Sky dancer for hawk deterrent - what color?

[Tamma]

OK, 2 month old chicks got out yesterday for the first time and I barely got them back in. Now I'm scared to open their gate since they know there are BUGS on the outside!!
I have decided to buy a sky dancer to turn on just when my chickens are out. I know it looks crazy but we have hawks really bad. All 6 of my next door neighbors chickens were killed. I read that hawks see in color. What color do you think would scare a hawk the most?
Here is a link to what a sky dancer is if you don't know. We do live in the country so I won't bother my neighbors with it.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003110JJC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&m=A3TZL9V2W4M5E1
Thanks!
Tamma

 

[dainerra]

I don't think it would really work. It will probably terrify the chickens and they won't go near it. I think that being close to it would be the only way that they would be protected

 

[Nicole01]

Chickens move all over. They prefer to be under trees.

I have to supervise all the free ranging due to the enormous number of hawks in my backyard. I see and hear several a day. I've trained my girls to go into their run quickly. If they are done before I see any hawks, they wait for me under a tree with low branches.

I always carry a stick in my hand when watching my girls. It helps guide them and keep them in a group. If a hawk does attack, I'll whack it with the stick.

My neighbors hen was attacked by a huge red tail last year when she was only a few feet away. Luckily her hen was unharmed.

 

[zazouse]

Sorry but that's probably not going to work unless you can figure out how to get your chickens to stand beside it, especially if you live close to a city, those hawks, they are use to everything.

 

[dainerra]

just provide them some cover. They will run to hide.

 

[mc08daniel]

I have heard that you can get some of those fake owls from TSC or lowes and they help keep other predators away!

 

[Wildlife]

I have heard that you can get some of those fake owls from TSC or lowes and they help keep other predators away!

Yes I've recently added a couple of OWL DECOYS to my defenses after losing my beloved rooster to a HAWK attack!Also made me a SCARECROW from some old clothes stuffed with leaves.Attatched some shiney objects to give him some movement in the breeze.Seems to be helping,no new attacks for about three weeks now.The flock is back to free-ranging.A few pics here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/656882/my-scarecrow-scary-or-silly-share-your-scarecrow-pics

 

[Peach2u]

I too have been having hawk problems. Everyday at around 1pm he comes for lunch. My chicks are 6 weeks old. It has taken 5 so far. Yesterday I ran out with a broom as he was sitting on my olive egger on the ground. It came thru the tree leaves where all around them. But he carried my baby away before I got to him. I have some mylar silver eagle brand wind socks coming. I was told they didn't like the scattered light. Has anyone tried the sound boxes they emit eagle cries? Was thinking if it heard an eagle it might go else where. Then again it might make the real eagles come lol. I have a fierce corgi. She runs everything off but she wasn't outside at that time. Guess I need a heard of corgi's! yea! The problem is mine steals eggs. We are going to fix that with an underground fence. So I'm still open for ideas on keeping hawks off my chickens.

 

[Tamma]

I was going to move it around randomly in the yard while my chicks are still penned up to try to get them used to it. I have 2 more months before they are full size and I'm not letting them out until then. We built a small 4 ft fence around the front of the coop where the door is so the chickens won't escape now when I go in and out.
I would love the eagle sounds that Peach2U was mentioning. I would consider that before I would get the sky dancer. I'll look into it! Thanks guys!! Tamma

 

[Tamma]

Awesome Scarecrow!! Maybe if I had a few scarecrows that I could move around. Anything to keep my chickens safe! Tamma