How to Keep Hawks from Killing Your Chickens

[artemis]

Essentially, Hawks often mistake black chickens for crows, and crows are antagonistic to hawks.  So it appears they leave crows/black chickens alone, and are probably not going to rush down and grab your barred rock or something if a crow appears to be nearby.  

From the responses to this video, this is not 100% foolproof, but it does jibe with the experiences of many others, and may be why I didn't lose any free-ranging broiler chickens this past year, in an area with a lot of people noting their poultry losses.   

Toss in a few black Australorpes into your poultry mix, seems to be the general message from this video.  

[maryellen]

The coopers hawk here goes after all my birds lol, and out of 19 only 4 are not black

[seminolewind]

Testing

[seminolewind]

Interesting. I know real crows kept the hawks away at my coop.

[maryellen]

Your test looks great karen!!

Maybe the red tail hawk that used to live here thought my black bredas were crows, i never lost a bird to that hawk.
The stupid little cooper hawk chased away the red rail hawk and ever since the cooper moved in it has killed numerous birds here and at my neighbors

[seminolewind]

Has anyone had luck with pie plates? I think I'll add the black chickens at some point. Makes sense. I've always had 3, but the last one died ofold age a few months ago. I have 1 black silkie right now, LOL.

[artemis]

I am going to have to find out which types of hawk are around here. Maybe Coopers' hawks are more savvy about what a chicken looks like than other varieties?

I will be adding those metal pie plates this next year, any insurance is to be looked hopefully at!


I know back in the day my parents tried the pie plates to discourage Canada geese (and those droppings) from their waterside property. Meh, worked a bit, but not so well. They also set out fake owls, but something came around and pecked out the fake owls eyes...

[maryellen]

I think if the pie plates move in the wind that will help. I tried cds and that mirror prism tape and even after moving it around in the run the birds got used to them afyer a while.

Id love to know if the hawks that are deterred are bigger hawks or small like the cooper hawk

[seminolewind]

I watched some youtube stuff on hawks and one has a hawk looking as crafty as a crow.
  

I wonder how big a chicken they'll take?

[dawg53]

I've lost the following to hawks; 2 big Barred Rocks, 1 Speckled Sussex, 1 Silver Spangled Hamburg.

[seminolewind]

Those are big birds! I guess if anything's desperate enough they'll risk it.

[seminolewind]

Testing

[seminolewind]

Better pics? Okay think I got this!

[maryellen]

Pics good!

[artemis]

Massachusetts hosts three Accipiter species: sharp-shinned hawk (rare), Cooper’s hawk (making inroads in population here), and northern goshawk (very rare). Buteos include the rough-legged hawk (hang out in winter), red-tailed hawk (very common), broad-winged hawk (migrates through but doesn't hang around), and red-shouldered hawk (the other side of this state).

There are a few other raptors here but most are uncommon or too small to carry off a hen.

SO I guess my main dangers are Coopers Hawks and red-tailed hawks.

I have a lot of crows here so maybe the hawks learn: don't mess with dem crows!

[seminolewind]

In Florida I think the crows saved my chickens, but stole eggs, not a problem. But still be cautious when the crows are sitting on eggs and not around for a few weeks.

[maryellen]

Cooper hawks are little hawks with big personalities. The one i have here chased off my red tail hawk.

[seminolewind]

I have not seen any hawks, just some vultures.