The Pallet Hawk Shelter and The Tin A-Frame Hawk Shelter

[ChickensAreSweet]

Here is one of my pallet hawk shelters (I have it currently set up in a pen with overhead netting, but thought someone might be able to use the idea on range):

another one:

Here is a simple one- I have some of these scattered in the pen with no netting overhead, too.

This would also probably be a good one if I had it in the pen with no overhead netting (I used to have one set up like this but with feeders under it instead of a pallet.)

Here is The Tin A-Frame Hawk Shelter:

Does anyone else have pictures of their hawk range shelters (even if they aren't pallets)?

 

[catsmithpuddin]

Good ideas. I am building a 30x30 pen now and am going to put up some small covers for overhead protection. Thanks for the good ideas.

Is there a reason they are all low to the ground? Is it less protection if they have more head room?

 

[galanie]

I'm skeptical. I had a hawk actually get in the coop trying to kill chickens. These would certainly slow them down though. Maybe mine was just extra hungry.

 

[Bengalcats1]

Quote:
Me to, coopers hawk got right into my run under the netting and went on a killing spree......but I do like these ideas of little shelters in the run, my poor babies went in their coop and he killed them in there

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
I have noticed that when my chickens flee from the eagles and hawks overhead, they go for the lowest, smallest hole they can find. (That is why I like them low to the ground.)



Bengalcats1 and galanie:
Thanks for the warnings. I did cover this entire large garden area with bird netting (no small endeavor

) last summer. But it won't carry a snow load, and so I took it down in the fall.

I am just trying to give my girls ANYTHING they can use to keep safe from the hawks. One time when I was free ranging them, an owl swooped and almost got one of my girls. She is alive because she dived under a tree in the underbrush.

They would be toast on a daily basis without their hawk shelters. We usually have a hawk or eagle in the sky overhead. I can attest that while I will probably have some losses from hawks (none yet thank God!), the shelters do help a great deal.

You both are correct that if you get a determined hawk, there is little you can do. I am planning to make my girls all reside in the side yard covered pen for a while if this happens.

They have survived all winter and spring thus far without losses, but it is only a matter of time, I admit, before I get a determined hawk.

 

[Bengalcats1]

I plan on picking up some pallets, you are right , the more you have for them to hide under the better, I started putting a pile of branches in the center of their run, my run was pretty empty

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

My chickens had underbrush for hiding, but it did not save them.

I thought I was prepared to lose some. Not so.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Chicken.Lytle :

My chickens had underbrush for hiding, but it did not save them.

I thought I was prepared to lose some. Not so.

I am sorry for your losses. Hardware cloth all around is the only surefire way to keep them safe, for sure.​

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
Yikes! Frightening.

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

Quote:
I am sorry for your losses. Hardware cloth all around is the only surefire way to keep them safe, for sure.

Currently working on a new coop. It will have full coverage with hardware cloth. The main run has poultry netting, which has been effective so far.

I am definitely going to set up pallet shelters and poultry netting if/when I let them range again.