Will a hawk eat my hens??

[ben0125]

I am thinking of releasing my hens we got last week soon but I'm worried about a hawk around our house. We live in a rural area on 5 acres so hawks fly around a lot. We have some hens around a year old I believe and want to know if a swamp harrier hawk would be able to pick up our chickens. We don't have very big hawks in New Zealand and the swamp harrier is the one around our area. We think we have Sussex's and they are decent sized. Please tell me if you think the hawk will threaten our hens!!


BTW IF ANYONE IS FROM NZ AND HAS HENS TELL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH HAWKS!! THANKS

 

[Trish1974]

While I am not familiar with that type of hawk, I'd say odds are likely it will favor a chicken dinner. Most hawks do not carry off chickens anyway; most eat right at the kill site.

 

[Zoomie]

They do not need to carry it off (most can not, the hen would be way too heavy) but they will still kill and eat it. Hawks are opportunistic and will take the chance they can to get a meal. It's tough for them living by their wits and they can not afford to pass up Chicken Dinner.

Some people try and make sure there is a great deal of cover, some use dogs, and some string fishing line with CDs or something on it, to try and help. However, I think most would agree: if you free-range your birds, there is always a risk that you will lose birds to a predator. It just depends on you and your goals. I am trying to breed purebred chickens, so a loss does not work in my plans. Therefore I do not free-range. I keep my birds in covered runs and they are locked in the coop at night. But, free-ranging might work well for you.

 

[sourland]

Looking at the body type, my gut said no on killing chickens. Google says their diet is : ground birds, swamp birds, rabbits - if it can kill a rabbit, it can kill a chicken.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Can you make them a chicken tractor for day use?
It would help keep hawks out and give the hens fresh grounds.

 

[Birdsong 82]

Do you have any larger animals free roaming the yard along with the chickens?

 

[Jodizon]

I know of small hawks killing chickens.

 

[chicken 81]

I am thinking of releasing myView attachment 1157670View attachment 1157671 hens we got last week soon but I'm worried about a hawk around our house. We live in a rural area on 5 acres so hawks fly around a lot. We have some hens around a year old I believe and want to know if a swamp harrier hawk would be able to pick up our chickens. We don't have very big hawks in New Zealand and the swamp harrier is the one around our area. We think we have Sussex's and they are decent sized. Please tell me if you think the hawk will threaten our hens!!


BTW IF ANYONE IS FROM NZ AND HAS HENS TELL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH HAWKS!! THANKS

the best way to keep your chickens safe is to let them out an hour before it gets dark and watch them as much as you can. they will almost always go back to the coop when it starts to get dark

 

[strawberricatt]

I am thinking of releasing myView attachment 1157670View attachment 1157671 hens we got last week soon but I'm worried about a hawk around our house. We live in a rural area on 5 acres so hawks fly around a lot. We have some hens around a year old I believe and want to know if a swamp harrier hawk would be able to pick up our chickens. We don't have very big hawks in New Zealand and the swamp harrier is the one around our area. We think we have Sussex's and they are decent sized. Please tell me if you think the hawk will threaten our hens!!


BTW IF ANYONE IS FROM NZ AND HAS HENS TELL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH HAWKS!! THANKS

I live in NZ, and have had a few bad experiences with hawks. Okay, hawks will attack and eat full grown ducks. But wether or not the hawk tries to eat your hens depends a few factors

.if you have a lot of roadkill (i find the hawks in our area prefer to eat dead possums, than bother to kill anything
. Do you have other animals? Hawks prefer to attack a singular animal, or an animal in a small group. If you have cows, pigs, goats, horses, ducks or dogs around hawks will be less likely to attack
. Size is a very low factor to anything. In fact, if a hawk is desperate, it'll kill a hen that is about it's size meters in front of a human
.Do you have some sheltered spaces around? Small bushes, fruit trees, junk, if you have any spaces a hen can hide during an attack, that'll lower her chances of being eaten greatly

I hope this helps
-Feather

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Do you have a good rooster? When we had one, I watched as he kept a hawk at bay, while his hens ran for cover. The hawk decided to find easier prey, rather than take on the rooster!