What Predator...?

[BigBlueHen53]

We have not had a problem with hawks.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

We have not had a problem with hawks.

Okay, I have to take that back. Last year we lost a couple of hatchlings to hawks. But there were plenty of obstacles! The strikes occurred like lightning under our huge oak trees, right out from under mama hen's watchful eyes, and our own. Like I said, not much anyone could do. But other than those episodes, we don't seem to have a problem with hawks.

 

[aart]

Trapping one baby coon will not likely solve your issues...mama and siblings are out there too...even if that particular animal was the one that killed your bird(s)which is a crap shoot.

Please don't trap more until you can kill them
........maybe local animal control can take care of it?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Will do.

 

[Shadrach]

Well, I just lost 3 chickens to a bald eagle...must be similar. How do hawks strike?

It depends on the hawk.
The goshawk which is the hawk that has killed most chickens here will happily fly through dense woodland at incredible speed and then hammer it's prey into the ground.
They will also pick a concealed spot on the ground and pounce on passing prey.
They are strong enough to hammer through chicken wire.
All I'm trying to point out is hawks are very difficult to deter and a few obstacles given they can manage dense woodland is not going to work.

 

[ValerieJ]

Okay, I have to take that back. Last year we lost a couple of hatchlings to hawks. But there were plenty of obstacles! The strikes occurred like lightning under our huge oak trees, right out from under mama hen's watchful eyes, and our own. Like I said, not much anyone could do. But other than those episodes, we don't seem to have a problem with hawks.

It reminds me of a little red hawk we have that kills doves in our yard. You're right, they are very different than eagles in that they just sort of drop out of the sky on their target. The eagles really have to swoop and they are not very graceful once they are on the ground. So, obstacles work for me. However, my neighbors have an owl nest. That could wind up being a problem. Not sure how they operate but I think they are more agile than the eagles.

 

[ValerieJ]

It depends on the hawk.
The goshawk which is the hawk that has killed most chickens here will happily fly through dense woodland at incredible speed and then hammer it's prey into the ground.
They will also pick a concealed spot on the ground and pounce on passing prey.
They are strong enough to hammer through chicken wire.
All I'm trying to point out is hawks are very difficult to deter and a few obstacles given they can manage dense woodland is not going to work.

I think you're right. That's very different from the eagles.

 

[Rietta]

I have an owl nest and it has never been a problem. Its within 100 feet of my coop and run (barred owl) , they hunt dusk till dawn unless they are having trouble feeding young enough. I would never dream of running them out, its illegal and they eat things I don't need around. I have a run for young non layers that I have strung rope across the top in a criss cross pattern to deter aerial attacks as well. We have only had issues with snakes so far taking 4 young birds in 2 years. (knock on wood) Our coop is also within 40 feet of our dog run and near the house, possibly another deterrent.

 

[ValerieJ]

I have an owl nest and it has never been a problem. Its within 100 feet of my coop and run (barred owl) , they hunt dusk till dawn unless they are having trouble feeding young enough. I would never dream of running them out, its illegal and they eat things I don't need around. I have a run for young non layers that I have strung rope across the top in a criss cross pattern to deter aerial attacks as well. We have only had issues with snakes so far taking 4 young birds in 2 years. (knock on wood) Our coop is also within 40 feet of our dog run and near the house, possibly another deterrent.

I have a similar deterrent in my chicken run. I have used reflective deer tape in a grid over any open areas and bird netting on top of that. Then I set up tomato cages between trees and where needed I put bird netting over those too. It is definitely a deterrent for the eagles and they have moved on from my girls, but I think hawks and owls might hunt differently.. Thing is, our area is heavily forested and we have a river. There has always been enough food for everyone so none of us had any problems with predators, except for the one neighbor who free ranges his chickens in the forest. Things are different around here this year, and we are all getting a good dose of reality.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I think there is enough road kill around to keep our aerial predators happy. We have red tail hawks around and I have on occasion seen bald eagles, but for the most part they are not a problem for my chickens.