Coopers Hawk Question

[HenHangout]

I'm sorry to hear that. I have been plagued by red tailed hawks. A few weeks ago one got stuck in my run, no chickens injured. I had a game warden remove it and he said he'd release it in a field he knew of where nobody kept chickens in the vicinity. Well this hawk had a mating partner that was still living near me, and the very next day I found it eating one of my silkies alive. That was the final straw for me. I kept my run locked up until I could deploy new defensive measures and I decided upon a 50'x50' poultry net covering my entire freerange area

 

[Bawkbok]

Oh my goodness, I'm sorry that happened to you. Hopefully the netting will be a deterrence for any future attacks. Hoping they don't have a nest nearby with babies in it or they may not leave.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Being someone whos dealt with coopers hawk...they do not leave once a free sourse is there I caught one in my coop after it killed my quail and 3 chickens.

 

[GnarBite]

Being someone whos dealt with coopers hawk...they do not leave once a free sourse is there I caught one in my coop after it killed my quail and 3 chickens.

Something I realized after I posted this, my neighbors have chickens and ducks and they pretty much only free range. So whether I keep the chickens locked up or not there is plenty of options next door. My property has a lot of open space so it’s easier pickings for my chickens than my neighbors. I will just have to watch and come warmer months there will be coverage for them to hide.

 

[McChooky]

I'm considering buying my neighbors house and tearing it down so I can build another one.He had chickens but predators killed his.

 

[McChooky]

Something I realized after I posted this, my neighbors have chickens and ducks and they pretty much only free range. So whether I keep the chickens locked up or not there is plenty of options next door. My property has a lot of open space so it’s easier pickings for my chickens than my neighbors. I will just have to watch and come warmer months there will be coverage for them to hide.

Unless you build your coop and runs under trees with lots of shrubs and bushes nearby for them too forage under you'll have a problem with birds of prey picking them off .Open fields and pastures are death camps for chickens

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Unless you build your coop and runs under trees with lots of shrubs and bushes nearby for them too forage under you'll have a problem with birds of prey picking them off .Open fields and pastures are death camps for chickens

To many trees hawks sit in them and wait... Ive had better luck living near fields with no trees around then I do now with to many trees.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

I had my first bird killed by a Cooper’s hawk today. First Im surprised this little hawk was able to take down a Wyandotte which was basically the same size. The hawk didn’t get enough time to eat so it hung around after I chased it way.
I remember reading some predators can keep coming back. This was related to Fox but they said to lock the birds up for a few weeks and theywill move on. Is this the case with Cooper Hawks?

Had a Cooper attack a Barred Rock Hen, swing and a miss birds took cover for hours squawking and carrying on, made their way back to the run and coop at dusk. Kept them locked up for a wk and it moved on. The thing is it's an on going battle with predation of all kinds.

 

[GnarBite]

Had a Cooper attack a Barred Rock Hen, swing and a miss birds took cover for hours squawking and carrying on, made their way back to the run and coop at dusk. Kept them locked up for a wk and it moved on. The thing is it's an on going battle with predation of all kinds.

I live in Maine so we have no shortage of predators. I had a Bald Eagle swoop down and take a look at the run today. I have the run completely covered in plastic and locked up. At least if it’s a Bald Eagle they would be going out in a blaze of glory. Besides they won’t come out because of the snow anyway.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

I live in Maine so we have no shortage of predators. I had a Bald Eagle swoop down and take a look at the run today. I have the run completely covered in plastic and locked up. At least if it’s a Bald Eagle they would be going out in a blaze of glory. Besides they won’t come out because of the snow anyway.

We lived in Greenville, the raccoons were big as Grizzly Bears