What can I do to keep hawks away from my free range (3 acres) hens? I have already lost 2. I understand it is a federal offense to kill one, so I have to find another way. Netting is not an option due to trees. From what I can tell it is a Coopers Hawk. Very large and aggressive. Please help save the girls. They need your ideas.
You can try hanging the big hawk decoys from poles around the pasture. The are kind of like kites and move in the wind. A hawk usually won't go where there is competition, especially by a bigger bird. Strips of mylar fluttering from poles sometimes helps too.
One time a small sparrow hawk hit the netting around my chicken yard. It fell to the ground and my chickens stomped it so flat, I wasn't sure what it was at first.
Thanks for the suggestions! I will give them a try. Do the decoys frighten the hens? and what is mylar? Is that the orange ribbon you see on stakes?
The chickens will get used to them in a hurry, especially if they see you putting them up. Mylar is the shiny ribbon or tissue, usually a color on one side and silver on the other. Think big silver party baloons. It's the same stuff. Hey, maybe a couple of the mylar helium baloons tied to poles would work!
two other things to try, hang some cds (without labels), shiny things make the birds think of fire!
put a heat lamp in the coop with a red bulb, that helps deter night time predators...
I deleted a double post, left the one below.
This message was edited Dec 6, 2007 12:10 PM
It could be just a fluke for me but the 6 guineas I have set off a major 6-alarm alert one afternoon. When I finally went out to see what was going on there was just one guinea out in the open making all that noise, there was not a single other bird in sight except for the red tailed hawk who lifted off from atop the flag pole and sailed away when he/she saw me open the back door. All the other birds finally came out from under wherever they had been hiding- i could hear some of the other hens sounding alarms all over the place but couldn't actually see anyone except this one lone pearl guinea and even he was close enough to the deck he could have dodged under that for cover. It was one of the more interesting things I have seen happen around here that they would all cooperate like that for the good of the majority. At the time one of my barred rocks had 3 chicks, I immediately went looking for them thinking the hawk had picked one off and returned for another. She had them corralled under one of the horse's hay racks and had posted herself in front of them with her feathers all fluffed out but they were silent as rocks under there.
So perhaps you could try some guineas, they do push the hens around some but not to the point of any injuries and after seeing that, they will always have a place here as guards!! My girls also range over the whole 8 acres, I see hawks but so far I have been so lucky to not lose any.
As an aside, my German Shepherd also hates the large birds, anything larger than a crow he chases away, which makes him look demented but must work!! Not the chickens or guineas, though. Maybe it is his way of protecting his flock since he has no sheep.
Good luck, I wish I had something better to offer you.
mabecca-your story actually gave me chills! The animal kingdom is truly amazing when you stop to think about it.
mabecca, here's a little bigger bird that went down into one of our chicken runs that had a snow load that weighted the net to the ground and I removed it and decided to leave it off for the rest of the winter. After this, I put new netting up.
Carol
mabecca, here's what guards my chickens when I let them out to run the picket fenced in yard... Chinese Shar Pei...Nobody touches Mom's birds!
They have to take a break when I lock up the chickens... It must wear them out! They (My wrinklie, Sharpies say: "This chicken herding/guarding is hard work! We need a nap!
That's a great shot of a Bald Eagle! I thought Red-tailed hawks were a problem! I lost my Auracauna rooster and bantam hen to a Red-tailed hawk. The rooster didn't duck low enough under a bar and broke his neck trying to draw the hawk away from the 2 hens, about a week later he got 1. He didn't get to eat her though, I went out and he flew off. The last hen is now in the pen with the other girls and 6 month old rooster (the Auracaunas grandson).
Eagle in pen, while chickens are watching it out their little chicken door.
If I was into watching Raptors I would order the cheap cockerel mixes and let them run loose like the first poster wants to do with her laying hens, but I wouldn't let my precious biddy, egg-laying girls out into that type situation. Of course I live in Alaska and we have many predators and I keep my girls behind a dog run chainlink fence with netting on top, with only supervised, with guard dog protected outings.
Carol
That's another great photo, you've got smart chickens! How would you like to be the owner of these dogs playing with a Polar bear!
This message was edited Dec 5, 2007 1:33 PM
here's the next shot
Besides the Bald Eagles, we have the Red Tailed Hawk, Osprey, Golden Eagle, Rough-legged Hawk, Lots of Sharp-shinned Hawks, Goshawks, Gyrfalcons, the occasional Northern Harrier and of course the Merlins and Kestrels all the time. But, that's just from above. Oh, and the owls... Snowy and Great Horned and Great Grey are big enough to mess with the chickens. The terrestrial critters are another matter. That's why they are behind chain-link when not being guarded.
Carol
There's a total of 6 six so give me a minute
We have those as well, but not this guy. He returned every night for a week and played with the dogs
The poor guy thought he was going to lose his dogs at first.
These were taken in Churchill, Manitoba. This is the last one and probably my favorite. I think they're all AMAZING!
Yep, seen stuff like that before, especially when mom polar bear runs off 2-year-old, who's been with mom (who is probably pregnant and wants to den alone this winter to have her new cubs) all his life and is lonely, well fed, probably eating some of the dogs food along with the famous Churchill garbage dump which draws in so many polar bears (and tourists), before the Hudson bay freezes enough to let the bears finally go out on the ice to hunt seals for the winter. All animals have personalities, even our different moose that make the weekly cycle through the yard. Some are oblivious to people and dogs, some are flighty, some are aggressive, all are unpredictable, just like people, hence, our full prisons, jails and penitentiaries. Still, those are great photos, I love stuff like that.
Carol
Carol, I do to I'm an avid animal lover. No matter what type of animal, I enjoy watching them.
I don't know why my message posted twice, does anyone know how to delete the first one?
Carol, love the Sharpie pix. Am not familiar with them as a breed, were they guard or herding dogs originally? What would they do if they caught one of the large birds I wonder. My shepherd, Marco would have no clue what to do if he actually caught one, but that is not the point for him. He is just upset about them being in his world, or else it is the same idea as a dog chasing a cat (because it runs!) he's not seriously trying to catch them either.
An OT question for you Carol- how do you as a native Alaskan feel about 'outsiders' moving into your state? I am asking b/c I am not totally enamored of life in this area, it is not really remote enough yet has no benefits of most populated areas (my main beef being no bookstores unless you drive to Pittsburgh (about an hour and a half away). I have seen some of your pix and stories on other forums/threads and wonder if the trade-off of such beautiful surroundings is what draws a lot of people to your state.
Mabecca, we welcome all people up here, especially since you are a DG'r, you would be top line, as far as I'm concerned. Almost the whole population of Alaska came from "Outside" including my Dad, from Nebraska. It's a people thing. You try to fit in, or you try to city-fy us backwoodsers. We like ones that are industrious, helpful, friendly, (not running away from something, like the law or themselves), willing to band together because Mother Nature has the upper hand moreso up here than Outside and we need to help one another. (Shoveling snow out of the older folks steps and berm piles) Normal stuff like that.
Carol
thanks for all of your suggestions. I will give them a try.
Really nice pictures!
Great pictures everyone-thanks for posting them!
Mabecca, Come to Michigan, we can be pretty remote and it's pretty here, but we're closer to bookstores! (I think it's just as cold though)
Mabecca,
My dogs are pure bred Chinese Shar Pei, a breed from China which were bred for guard, herding, fighting (hence the loose wrinkled skin which doesn't give anothe dog a purchase when fighting, just a mouthful of skin.) "Shar Pei" means 'sand skin' which refers to the type which is known as a 'horse coat' and is very prickly and uncomfortable in another dog's mouth. Mine are the type called 'brush coat' which I specified because I wanted to hug my 'wrinklies.' It's a softer coat, but mine still throw "sports" of 'horse coat' in each litter. To make it more familiar to you, it's the puppies with all the wrinkles that are so cute you see in commercials and humorous greeting cards that refer to aging and wrinkling. They are all bark and no bite, because they look like a pit bull with wrinkles, with their square heads, big 'hippo' mouth/lips, they look ferocious and no bird with wings would stay on the ground with them charging. Of course I let them know that the chickens are their charges and are part of my 'pack' to defend against all critters. Very intelligent, I can leave an open pizza on the dash of my blazer with all Shar Pei inside and it won't be touched, ever. They are not allowed to look at anyone eating, and are very clean and dainty, almost cat-like. They want to be toweled off when wet and don't panic if tangled in my fishing lines and poles. They just wait patiently until I lift each foot and unwind them. They will bark at people until I let them know that I see the 'threat' and touch or move towards the intruder, which means I have it under control and their part is complete, then they include whoever I'm talking to as part of 'my' pack and move to protect and bark at any further 'intruders'. Dogs are very basic and I'm the 'alpha' in the pack. "Sharpy" is slang for Shar Pei and I guess that "Sharpies" is just plural. They are aloof and serious when outdoors, sometimes not coming to me. Indoors they are lap dogs and wiggly and lovey. (Don't let them know I said that... shhhhh)
You can go to one of your posts and click "edit" on the left below your name and info, then backspace all the stuff out and put something different in, like "See me posting?" or anything you want. Maybe say "Shar Peis Rule" Oh, I forgot, "Upside down puppies rule!"
Carol
I don't know where you live, but here In East Tennessee it is fawful to kill any preditor that is destroying a persons personl property. A hawk killing a chicken that is confined and not straying on to other peoples property, is a preditor.
Another thing. I don't think this is a Coopers hawk. Coopers hawks are on the small side and are very aggressive. I believe your hawk problem is either a Ted Tailed hawk, or a Red Shouldered hawk.
I have too keep my bantams confined to wire pens, as hawks are a problem here. They still try to get the bantams throug the wire pens, but cannot do so.
Hope this information is of help to you.
daylilypurp, You ought to do a bit more reading before you or a friend make the mistake of shooting or killing a Federally Protected bird. All RAPTORS in the USA (Hawks, Owls, Eagles, Falcons, Condors) are protected by more than 1 Federal Law. State laws are superseded by Federal laws when there is a conflict. The penalty when found guilty can be a $15k fine and then going to a Federal Penitentiary. The laws are nationwide ...... no ifs, ands or buts. I used to believe and say (write) the same as you until someone with more information set me straight. If you have a problem with birds killing your poultry; take steps to make them safe. Don't take it out on raptors. They are beautiful in their own way and worth a thousand times more than any domesticated poultry. Kelly
photographer, I agree. When we first moved to the country from town we had a neighbor that was dumb enough to tell me that he had been shooting at a Red-tailed hawk that was soaring over his chickens. When I told him what the penalty was for doing such a thing he about fainted! I know when my Malamute/Siberian would kill and eat one of my chickens that would get in the yard I would get real upset. I asked my vet if there was any way to stop him and his only solution was EUTHANASIAN! I decided right then that if a chicken got in the yard and became Czars meal so be it, as that was his domain. When Czar went out in the pasture he NEVER even looked at the chickens. I think he felt that that was their domain.
Photo, have to agree on the value of our raptors, like I said, I would order the "fly tie'rs special" which is all roosters that have such beautiful hackles and sickle feathers for their fishing flies, and are so cheap and let them run loose just to see all the raptors, then you would find out which are the fastest chickens and order the breed that outruns or dodges the 'threat from the sky' for range run hens. Other than that, they are your responsibity to protect even if it means you set chairs, tables or other suitable hiding spots for your charges. Even planting shrubs, making piles of poles or just any place of refuge for your chickens is a help. Depending on the degree you value your chickens you move eventually towards penning and netting. Would you let your breeding group out to free range? I thought not.
And you can train even a husky to ignore a chicken. I won't go into it, but, you ARE the boss of him/her. ("I think he felt that that was their domain") You tell him what is and isn't on the menu, in or out of (his?) yard.
Carol
Carol, You obviously didn't know Czar, he could have a chicken killed and eaten before I could even get out the door. He was cagey! I know I was the boss and he respected that, but he still liked fresh chicken! LOL
Hi guys! There are a lot of hawks out there, and I certainly don't disagree with what anyone has shared about their experience. However, most hawks really aren't big enough to take a full grown chicken. Here in NH we have red-tailed hawks and they are about it. The rest aren't big enough to take a big girl. So, for those of you that are worried about all of them, most can't hurt your girls! Kestrels are tiny. Their main prey are grasshoppers. Really.
So, although raptors are a problem, most of them will be passing through, not munching on the girls.
This year I am going to plant a grape arbor in and around my fencing. Also, gourds. THen I can have treats and cover for the girls.
http://www.hawkwatch.org/home/index.php?Itemid=63&id=48&option=com_content&task=view
Some info on some raptors.
Here's some interesting info about Cooper's Hawks. Maybe you could cut down all the trees? LOL! They are a forest hawk. ( look at what they eat! Maybe you could get jersey giants!)
Habitat and Prey ( this is from hawkwatch.org)
As a forest hawk, the Cooper’s Hawk inhabits extensive, mature woodlands in North America where it hunts for small to medium sized birds and mammals. Most western Cooper’s Hawks winter in Mexico, returning north to nest in April.
Nesting
Cooper’s Hawks nest throughout the United States and southern Canada. "Coops" frequently return to the same nesting territory each year, but almost always build a new nest. The male is the first to return, actively defending the area against intruding males and engaging in display behavior to attract his mate. It is estimated that Cooper’s Hawks keep the same mate for as long as both birds are alive (about four to seven years). Both members of the pair build the nest. The structure is about two feet in diameter and constructed with pencil-sized sticks. Three to five whitish eggs are laid in May and incubated for 30 days.
The young hawks remain in the nest for about one month, but continue to depend on their parents for food for another four to five weeks. The male provides most of the food , and the female defends the nestlings against predators. Coops rarely nest before they reach two years of age.
Conservation
Cooper’s Hawks in the West are currently threatened by deforestation, hunting, and pesticides. Due to their preference for streamside forests, populations of Cooper’s Hawks are especially sensitive to agricultural expansion along river bottoms. Their predilection for birds as their main prey makes them valuable indicators of pesticide levels and the overall health of forest ecosystems.
Hey thanks! My kids are learning about Birds of Prey [again, seems to be a favorite subject], i will use this extra info and web sites!
BackyardHens, What you say is spot on. All my chickens are Large Fowl (LF) ..... 5-12 lbs. We have Kestral, Red Tailed Hawks, Prairie Falcon, White Tailed Kite, Sharp-Shinned, Coopers, Merlin, Goshawk and a few Bald Eagle (seldom seen). I have yet to see any go after the chickens. I watched one perched on a shed looking wistfully at some chicks with their mother hen in July but have yet to notice any missing chickens due to raptors in close to 6 years. The hawks are here every hour of daylight .... thick as thieves circling the acreage looking for mice, gophers, quail, pheasant, small birds. They are kinda awesome. I've watched Merlin catch sparrows right in front of me. It was kinda surprising how slow the sparrow was in reacting to an attack.
This message was edited Dec 18, 2007 10:32 AM
Backyardhens. THis hawk has killed 2 of my hens already. I witnessed it. It stood on top of them and ate their heads and necks before I could get to it and shoo it away.
Innbetween, Odd to have a hawk killing large fowl chickens. Perhaps yours are small or bantams. Hiding places like shrubs or canvas walls and 6 ft tall fences in a less open chicken run might help. If your area is wide open ... the hens can be like sitting ducks.
Guineas definitely are helpful for making a racket (which the hawks don't like, and it warns the chickens). Also, if you don't have roosters in with your flock, I'd suggest adding two or more depending on the size of your flock--preferably big roosters like Rhode Island Reds or even Jersey Giants--they will warn the hens of the hawk and might even fight the hawk off. A friend of mine had banty rooster attack a big hawk and drive him away!
I know the cost might make this not feasible, but putting up some shelters (open frame with roofs) that your hens could run to helps--I know my birds are pretty smart and really run for shelter when a hawks around (mine are usually housed though).
If you had crows around, they chase hawks. I've watched them! There's a saying about crows being the enemy of the corn farmer but the friend of the chicken farmer.
These are all "natural" solutions, but as I mostly keep my chickens penned, that's all I have to offer. I really do hope you find something that works. There are plenty of "professional" people who have free range hens (judging by the free range eggs I've seen for sale at stores), I wonder what they do??!
