]

Why can't you keep them locked up forever? I do that with my flock and they are fine, as opposed to being dead.

Keeping a chicken in an enclosed run is not a horrible thing to do. Chickens are agoraphobic or in other words they are nervous about open spaces, because predators can "get" them there. This makes sense: chickens are descended from jungle fowl who, you guessed it, live in the jungle where there is a TON of cover. I've seen jungle that was so thick you COULD NOT walk off the path without a machete. No way is a hawk going to nab a chicken in there. They are FINE with a cover over them.

I would suggest you keep your chickens in a covered run. The hawks can not get them in there, and you can enjoy both chickens AND hawks, who, after all, are birds too. As far as a hawk prying up the cover, yes, birds are highly intelligent. Do not underestimate them. But you are a person with a big brain and opposing thumbs. You can do this!

Thanks for the reassurance, I've had chickens for almost 5 years now and we have had no preditors up until now.

 

[Fishersfarms]

Our large dog has been the best remedy for hawks. Even if you could borrow a friend's dog, until the hawk decides to move on...

I don't know about borrowing a friends dog (lol) but because we are getting hogs and goats we have been looking into a guardian dog, thanks for the advice!

 

[centrarchid]

Red tailed hawk, 10 month old Americana rooster, and its currently storming outside so I will post a photo when I have the chance to get one.

Mature although likely in molt. Red-tailed hawks generally easy to beat with good cover and in my setting roosters. Waiting on pics of run.

 

[Chickassan]

Just my experience but I've lost less to red tails when I free range than when they were penned. The last one to visit only did so because of a hen penned for integration. Pen equals easy dinner, bushes, brambles, and an unleashed rooster make it more challenging.

 

[centrarchid]

Red-tails for me a problem when cover lacking which is not very often. Best fix I found takes a year to grow, lots of brambles the hawk cannot fly through. On ground the Red-tailed Hawk has no advantage on a large adult rooster. Cover is 90% of making that work. No cover and loose chickens, including roosters.