WHAT TO DO ABOUT CHICKEN HAWK???

The Classroom @ The Coop: management archive 2: WHAT TO DO ABOUT CHICKEN HAWK???
By LFishler on Thursday, August 9, 2001 - 08:49 am:

Hi.

I have 31 chickens that are free range, with only one 3 month old rooster. This morning I noticed them all scattering and panicked and saw a HUGE hawk land in a tree just 20 feet from their coop. Does anybody have any suggestions as to how to keep it away? I have 4 dogs, and NOT ONE of them noticed what was going on.

Thanks in advance.

Lisa

By Mark Jacobs (Mjacobs) on Thursday, August 9, 2001 - 09:52 am:

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but they are extremely hard to deter after they have discovered your birds. Chances are if 1 hawk has shown up, it has a mate and young, also. Hawks are beautiful birds, but they most certainly are a threat to your chickens. The only surefire way to protect against hawk attacks is to keep the birds in a covered pen.
I don't know for sure, but I have heard that geese will discourage hawks from attacking, may be just a rumor, though.

By HannahH on Thursday, August 9, 2001 - 08:03 pm:

Hi, have read that guineas are excellent guard birds. They are constantly on alert, and let out quite the ruckus when they are startled or alerting their mates to danger. Maybe they can be a first alert system for you, and your dogs will soon learn when the guineas go off, they better too!

By LFishler on Thursday, August 9, 2001 - 08:51 pm:

Hannah,
That sounds like a good idea. . . do you know, can I put them in with the chickens? I have 2 coops, appx. 14' X 14' with around 15 chickens in each. Thanks again!

By Poultra on Friday, September 28, 2001 - 04:31 pm:

A hawk attacked one of my free ranginging Mille Fleurs 5 weeks ago. I heard the piercing scream the Hawks let out just before they attack their prey. I raced out the door. My chickens had already scattered. The poor little mille fleur ran as fast as she could towards our house. I caught a glimps of the hawk as it took off into the trees. On the ground below was a pile of ripped out feathers. My heart sank. I have 2 mille fleurs, and I thought the hawk got one of them. I ran around the yard and got everyone into the chicken coop yard.After counting to make sure everyone was there, I went to get the mille fleur that ran towards the house.
We were lucky, the hawk only grabbed her but couldn't catch her. She had two big gashes in her sides. I took her to the vet. He stappled her gashes shut and put her on 14 days of antibiotics. Banana-Poopies, as she is called is doing great, and her wounds have healed. She is one lucky chicken.
After this incident I called the Raptor Clinic at the University of Minnesota. They informed me about the habits of Hawks. Hawks migrate from September through November/ December. If the Hawk finds a free food source ( my chickens) it will stay in the area and set up house keeping. I was advised to keep my chickens locked up for an extended period of time to dicourage the hawk from hanging around. My chicken yard does not have a cover.
Banana-Poopie only weighed 1.4 pounds. A Hawk can carry off any prey that weighs less than half its weight. A chicken hawk is about the size of a large crow. Also, bird feeders and areas where song birds congregate are prime areas where these hawks hang out.

The best way to protect your chickens is to keep them in a covered fenced in area. When I do let them free range, I have to chaperone them. I'm not taking anymore chances.


Add a Message


This is a private posting area. A valid username and password combination is required to post messages to this discussion.
Username:  
Password:
Post as "Anonymous"