Tennessee

[tnchickenut]

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it's usually pricey, but I have seen fake coyotes put out to deter hawks.

There is also "nite guard" and also ebay usually has auctions up for fairly affordable 50' by 50' netting.

Good luck!

 

[bibliophile birds]

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depending on how large the area is, you can try running strands of high tensile fishing wire across the yard. hawks need a certain amount of area to swoop down which the fishing wire breaks up and the strands kind of glisten in the sun, which they don't like. people use this over swimming pools a lot to keep birds away.

 

[cybercat]

Sorry to hear about your loss. We have had no losses to hawks of late due to chickens watching skies and lots of cover since we could not mow. We did loose alot to a fox at night though due to leaving coop open some night. Presntly down to 13 and out of this bunch I have one yet to go that I do not want to keep for breeding. Have a friend she will go to once her coop is set up.

As far as predators what will hit durning day beside hawk is cat, dogs, fox, racoons, snakes and rats. Rats can be a very big problem as they will take chicks as well as young stock. When I bred dogs my vet told me to watch out for the in taking pups. But that was Not a problem as my were born in house. But coops invite them and many will live under them. Yes, they will be out during the day just like all the rest I listed. Fox I knmow for sure for I saw a grey try to snatch one of my chicks in broad daylight. Lost 5 to that one that week before I saw him and the dog did too. After that dog chased it away by harassning him daily with hunting it. Now he comes thru real late night after 1am since dog is in then. No more open coop here.

BTW we are loving the weather here. Not over 73 for the whole week. YEA.

 

[kcsunshine]

Yeah and my chickens are lovin' it too. I was going out at 11pm to shut the door to their roosting area because it was so hot - now I can shut them up as soon as they get on the roost and settle down.

 

[tnchickenut]

I think I lost mine to hawks too... after looking at all the info. Definately a raccoon out there too... hawks don't rip tails off.

Hawks are bad this time of year... alot are migrating and so more active and looking for a good meal, as always.

Oh, maybe I didn't tell you all.....

Lost three bantam hens on Monday... or Sunday night... Woke up at 4 like usual to go to work... birds are out!! They must have freaked and flew out (some of them). I went to work and told them i was leaving when the sun come up. They did not like that, but whatever. Like I really care about their boats over my chickens.

Anywho before I left I put them back in the coop, and when i got back... I had everyone but 3 hens. I think it was a hawk. All three missing were always perched high like hawk targets.

BTW it was a big dog kennel with a tarp top... the bantam could get out the crack wer the tarp meets the wall frame. I put a bigger tarp on it so it overlaps and so far still have everyone left.

I hope whatever it was really needed that chicken to survive. I hate when something gets wasted.

 

[Jenski]

We are also getting barraged by hawk attention here in Middle TN - - even in the 'burbs. They are really aggressive this fall, and they are not at all afraid of me. We have a pair of young Cooper's hawks hunting this area really hard. The other morning one of them even smacked into the front storm door, leaving behind the imprint of its chest and wing and a couple of breast feathers. Must have been chasing the house sparrows or starlings, who can turn on a dime and not hit the door, LOL!

One of the Cooper's perched in the maple tree right over my coops yesterday afternoon, just a few minutes after I brought the dogs over to run him off from the back yard. Naughty bugger! There is plenty to eat in the way of wild birds around here, but chicken is oh so easy.

We also have red tails and possibly a broad-winged hawk. He also hunts hard around here, and is aggressive and unafraid.


It may be time to start trying some hawk deterrents over here. If any of them work, I'll keep all you TN folks posted. Sorry for the chicken losses some of you folks are suffering!

 

[cybercat]

I have to say I am lucky because of our dog. With this weather she is out all day now and really helps with the chickens and watching the skies. She is a shep/collie mix I got from the pound and we did not get chicks till she was over 2 years of age. She thinks of them as her babies.

When chickens sound off she is right there looking up or searching the property. Last hawk that chickens called on she was inside in bedroom and heard them she came running out to me we went outside she was looking and I asked her if she saw anything. This big coopers hawk then took off and she was right after it. Right after that our local crows showed up to chase it further. We have a flock that hangs out here protrolling the area regular. We have alot of woods so they must nest around here. Never cared for crows before but I do now.

I pray for everyone that losses are not bad this year. We set up winter feeding for songbirds but I am going to start a station for the crows too so they stay close.

 

[bibliophile birds]

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yep! they are awfully handy to have around.

 

[kcsunshine]

Tell that to my husband who had to plant his corn patch 3 times last year - those crows thought he was setting out a buffet for them.

 

[tnchickenut]

cybercat - Just came home to a dead rat today. Cats were locked in the run for a few hours last night and apparently earned their food for the week... got a rat and a mouse! Good cat!