Will a Red-tailed hawk attack my flock if I'm standing outside with them?

[Ella_michele08]

My GLW is tough and tempermental. She decides when she will let me handle her... and will nip at me hard if she wants to be left alone.

I suspect the hawk found that out.

Awww!
Yeah I bet it did

 

[2 Acres]

I know

Ughhh that's so SAD I'm sorry!!!!
It's hard bc my hens in the small coop don't understand and wanna go outside.....but that's terrible.
the hawk at our house two years ago was on the back deck perching and watching for more and when I came out and yelled at it and it saw me it took off! But now there a couple in the trees even tho our yard is open, there are pine trees way outside (around our property)

IIRC... there are devices such as propane cannons that randomly discharge a loud explosion, to deter birds of prey.

Don't know how much they cost... or how fast they would get on somebody's nerves... especially if you have neighbors close by.

 

[2 Acres]

But as I have already mentioned (here somewhere)... a small .410 gauge shotgun would be enough to scare off any bird of prey, as long as you don't aim directly at the bird of prey.

 

[Ella_michele08]

I know

IIRC... there are devices such as propane cannons that randomly discharge a loud explosion, to deter birds of prey.

Don't know how much they cost... or how fast they would get on somebody's nerves... especially if you have neighbors close by.

Yeah idk... but it's a cool thought

 

[McChooky]

Use fishing line from one side of the yard to the other then run bird netting over top of it ( support it in the middle with a row of tall fence posts)

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Will a Red-tailed hawk attack my flock if I'm standing outside with them?​

I think so. We have a lot of hawks where I live and I sure wouldn't risk it.

Many years ago I was hiking the Appalachian Trail and there was a hiker who had brought along his pet rat. Some pet rats are "shoulder rats," meaning they love nothing more than to ride around on your shoulder, just hanging out, grooming your hair, chattering in your ear, watching the world with you and having a great time.

This hiker with hiking with his rat just like that, sitting on his shoulder. He was on a trail in the forest when BAM. That's all he heard - bam. A hawk or owl flew silently past him and picked his pet right off his shoulder. It was terrible.

If a hawk or owl is willing to do that I'd say your chickens aren't safe just because you're standing there. Dinner is dinner.