Will low tree limbs deter hawks from attacking ranging bantams?

I suppose it might protect them, or it might give them a place to sit and wait for the chickens to come out.

eta: I really don't know. I'm just being facetious. Sorry.

 

I think that your tree limbs will be nifty resting spots for hawks... IMHO - freerange can mean free lunch. I do not care to feed our local hawk population, so my chickens stay in a run. I have watched hawks wipe out batches of baby ducks on our waterways. I refuse to offer free chicken dinners.

I adore my chickens. That said: They are JUST chickens. I do not believe that my chooks hang out in their covered run and curse me for thwarting their dreams of freeranging adventure. They don't know about the earthy, groovy, FREE delights of the open range. They don't know and I don't let 'em and we are just fine!

Maybe I am a little cranky today, but I must admit that I am tired of hearing stories of overwrought, distraught people who couldn't wrap their heads around the fact that loose chickens get hurt. My friend, I say if you hate the thought of something bad happening to a freeranger- don't do it! I am a GREAT BIG WIMP - that's why my chooks are locked up

 

Last spring a hawk sat in the limbs of a large leyland cypress hiding and then swooped down and ate a bluebird. I would say no protection at all. It broke my heart. I saw it happen. Jean

 

I would think that low tree limbs might possibly slow down a hawk but not deter. Hawks are formidable hunters and expert flyers. I think I have to agree that free range chickens (especially bantams) equals a free lunch. And the hawks will keep coming back.

 

I have two free range bantam chickens and a pair of hawks live near by. The hawks I have are not real big and so far have not really bothered my chickens. That could be for three reasons 1. My chickens are not out in the open without some kind of shelter for long periods of time.. their own choice they hang out near the barn a lot. 2. I have bird feeders and a ton of small birds come to them. They could be easier pickings.. or 3. The neighbors peacock follows the chickens around trying to "woo" them. So his feathers are up most of the time and dancing.


Anyone know what kind of hawk this is? I live in FL.

 

wow..some people are being very rude....you know what??..as much people are sick of others crying their birds are getting attacked...i am getting sick of some being rude to others for NO reason!! ......and..*ooh, maybe I am also "cranky" today...i guess that makes it okay..huh??* and..ooh..my chickens were locked in fort knox and STILL got killed by a weasel!...if they had been free they would be alive today..they could have flown away from the weasel...instead of being locked up like sitting ducks! the weasel got in..they could not get out.. ...i mean we could go on and on and on...please stop judging others..*stepping off my soap box now...*

 

One of my wife's coworkers has a permit to work with raptors. He came over with a red tailed hawk that he was teaching how to hunt bushy tailed tree rats (squirrels). Well long story short, the bird finally acquired tone and the squirrel made a dash down the tree. I watched that hawk go down the trunk of the tree like a dropped pinball that was bouncing back and worth off of branches. Spectacular is the best way to describe it. It was a controlled fall through the very dense inner tree. Mind you this is a ten year old tree, not some large boned behemoth. That event made it clear to me all the branches or wires/string in the world strung across a run won't stop a determined hawk. I installed netting the following weekend. Oh, the evil little tree rat did survive to irritate me another day. Grumble grumble!

Swamp

 

Keep in mind also that banties are very flighty and inclined to investigate the neighbors' yards. A typical 6' backyard fence is nothing to them.