Hawk won't move on

[HeatherKellyB]

This hawk pictured attacked one of my roosters on February 5th. Thankfully the hawk was unsuccessful. Ever since I have kept all of my birds in their coops and pens. The problem is that here we are almost 6 weeks later and this hawk is still harassing my birds. It can't get my birds but it flies down to the ground trying to figure out how to get in. Today it visited 3 of my bantam flocks and then left. A few hours later, I ran outside to everyone alerting and found the hawk grabbing at the pen. I was shocked! From a distance I could see the bird hopping around and it looked like a rooster fighting but as I got close, I could see it grabbing at the pen following the bird around. Now I realize it's near impossible to know if it's the same hawk coming here every couple of days, but honestly I believe it is. I also understand there isn't much that can be done, but is this normal? I thought if they were unsuccessful, they usually moved on. I am at my wits end because it's stressing my birds so much. I have multiple hens with cuts to their combs from the welded wire or hardware cloth. I plan to place a tarp on the side of one of pens because of a hen that is being harassed a lot and taking it a little bit harder than others. With it starting to warm up, I can't really wrap everything with tarps in fear of the birds overheating. I guess I could just do about a foot high along the bottom. Either way, has anyone had this kind of experience before? I didn't have any hawk problems for well over a year before this. I guess I was just lucky. I need to keep my birds locked up for right now anyway, so that's not the problem. The problem is the stress this hawk is causing for my birds. Has anyone had a similar experience?

 

[Ais]

The crows on my property keep the hawks away. Maybe try putting out treats to attract crows? I know of several people who have intentionally attracted crows for this reason and it worked for them too.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

The crows on my property keep the hawks away. Maybe try putting out treats to attract crows? I know of several people who have intentionally attracted crows for this reason and it worked for them too.

I was doing that and maybe that's what kept them away until this bird flu mess. I have started trying to get them back here but they're hanging out eating with the wild geese at the pond. I'll keep trying though. That's got to be what was working before. Apparently so many of the wild birds can become infected, including hawks, so I just need to take extra precautions and get the crows back to the chicken area asap. Thank you so much

 

[Ais]

Yeah, keep your birds in a run and tarp it completely to prevent wild bird droppings and you should be fine. I've heard hanging CDs and other shiny things at varying heights can deter hawks but I haven't tried it myself. Good luck!

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Hi there. I just today discovered your original thread where this hawk attacked your rooster. The hawk is a juvenile, is that correct? If so, your problem may soon resolve itself. Hawks have an approx. 80% mortality rate their first year; usually due to starvation. From your description, this hawk seems pretty desperate.

Meanwhile, how long is your run? You probably only need a 12"-18" barrier blocking the hawk's view of your chickens (and your chicken's view of the hawk.) A tarp may be awkward to use since you only need a little height. A roll of plastic sheeting may work better, or go to Lowes, Home Depot, etc and see if anything catches your eye that would be a quick and easy view blocker to lay down. (Ideally something you can use after the hawk is gone.) Lowes often has building supplies discounted 75% that contractors have returned. I've found great deals on various building materials that way. Sorry for the continued stress this bugger is causing you and your chickens.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Hi there. I just today discovered your original thread where this hawk attacked your rooster. The hawk is a juvenile, is that correct? If so, your problem may soon resolve itself. Hawks have an approx. 80% mortality rate their first year; usually due to starvation. From your description, this hawk seems pretty desperate.

Meanwhile, how long is your run? You probably only need a 12"-18" barrier blocking the hawk's view of your chickens (and your chicken's view of the hawk.) A tarp may be awkward to use since you only need a little height. A roll of plastic sheeting may work better, or go to Lowes, Home Depot, etc and see if anything catches your eye that would be a quick and easy view blocker to lay down. (Ideally something you can use after the hawk is gone.) Lowes often has building supplies discounted 75% that contractors have returned. I've found great deals on various building materials that way. Sorry for the continued stress this bugger is causing you and your chickens.

Thank you for your reply. That is so interesting. I didn't realize that about young hawks, but it certainly makes sense. It's crazy that it's not hunting but I've always heard that it's normally the juveniles that you really have to worry about with chickens. I finally called my neighbors and spoke with her husband. He said they still have chickens but they can't afford to feed the hawks anymore so they don't let them out anymore. They've lost 5 birds recently!!! So if it's been this same hawk, I bet it is frustrated that it's "honey hole" has all but dried up and it's getting desperate. I didn't see it nor hear the birds freaking out yesterday but thst was probably because I was expecting it. Once I finish up with work this morning, I'm planning on working to find a solution for my hens that this hawk keeps harassing. I'm worried the tarps wrapping the sides on one coop is going to quickly get too warm here in hot humid NC. It's helping now, but I'm sure it will heat up soon. Thanks again for that information! That's so helpful and very interesting

 

[McChooky]

The solution is to stop allowing your chickens to free range a while.This forced the Hawks to hunt for food .

 

[HeatherKellyB]

The solution is to stop allowing your chickens to free range a while.This forced the Hawks to hunt for food .

That's the thing though. They haven't free ranged since February 5th. It's been 6 weeks now since any of my birds have been running around. That's the reason for this post. The regular obvious things have been done and it continues to harass my birds. Thank you for the reply, but that's been done and the reason I'm looking for more information

 

[Painted Calls]

The solution is to stop allowing your chickens to free range a while.

Ever since I have kept all of my birds in their coops and pens.

The I thought if they were unsuccessful, they usually moved on.

I need to keep my birds locked up for right now anyway, so that's not the problem.

 

[McChooky]

No one said it would it would only take a couple weeks .

That's the thing though. They haven't free ranged since February 5th. It's been 6 weeks now since any of my birds have been running around. That's the reason for this post. The regular obvious things have been done and it continues to harass my birds. Thank you for the reply, but that's been done and the reason I'm looking for more information

The 5 chickens have kept the Hawk(s) around longer than usual but they are becomingly more desperate and will be forced to move on or starve (depending on who else has chickens nearby they can eat) . They don't call them chicken hawks for no reason. I use pallets to block the view and prevent harassment..