This just got serious! D:<

[tacothechicken]

Ok guys so if anyone who's seen my pigeon posts knows I have a resident coopers who passes through my yard and has had a go at my young birds a few times now early morning when I fly them! So I had actually moved their loft while their where still young enough to so theyed have more room to spot an incoming attack o-o.... This morning was apparently game on and I'm suddenly unsure if I want to play. I went out not planning to fly the birds but left the gate open as I cleaned so they could wander in an out as they ate breakfast. The hawk went for them right there! Not like as they went flying but he saw them in the aviary WHITH ME!!!! and attempted to take a bird!(he got a face full of chain link of course) but I WAS FIVE FT AWAY and our mastiff was thier D:?!!! The birds obviously spooked and took off (all came back by 6) but this one came back too o-o! This is in our front driveway. I'm gonna need to lock the birds up for a bit but I think he's realized me out there means open buffet. how long till he gives up stalking the property? He used to fly through but now he's really a regular will he only get gutsier anyone have advice how to dissuade his attentions from my birds?! Is such a direct attack normal?!

 

[tacothechicken]

 

[1 acre willows]

Shoot it

 

[tacothechicken]

I've sever seen another coopers in the area so I suspect theirs no nest mate etc to feed, but this bird is becoming quite concerning

 

[tacothechicken]

@1 acre willows im almost tempted by the idea but the bird is fine beyond the crazy morning ambushes (he knows he won't catch em in flight) I just want away to let my birds out without losing them for 9 hours cause a hawk spook :/ (plus, although I live out of town, our game &wildlife is out here ALL the time o.o shooting would be veeery risky) I know of one set of niebhors who'd tattle if it came to shooting simply of spite. -_-)

 

[sawilliams]

Have you tried letting the birds out at different times? I mean I don't know it if could work but it may throw off his plans enough for yours to get airborne.

Also do you have bushes or trees the birds can hide in? I know my chickens like to take cover when a hawk is about. Attend the larger oak over their run has been the best though not only deturent ever.

 

[lissalischicks]

I have hawks and falcons near me and they come and check us out quite a bit. They have attacked the chickens with me in the backyard, like your situation. I spray them with water and they seems to be the most effective for me to make them leave. We ended up making a covered area with bird netting to deter them. They have come back every year to check us out. It's always scary when they juvenile hawks start to fly around. I have tried everything out there to deter them with no luck. They do disappear for time to time (probably checking someone else's yard out) but so far they haven't gotten a chicken from me. The only thing I have in my yard (which I am not even sure if it works) is 2 disco balls, because they say the light reflected from them can throw them of.. (not sure if it works) Just be vigilant. The hawk may loose interest but as my friend said to me... my house has been marked by them so they may come by again.

I do like @sawilliams idea about letting them out at different times and having a place for them to hide.

 

[Quacking Pigeon]

I’ve had a few pigeons taken by birds of prey. Their was this one time I was outside and looking at my pigeons on the loft roof and out of nowhere a hawk came from behind, the birds just sat down when it came and I think one of my birds flew to a different spot but none were taken. This hawk had a mate and I’ve seen them on a tree pretty close near the loft.

I still run that risk when I let my pigeons out but they at least have a tree to fly up into. Also once some of my pigeons flew in a tree near a bird of prey, lets just say one of them went very close to it, but the bird of prey just flew off.

 

[CCUK]

This is a screenshot from the raptor alliance in UK. It is illegal to shoot them here as they are all protected. If you did shoot it chances are another would only take its place. If it has young it may move on when they fly the nest.

 

[New2Chicks97]

Well if comes close enough spray it with something non-lethal that might deter it from returning like a homemade pepper spray or even a commercially available pepper spray.

Did it hit the side or top of your run? Maybe some electric fencing in the area it likes to attack?

It sounds like you are going to have to give it a reason to NOT come back again.