Will Hawks Attack With Someone Right There?

[Mylied]

Interesting idea, Centrarchid. My husband finished the run, so no more worries about hawks snatching away the chicks while we're outside. Thanks for the information everyone.

 

[centrarchid]

Interesting idea, Centrarchid. My husband finished the run, so no more worries about hawks snatching away the chicks while we're outside. Thanks for the information everyone.

It works based on actually doing it once but you do not want someone seeing you do it. Also not practical. My dog does it very well.

 

[centrarchid]

I have had several hawk attacks with me right there. I have one good layer in the intensive care coop right now. They are not afraid to attack with me around. I wish I could shoot them!

You are not getting in the hawks face. Hawk will break off if you press it.

 

[sourland]

My experience has been the same as chikinfarmr'. I have had Coopers attack my pigeon aviaries within feet of me, attack a flock of pigeons feeding at my feet, attack and drive a pigeon into the cellar as I was standing ther with a broom sweeping away. If young, hungry, or uneducated about humans my experience is that they will attack with you right there.

 

[Mylied]

My neighbor lets his chickens run around in an uncovered fenced in area all the time. I wonder how many he has lost to hawks. I'll have to ask some time. Thank you all for letting me know that they will attack. There are a ton of them around here.

 

[gwydiana]

I had a hawk attack my head today -- my scalp is still bleeding. I know he was after my chickens and perhaps he thought I was a statue he could land on. Scared the hell outta me

 

[PumpknMoonshine]

Gywdiana, Oh my goodness!! I hope you're alright! That is frightening!

I had a hawk attack yesterday as well with myself outside 10 ft away from the fenced in area around the coop and pen. My presence was not a deterent at all. It swooped down and grabbed a hold of my blue polish Frieda. She suffered injuries , and is now staying at the vet for a two day observation and is thought to make a full revovery. Her little back is gashed and bare with another entry near her cloaca. The hawk missed her abdomen by centimeters. She's a lucky little thing. Just witnessing the attack was horrifying! I couldn't imagine being the subject. The vet was telling me that hawks are migrating right now so it's best to keep the girls in the coop. He suggested preventative measures by hanging reflective things from trees and getting a mannequin /scarecrow in backyard and perhaps a dog. Now I'm questioning the scarecrow.... I've never heard of a hawk landing on a person , but yesterday when it happened i was relatively still so i can understand how the hawk wasn't phased or aware of me. I'm going to hang a lot of netting in backyard soon, but now after hearing your story I may just go out with bells on too . Do you know what kind of hawk it was? I think this one was a juvenile red tail, but it was massive in size. Had a white breast. Take care of your head. So sorry to hear you were hurt!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Generations of protection by the Migratory Bird Treaty has resulted in hawks that have absolutely no fear little less any respect for humans. I almost expect hawks to begin attacking humans instead of chickens. IMO, any wild animal that weighs between 1 1/2 pounds and 4 pounds and that requires swatting with a broom to make it break off an attack is to cheeky by several orders of magnitude.

By the way, fending hawks off of your chickens is a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty because it is against that law to "harass" a hawk, not just kill one, and yelling at one, or snatching food from its beak is harassment if you ask any game warden.

 

[centrarchid]

Generations of protection by the Migratory Bird Treaty has resulted in hawks that have absolutely no fear little less any respect for humans. I almost expect hawks to begin attacking humans instead of chickens. IMO, any wild animal that weighs between 1 1/2 pounds and 4 pounds and that requires swatting with a broom to make it break off an attack is to cheeky by several orders of magnitude.

By the way, fending hawks off of your chickens is a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty because it is against that law to "harass" a hawk, not just kill one, and yelling at one, or snatching food from its beak is harassment if you ask any game warden.

Send them to arrest me. Their boss will step in to put such silliness to rest especially when I am one that agrees with protections in place and successfully prevent losses of poultry without causing losses of raptors. They must consider your approach as the alternative which comes down to the lesser of evils.

 

[cochinator]

Hawks will definitely attack a chicken right beside you. It has happened to me several times. Yesterday I knew there was a hawk around because all the older birds run for cover, but the younger ones are still dumb and were sitting out sunning. I went to shoo them into the coop and almost as if the hawk was trying to beat me to them, it flew down and attacked a pullet within 10 feet of me and would not let go until I got very close to it clapping my hands. Large gash in the bird and I hope it lives.

Another time I heard the birds going crazy and went out to see what was going on, there was a hawk on top of a full grown cochin with its wings spread. The cochin was not moving at all and I assumed it was dead. I got about 5 feet from them and took a picture of the hawk on top of the bird. I could not believe the hawk did not fly away when I got within a few feet of it. Later I saw the cochin wandering around and couldn't believe it. The cochin did not move from it's apparently dead position when I went chasing the hawk, and I have heard they go into a trance like state when attacked. The cochin is fine to this day.

edited by staff