What is scaring my hens

[BBB Becky]

Around four o'clock in the afternoon, my chickens go into a panic (not everyday). We are near the woods but could this be a hawk or an owl. I checked
everywhere for any animals. Today, they actually ran into the coop in a complete panic, Any ideas?

 

[izzybe3]

do you have snakes near you???

 

[SueT]

Predators can easily keep themselves concealed from you...it's great that your chickens are so observant and cautious. What breed(s) are they? Some breeds are better at noticing/avoiding predators than others...
Good luck....

 

[Eric 2016]

It's amazing how chickens can detect a predator that we never see. could be a hawk in a tree, look closely among the branches.

 

[BBB Becky]

Not really, just garter snakes about 12 inches long. I can't figure it out. Any more ideas?

 

[BBB Becky]

I thought maybe a hawk or owl. I will watch for it better tomorrow.

 

[Eric 2016]

I actually have a bull horn that has a siren on it, when I see a hawk I run toward it with the siren on. I hope no one ever sees me doing that.

 

[izzybe3]

well garter snakes scare my chickens...and i found a rattle snake in my yard .....good luck finding out

 

[lazy gardener]

I know that prime hawk hunting times are mid morning and again late afternoon. I'd say you most likely have a hawk that is looking for some nuggets, but it could be anything. Do you have a covered run? If so, you could put them in the run before that time. You might also want to be listening for the tell tale screech of the hawk. They let me know they are around my yard! If I let my birds out to range, the hawks will show up within 10 minutes, looking for a free meal.

 

[MillersFarm]

Could be an owl or a hawk, we had the same problem last year and so we put up some fake crows and an owl right on top of the coop and ever since then i havent seen any hawks or owls near our lil' chicken coop