The Hawk from Hell

[cheekiechickie]

I've had chickens for nearly 3 full years now, and Im still learning. What's the newest bit of knowledge you ask? Well I've now learned over the course of the last week that I hate hawks. Never had a problem with them over the last few years, all of a sudden TWO damn things have decided to stalk the area paying close attention to my flock. They are coming by multiple times every day for a week now. I have a pen and its got a wire roof with a tarp on for the winter, but because my flock grew due to chicken math... I don't like to keep them in the pen that was made for a flock size of 6, when its now a flock of 15.
I have to admit that I do appreciate the hawk alarm the chickens sound so I can bolt out, grab my long stick and act like a crazy rabid chicken person to attempt to scare the suckers off for a few minutes. Yes my chickens have figured out to find cover, and yes there is a lot of shelters around for them, but the hawks continuous, and nearly punctual visits have me worried that they are more skilled that I give them credit for.
So my question for all of you is this... In your chicken keeping experience, If I continue to act like a crazy stick wielding maniac out there when the "alarm" goes off, and the two fail to gain any dinner, will the high flying stinkers eventually give up and start looking elsewhere? Or do I begin construction on yet another pen that will contain the flock all the days of their lives????
If you cant tell I'm hoping for the first situation...

 

[room onthebroom]

This is not what you want to hear, but the hawks will eventually figure out you & your big stick are not a threat. I do the same thing here. The hawks used to be scared, now they just stare at me like I'm an idiot.

 

[Chickassan]

Well, it's getting cold and hawks are hungry and your penned chickens look like a buffet to them. If they don't get a meal they will most likely move on. The maniac with a stick approach works good,iv'e tried it but you can also try putting a radio out there. Hawks have good hearing and eyesight so the weird sounds just might help....unless you're just big on the stick thing.

 

[igorsMistress]

This is not what you want to hear, but the hawks will eventually figure out you & your big stick are not a threat. I do the same thing here. The hawks used to be scared, now they just stare at me like I'm an idiot.

I'm sorry, that's just funny. I was just thinking the same thing about the hawk we have when it looks at me.

 

[room onthebroom]

I'm sorry, that's just funny. I was just thinking the same thing about the hawk we have when it looks at me.

I'm pretty sure the neighbors are looking at me like I'm an idiot too.

 

[Chickassan]

Ya'll need bigger sticks!

 

[Sara Ranch]

Maybe, but we still love ya!

There needs to be things to flap in the wind, catch the sparkle of the sunlight, and make noise.

I have black buzzards that do low fly by's often in a day. I move sheets/spare fabric around. I change things up in the yard. I now have dogs that bark. I have turkeys that sound the alarm when the bird shadow startles them. I go out and am out often when it's warmer. (Super hard for me now that the temps are below freezing - BUT I still go out.) Black buzzards prefer dead animals, BUT will kill something as large as a baby cow for a meal. I have baby cows. They will also dine on smaller things like chickens. I have chickens. And there's lots of animals in between.

The best I can do is mix things up and make my presence known. I am sure there are bad days when just my appearance scares them gone. Hey, everyone can have a bad hair day.

Don't give up. I have 33 animals that completely free range. I have quite a few more that are in open pastures.

 

[ladybugchickenfarms]

i have used the stick trick before but I've only had a hawk come once, so this may not be accurate. the hawks are scared at first yes, but like other people said you might want to try something else because they will get used to it and u will not be a threat anymore. but they will move on if the meal of 15 is impossible to eat

 

[room onthebroom]

I am sure there are bad days when just my appearance scares them gone. Hey, everyone can have a bad hair day.

 

[cheekiechickie]

Thanks guys for the ideas! My dog is great at barking all day, but they must already be used to that, and sadly he is about hawk lunch sized too. Now luckily enough the neighbors are not close enough for me to be seen doing the hawk dance lol, but I think I'll go ahead and put a radio up. I'm lucky enough to have a covered work bench area right next to the coop and pen. Sara Ranch, you suggested things that flap in the wind... I just took down some old tarps that had been ripped and flapping in the area the chickens like to hang out... yeah I took them down two weeks ago... Starting to think that bit of trash was more helpful than ugly now.