We have fishing line crisscrossed all across the top of our large chicken run, planted lots of fast-growing trees around for coverage, all of their houses have the doors propped open during the day, and we made teepees out of pallets to give the girls extra places to run under when a predator is circling. I have watched our ducks & chickens and they are very aerial savvy; I think each new generation teaches the next what to do.
This is MUCH easier than the 100x100 bird netting I put up on 10 foot 4x4's throughout the yard. I would rather shoot myself in the foot than to fight with that bird netting again!! I heard my chickens raising a ruckus the other morning and I looked quick enough to see a HUGE hawk in the netting before it flew off. Made my struggle worthwhile for sure!
We used to "pay" crows with eggs to hang around our yard. They still come around frequently. We also use 50 lb. test fishing line over the run with small aluminum pie plates hanging at intervals from it.
@@BIGALTX Something has happened to my big bunch of crows. I had so many of them and Bluejays, but few Bluejays this year and no crows. However, I've caught 4 pairs of cardinals at once when I'm usually lucky to see a pair. News stations to the south of me out of Winston-Salem, NC, reported large amounts of Bluejays and crows suddenly being found dead, but don't know why. I never found any dead, but they are noticeably missing. Maybe they did keep the predators away.
Great info. I have had good luck in the past with my chicken yards with 90# monofilament fishing line with cd disc attached to it about every 5 to 10 feet running across the top fence post across the yard to another fence post. Also now I use electric fence all the way around my outside perimeter of my chicken fence. Also my Great Dane/Great Pyrenees Guardian Dogs kennel is right up against my chicken coop/pen.
My brother's red chickens all killed by Hawk's/Horned Owl. He bought those Black Australian Chickens from Tractor Supply. They are close to a year old now. Hawks sit up in the trees but leave them alone. His chickens' free range in the open field etc. None lost as of yet. Our biggest problem might be feral dogs or coyotes. These Australian Chickens get big and are top of the line egg layers.
I have a variety of hens. I’ve lost 3 black ones to a hawk. I believe, given enough time to assess, the hawks eventually figure out the dark ones are chickens. Anyway, thanks for sharing about the crow. I’m definitely going to try that out in my pasture, since I free range.
@@BIGALTX Being that I’m on the gulf coast of Texas, it could be that a ton of them stop here after their migration and hang out in my pasture. I know you’re east Texas, but further north??
I had a Chesapeake Bay Retriever that was an excellent guardian. The resident hawk would sit on the utility pole and sulk as the dog looked up and growled at him. My free range birds would stay within the dogs sight
@@BIGALTX Chesapeakes were developed to defend the owners duck blind overnight, no people to " check in" with. It did prove beneficial. The only predator the dog missed ...a mink getting one of my mini Rex rabbits and her litter. I think the problem there was my brother not recognizing the bark, as I was not home. In 4 years, that was the only predator loss I had.
So far, for a couple months now, we have been free ranging ours with no predator issues. I let them out of their predator proof cage every morning and put them in every night. (Most days. If we are planning to not be home before dark, they stay in.) One predator got four roosters a couple weeks ago, he marinated them in the fridge a couple days and baked them in a covered dish, but there is nothing I can do about that one.😁 We have a lot of woods around and they seem to know to stay near or in them as I rarely see them in the open part of the yard. When I see a hawk circling, I get a couple bottle rockets to shoo them off.
I know that my hawks fear no noise. If you fire at them, they give zero shits. They don't even flinch. I'm struggling rn with hawks picking off my chicks.
This is the methods I have implemented to STOP Aerial Predators from killing my chickens. I have several Hawks and even a pair of Bald Eagles that fly over my property. It's easy, not expensive, and it's working for ME! Here is the OWL I have: amzn.to/3RDnQj2 Here are some different styles of OWLS: amzn.to/3e7KWR9 Here's the CROW I have: amzn.to/3SE704U Here are several different types of CROW decoys: amzn.to/3RHmvYp alan Check out my Website. I've written dozens of articles pertaining to all areas of homesteading and self sufficiency. Here's the link: homesteadadvisor.com/ If you enjoyed this video and would like to see more videos like this. please give this video a thumbs up and leave me a comment! Please subscribe, it would really help my channel! Thank you for watching! ❤
I had a momma hawk, and she was big, take my barred rock one by one over the summer. I have no more problem. I got some "mutts" for chickens, figured it wouldn't upset me so much if the hawk got them, and they turned out so cute that I gave them my greenhouse. When they are old enought to go out I will make sure I'm out there with them.
I had 11 happy hens - hawks swooped down and grabbed a black one, a dark gray one and a light gray hen. There’s plenty of good open space for the hawks to hunt on my ‘hood and I was surprised they came to my wooded lot. I promptly crisscrossed some bright yellow paracord across the more open area. Seems to be working. Remaining 8 hens also seem to be a bit smarter now (includes 2 very light gray/blue hens). Sometimes I can’t even find the chickens! 🐓🐓🐓
An addition of Guinea Fowl will also help prevent aerial predation. They are an early alert system for one. Two, they will fly straight up and confront the hawk in the air and drive them off.
That may work for hawks, but guineas are hard to get back into coops. Eventually, one will roost in a tree or on the roof. And then another and another until they're almost all staying out. Then an owl will start picking them off at night. A large group of guineas does much better than having a few. I don't know if that would help a lot against an owl, though.
@@Growmap Yes, they do despise being cooped up. I've never had any trouble with owls, however, here in Northern Maine. Though we do have plenty of owls.
@@VaxtorT Lucky you. They are my most troublesome predator here (or were until I started locking my ducks in at night). I live in the hickory-oak forest so maybe that is why. It says online that "in Maine they [Great Horned Owls] are typically found in coniferous forested areas".
Crows are bigger than most people think. They have big beaks and are carnivorous as well. I had a nesting pair come back every year and every day their would be 4 new Gila monster heads in the water bowl. Our laws are foolish if a kid was caught playing with a Gilamonster his parents could be fined $10,000 dollars! My neighbors were raided by swat because another neighbor said she saw the kids with one in a box.
South American crows are even bigger than ours. Their beaks are so big and strong they can punch through the metal lids of commercial trash cans. They are beautiful though.
I have a flock of black Abendroths. I also hang cd discs to dangle around the coop which is suppose to deter hawks with the flashing. So far this summer i havent lost any but i did see hawks fly close and away
I like you. You care about your girls. I have 5 redheads (we call them gingers in Ireland) and no trees around. I'm gonna put up some owls!! Thanks so much.
I hope that keeps working for you. In past experience I found that the predators get wise to the decoys and start testing them out then realize it isn't real when they don't get attacked. I enjoy reading others comments on here too, I like hearing all the different experiences of everyone. The fishing line with cd mentioned in the comments is something I never heard of before.
It takes a really long time to put up. And it is a challenge to keep the spacing right. I did it like a checkerboard, but it slid around. And even though it was up AND I had put 4 flashing red lights for ground predators and 4 more in the air for flying predators, I still lost a duck to a Great Horned Owl. I once watched a video of a Great Horned Owl diving right through netting over a chicken yard. It seemed to not have any fear of not being able to get back out. And they had two big guardian dogs on that property that would run the owl off every time it landed or came down low and it just kept coming back. So don't waste money on a bunch of stuff - lock them up at night for sure or an owl will eventually find them. And once you lose one - either dead with just the neck eaten or the entire bird gone - the owl will be back. At least they only kill one at a time. I guess there is plenty small game for hawks to eat where I've lived. They sit up on the power poles right over the ducks foraging in a field and don't even bother with them.
This is interesting. Investigating products on Amazon, I saw lots of reviews for the fake owls that said they don't work, also some that said they do, but more said they don't. I've never heard of using fake crows, but it's easy enough to give it a try. I actually live in a city. I have small backyard which is home to 8 hens. I've been keeping chickens here for about 9 years and have never had an aerial attack--until a couple of weeks ago. One of my girls started alarm calling. I went out to check on them and saw a large hawk lift up. My smallest hen was torn to shreds. The others were all ok but they did not want to go outside for a good 2 weeks afterwards.
We had a hawk attack yesterday, It was on a barred rock. So far I have had 3. 2 black birds and 1 white. I will try the owl and crow idea. Crows are definite enemies.
I used to have a fake owl at my coop but it actually brought in more hawks. Some time later I ran into some old bird watchers up on a mountain and they used a fake owl to draw in coopers hawks. They said one time a hawk actually attacked the thing. They did so to get a better look at the birds. Figured wow, I'm making life worse for my hens. I found a scarecrow works kind of ok, as long as you move it around every so often. Other than that I try to attract crows, they chase em off
I was thinking like you - Why not attract the real thing? We have crows and black birds showing up frequently. I think I might study some YT videos on how to attract them and keep them around. My understanding is that they are hard to befriend, but when you do, you have a friend for life.
We had two HUGE owls come in with the spring migration in 2018. Owls are silent, massacred our guineas and ducks (who were sleeping outside the coop), and got a few chickens who roosted near the door. Owls bite off the head, rip out the wings, and fly off with the torso -- no drag from the removed wings. The owls killed 3 beautiful red tailed hawks that had lived in our woods for years. Killed most of the squirrels. We lost 40+ ducks and 28 guineas, plus hens. I rebuilt roosts and made a spider web of monofilament fishing line across the top of the runs. No more problem with hawks, but did kill two possums and scare off a big bobcat and a coyote that came for chicken dinner every night.
I have a fake owl and 2 fake ravens/ crows. I move them around , but probably not often enough. I don't think they help much, for me. I think very sturdy 1/2" or 1/4" steel hardware cloth mesh, or wood roof over the chickens or pigeons, is the best deterrent to hawks and eagles. My chicken yard is covered with welded steel deer fencing, with openings @1"x2", but it has been there for 10 years, and predator birds tore right through that, on multiple occasions, creating slightly larger spaces which they squeezed through and attacked my birds. I literally had to physically fight them off of my birds several times, until they found the slightly larger hole they had created in the fencing, and squeezed back out. They can be scary in hand to hand combat. I have downsized my run/yard area, and covered it with chain-link and plywood, which has been working against the predator birds, until I can afford more 1/2" hardware cloth. The sides of my run area are chain-link, partially covered with hardware mesh, heavy wire screening, and heavy duty shade cloth. There can be more predators in the suburbs than I thought.
I have barred rocks, buffs and arcaunas, I lost a barred rock last week to a hawk who found the smallest opening in the bird netting over my pen. Going to try the owl next, thanks.
I had a great horned owl issue this summer with my free range chickens at the end of the summer. I thought he had moved on until this last cold snap. Looks like I will have to build a large fully enclosed area for the chickens and ducks.
@@BIGALTXyes, they are natural bird dogs and have a prey instinct. My dog loves to chase little animals- years ago she caught a goose at the lake and a duck- but she knows not to hurt the chickens. She enjoys watching them. and she wants to please me. Besides, she is very smart.
I saw crows chasing a huge eagle one day on my property. Unreal. That Eagle could’ve turned around and tore them up… But they just don’t. For some reason, they are scared of them.
Same. I've seen a few incredible ariel battles. The crows seem more agile and have better endurance in flight. They can keep on flapping and turning whereas I think the hawks can't keep up since are more gliders. And the crows are just relentless. They don't let up and overwhelm the hawks with numbers. Love crows now. Chickens' best friends.
I have black and barred chickens. Orpington and Austrolope. Maybe hawks are color blind. If you have a nest of eagles it’s only time till you lose some chickens.
I have just lost my second silkie to an arial predator. One black and one speckled. I wish it wasnt illegal to shoot the hawks that are hunting my chickens. Its heartbreaking to lose my docile chickens that rely on me to protect them. I will try the owl and crow combo. Thank you, i really hope this works. 🤞
You might try the silver reflective predator tape. It snaps in the wind and flashes light across the sky. That makes it hard for birds to see their targets.
I'm here to tell you, hawks do not care if you shoot at them. It's like they're aware you're going to miss. They dint even flinch. If you come after my food source on my land, I'm going to do what needs to be done, laws or not. It's never made a difference though
We have native crows here that show up end of September same as the Red Tailed Hawks. They seem to co-exist fine, unfortunately. Haven't tried the owl yet. My female German Shepherd chased off a hawk the other day. Unfortunately she also goes after my chickens, ducks and Guineas. 😏 We free range in the day and coop at night so we lose lots of our birds to predators. Animal and human!
I got an owl and 4 crows last year in December. I did lose some chickens in January including a full grown Buff Orpington rooster. It was good all summer until a couple weeks ago the hawks killed one. I lost 100 chickens last year between September and January so I am hoping that the migration from the North does not effect them this year.
The last hen I lost to a hawk was black…… a pair of red tail hawks went into the coop, where my girls run to be safe, and one of them was setting in the coop eating her. 🥴
On my drive to town (8 mins from my house) on two separate occasions, I saw multiple crows, multiple turkey vultures and 1 and 2 different bald eagles feast on roadkill (hog) all at the same time. It was so confusing to me.
The very large easteregger was a victim. Very dark head and I would think she blended well at that time. And this was new hawk my old hawk never bothered my chickens . I still have all my bright red chickens. It’s not a color preference it’s opportunity. My owl did nothing to help :(
@@backyardbirdies no it doesn’t. But I don’t think they’d be phased if it did. I had a hawk go after a dove 12inches off my porch recently. Last yr and this yr there’s an influx of hawks migrating here every spring. Two types. Osprey and a brown hawk. Osprey maybe hawk it’s white breasted with chocolate brown feathers over back and they’re nasty ! None of any bird species are safe whatever they are :( there’s probably 4 near my home so hens are stay in a small pen until we move then I can build bigger area
I lost one of my Barred Rock to a hawk. I used to let my Jersey Giants out and later started letting my BR out, but a hawk took one of them so while it may work in some instances it didn't in mine.
I was deer hunti on the edge of a big clear cut ,and there must have been more than 100 crows chasing a big bird that litt in a tall cypress about 50 yards from me and more crows joined in the fray this lasted several minutes and a bird skeleton fell to the ground and evert one flew of across the clear cut after the eagle all over him.The skeleton was picked clean no in testines left.
Decoy or Dummies work. I have Stanley he is my blue heron Decoy he watches over my fish pond. He does a great job he's been on duty for 5 years or so haven't lost any of my gold fish since he's been on duty. I had lost some koi prior. I'll need to add a crow for my girls never can have to many safe guards. Thanks for the video.
My sister has a life size metal crane in her pond. The neighorhood hawks have figured out its not real and she looses a fish from time to time. If the hawks wanted s free feast they should raid all the frogs she has that come out at night.
lol Not sure how it will work but I hope it do. A little story; my next door neighbour has 2 plastic Owls on his roof in different spots to keep the pigeons away, it don't work, I seen the pigeons cozy up behind the Owls to get out of the wind...lol lol Maybe the rotating head will spook them or maybe they may see the head spin and think it is a demon Owl hehehe As for the Crow I seen Hawks attack Crows and vise versa but it was 2 Crows and 1 hawk so for me it was 2 against 1... lol lol Now we wait mmmmmm, mmmmmmm, lol lol Cheers
Crow or raven? Major difference between the two. Ravins can get huge, and in August and September, you'll see them hunting new born rattlers and copperheads.
crows are territorial and they call their cousins and their other cousins and those cousins and those cousins from another mother twice removed. i have seen it. i have an 8lb morkie they hunt relentlessly. i have had them come in arms length. she wont always stay 6 ' and its hard to not let her play. our neighbor feeds our squirrels and i think that brings them. they migrate atleast during the hot months in fl. i had ravens following us . i thought they were the third eye raven ravens. just turned out the hawks were hunting us and they were territorial. hawks also seem to hunt in tandem. yes i've seen it.
As far as the predation issue I can't say. But you can make friends with crows and they will watch over you. On the other hand, if you cross them they will seek revenge.
I though there was something to the black chicken thing - I had ten chickens for about 5yrs and a red one and a white one were picked off in that time - then in a two week time period 3 of my 4 black chickens were killed by a hawk - I have invested in some netting to try and stop it
Its ok to shoot cyotes,racoons, foxes ect that eat livestock. I thought people preached equality these days? Other than that, yeah people should not be shooting them just cause.
Damn coons figured out how to open my teenagers coop and killed 10 one night and 10 the next night … I gave that coop away and am building a cattle panel hoop coop for them with hardware cloth on it and wire on the bottom so nothing can dig in …
That’s exactly how mine is made, with a two foot mesh apron all around it and seven hook/eye locks on the door. It’s like Alcatraz and so secure that a locust couldn’t get out!
My neighbor feeds the coons but not near enough… I have seen coons but no possum since the last one that I killed that was sitting in a nest before dark eating eggs
I have had 2 live traps set every night since the massacre but haven’t caught anything … my neighbors daughter did tell me last week that she thought that we had a fox or bobcat because the coons and cats were disappearing
@@BIGALTX I'm thinking maybe my black hen to brown hen ratio isn't significant enough. I ordered some more black australorp chicks. If I remember to I'll let you know how it works out with the larger number of black hens.
Thanks for the info. Shame about your rooster doing his job and getting killed in the line of duty. I'm building a coop now. My chickens haven't been out yet til it's done. They will free range. I can't believe I have a red shoulder already checking out the coop. They know what the buildings are! That's nuts. I have a video on my channel. It's the newest one called Progress On Coop Early Oct 2022. I've never had problems in the past but this year may be bad. I have an accidental rooster so hope he takes care of my hens. But I don't want to lose him. He's not the biggest rooster though. I'd say medium sized.
adding this comment because i just had a hawk attack in Maine all the videos i have been watching everyone is saying hawks don't attack black chickens... the hawk attacked my only black chicken don't know if you will see this but just wanted to let you know
Unfortunately, you are correct. Nothing is fool proof. I think some of the methods I have discussed help, but again nothing is fool proof… Unfortunately aerial attacks are the hardest to prevent.
We're going to need to free range our flock, at least 2-3 days a week. We have a pyrenees in the pasture not far from them that scares off day ground and aerial predators. That'll help. At night and when not free ranging, we have a secure coop and run. I think I'm going to pickup a owl and crow for extra security. Thanks for the information. Pray, Plan, Prep
I'd say your lucky. I've had barred rock and at one time, only solid black bantam chickens the six of crows and it was nothing for the Coppers Hawks and Redtail Hawks to feast on them. I ended up having to totally cover my run with chicken wire. Maybe the hawks are just picky down your way. LOL I know I lost a lot of birds, but that is the way it is with raising chickens.
We have fishing line crisscrossed all across the top of our large chicken run, planted lots of fast-growing trees around for coverage, all of their houses have the doors propped open during the day, and we made teepees out of pallets to give the girls extra places to run under when a predator is circling. I have watched our ducks & chickens and they are very aerial savvy; I think each new generation teaches the next what to do.
The pallet Teepee is a great idea... thanks!
Fishing line works for 2 families I know…15 lb or more fishing line
I used fishing line, and it stopped the hawks AND a bobcat!!
I have 4 wagon homes
They rest underneath and feather bathe.
Also I have 3 hens that look like hawks, ask me how I know!! Lol
This is MUCH easier than the 100x100 bird netting I put up on 10 foot 4x4's throughout the yard. I would rather shoot myself in the foot than to fight with that bird netting again!! I heard my chickens raising a ruckus the other morning and I looked quick enough to see a HUGE hawk in the netting before it flew off. Made my struggle worthwhile for sure!
I absolutely HATE bird netting... such a mess trying to put up
Hope this works when winter comes and other game is scarce
Wow! When it works, it really works!
We used to "pay" crows with eggs to hang around our yard. They still come around frequently. We also use 50 lb. test fishing line over the run with small aluminum pie plates hanging at intervals from it.
I've GOT to do that!!
Thanks
Thank you. I like the scripture, God bless.
You are very welcome
Very interesting. I enclosed mine on top with rat wire. I had at least 4 eagles circling and watching this year plus hawks. 😬
Wow... they are definitely out there... waiting for us to slip up
@@BIGALTX Something has happened to my big bunch of crows. I had so many of them and Bluejays, but few Bluejays this year and no crows. However, I've caught 4 pairs of cardinals at once when I'm usually lucky to see a pair. News stations to the south of me out of Winston-Salem, NC, reported large amounts of Bluejays and crows suddenly being found dead, but don't know why. I never found any dead, but they are noticeably missing. Maybe they did keep the predators away.
@@dovely9279 Wow... that's so unusual
Great info. I have had good luck in the past with my chicken yards with 90# monofilament fishing line with cd disc attached to it about every 5 to 10 feet running across the top fence post across the yard to another fence post. Also now I use electric fence all the way around my outside perimeter of my chicken fence. Also my Great Dane/Great Pyrenees Guardian Dogs kennel is right up against my chicken coop/pen.
All are great tips!
Thanks
My brother's red chickens all killed by Hawk's/Horned Owl. He bought those Black Australian Chickens from Tractor Supply. They are close to a year old now. Hawks sit up in the trees but leave them alone. His chickens' free range in the open field etc. None lost as of yet. Our biggest problem might be feral dogs or coyotes. These Australian Chickens get big and are top of the line egg layers.
Great news!
Thanks
Appreciate the video and your AMAZING affinity for reading these comments. Please share a 'one year later update. '
Thanks from Lake Travis, TX. 🤘
Sure.
Bottom line, I believe these deterrents work, but nothing is foolproof. I still had a hawk problem, but only sporadic.
@@BIGALTX Thanks!
I have a variety of hens. I’ve lost 3 black ones to a hawk. I believe, given enough time to assess, the hawks eventually figure out the dark ones are chickens. Anyway, thanks for sharing about the crow. I’m definitely going to try that out in my pasture, since I free range.
Good to know about the black ones disappearing :(
thanks
@@BIGALTX Being that I’m on the gulf coast of Texas, it could be that a ton of them stop here after their migration and hang out in my pasture. I know you’re east Texas, but further north??
@@Angela4heavenssake LOTS further north. Smith co
@@BIGALTX I love it up there! Beautiful country.
I had a Chesapeake Bay Retriever that was an excellent guardian. The resident hawk would sit on the utility pole and sulk as the dog looked up and growled at him. My free range birds would stay within the dogs sight
THAT's a good dog! 👍
@@BIGALTX Chesapeakes were developed to defend the owners duck blind overnight, no people to " check in" with. It did prove beneficial. The only predator the dog missed ...a mink getting one of my mini Rex rabbits and her litter. I think the problem there was my brother not recognizing the bark, as I was not home. In 4 years, that was the only predator loss I had.
So far, for a couple months now, we have been free ranging ours with no predator issues. I let them out of their predator proof cage every morning and put them in every night. (Most days. If we are planning to not be home before dark, they stay in.)
One predator got four roosters a couple weeks ago, he marinated them in the fridge a couple days and baked them in a covered dish, but there is nothing I can do about that one.😁
We have a lot of woods around and they seem to know to stay near or in them as I rarely see them in the open part of the yard. When I see a hawk circling, I get a couple bottle rockets to shoo them off.
Wow... bottle rockets are a great idea, if it's not too dry
I know that my hawks fear no noise. If you fire at them, they give zero shits. They don't even flinch. I'm struggling rn with hawks picking off my chicks.
This is the methods I have implemented to STOP Aerial Predators from killing my chickens.
I have several Hawks and even a pair of Bald Eagles that fly over my property.
It's easy, not expensive, and it's working for ME!
Here is the OWL I have: amzn.to/3RDnQj2
Here are some different styles of OWLS: amzn.to/3e7KWR9
Here's the CROW I have: amzn.to/3SE704U
Here are several different types of CROW decoys: amzn.to/3RHmvYp
alan
Check out my Website.
I've written dozens of articles pertaining to all areas of homesteading and self sufficiency.
Here's the link: homesteadadvisor.com/
If you enjoyed this video and would like to see more videos like this. please give this video a thumbs up and leave me a comment!
Please subscribe, it would really help my channel!
Thank you for watching! ❤
The crow also doubles as a hot date for the rooster🤣
Hahaha... maybe a little stand offish :)
I’m gonna try the owl too
I had a momma hawk, and she was big, take my barred rock one by one over the summer. I have no more problem.
I got some "mutts" for chickens, figured it wouldn't upset me so much if the hawk got them, and they turned out so cute that I gave them my greenhouse. When they are old enought to go out I will make sure I'm out there with them.
I'll have to watch this winter when they get "hungrier" than they are right now
Thanks for sharing!
@@BIGALTX she was feeding 2 babies. That's why I didn't dispose of her.
Thank you for the video. I have barred rock chickens and dark colored ducks. My birds are safe so far.
That's great!
I had 11 happy hens - hawks swooped down and grabbed a black one, a dark gray one and a light gray hen. There’s plenty of good open space for the hawks to hunt on my ‘hood and I was surprised they came to my wooded lot. I promptly crisscrossed some bright yellow paracord across the more open area. Seems to be working. Remaining 8 hens also seem to be a bit smarter now (includes 2 very light gray/blue hens). Sometimes I can’t even find the chickens! 🐓🐓🐓
I've GOT to do the paracord thing
Others have said it works too
An addition of Guinea Fowl will also help prevent aerial predation. They are an early alert system for one. Two, they will fly straight up and confront the hawk in the air and drive them off.
That may work for hawks, but guineas are hard to get back into coops. Eventually, one will roost in a tree or on the roof. And then another and another until they're almost all staying out. Then an owl will start picking them off at night. A large group of guineas does much better than having a few. I don't know if that would help a lot against an owl, though.
Hmmmm... interesting, thanks!
Thanks for the tips!
@@Growmap Yes, they do despise being cooped up. I've never had any trouble with owls, however, here in Northern Maine. Though we do have plenty of owls.
@@VaxtorT Lucky you. They are my most troublesome predator here (or were until I started locking my ducks in at night). I live in the hickory-oak forest so maybe that is why. It says online that "in Maine they [Great Horned Owls] are typically found in coniferous forested areas".
I use a crow call when I see the sky attack. I bring in the crows they help me chasing them off.
Great idea!!!
I have a group of Crows the makes their rounds. I put out corn once a week to let them know I appreciate them.
Wonder if a motion sensor strategically placed that emitted a crow call would be effective. Hmm...
Crows are bigger than most people think. They have big beaks and are carnivorous as well. I had a nesting pair come back every year and every day their would be 4 new Gila monster heads in the water bowl. Our laws are foolish if a kid was caught playing with a Gilamonster his parents could be fined $10,000 dollars! My neighbors were raided by swat because another neighbor said she saw the kids with one in a box.
THAT's crazy! 😱
South American crows are even bigger than ours. Their beaks are so big and strong they can punch through the metal lids of commercial trash cans. They are beautiful though.
I lost 2 solid black frizzle cochins and a black silkie to aerial predators. They were my favorites...
Ouch. Always hard to experience a loss... :(
I have a flock of black Abendroths. I also hang cd discs to dangle around the coop which is suppose to deter hawks with the flashing. So far this summer i havent lost any but i did see hawks fly close and away
Good to know they are flying AWAY!!
Deer fence from Tractor Supply placed over chain link.
Has worked for me.
Has stopped black snakes as well.
Thanks for your fun video.
Good to know, thanks!
Good info Alan, we will try it. 6 of our hens are red.
Hahaha.. love them redheads
Let me know how it works!
I like you. You care about your girls. I have 5 redheads (we call them gingers in Ireland) and no trees around. I'm gonna put up some owls!! Thanks so much.
You bet.
Thanks for watching
And... Greetings from Texas!! 😎
I hope that keeps working for you. In past experience I found that the predators get wise to the decoys and start testing them out then realize it isn't real when they don't get attacked. I enjoy reading others comments on here too, I like hearing all the different experiences of everyone. The fishing line with cd mentioned in the comments is something I never heard of before.
I hope so too
Several have commented about the fishing wire.
I'm probably going to add that to my arsenal
It takes a really long time to put up. And it is a challenge to keep the spacing right. I did it like a checkerboard, but it slid around. And even though it was up AND I had put 4 flashing red lights for ground predators and 4 more in the air for flying predators, I still lost a duck to a Great Horned Owl.
I once watched a video of a Great Horned Owl diving right through netting over a chicken yard. It seemed to not have any fear of not being able to get back out. And they had two big guardian dogs on that property that would run the owl off every time it landed or came down low and it just kept coming back.
So don't waste money on a bunch of stuff - lock them up at night for sure or an owl will eventually find them. And once you lose one - either dead with just the neck eaten or the entire bird gone - the owl will be back. At least they only kill one at a time.
I guess there is plenty small game for hawks to eat where I've lived. They sit up on the power poles right over the ducks foraging in a field and don't even bother with them.
@@Growmap Great tips... thanks!!
This is interesting. Investigating products on Amazon, I saw lots of reviews for the fake owls that said they don't work, also some that said they do, but more said they don't. I've never heard of using fake crows, but it's easy enough to give it a try. I actually live in a city. I have small backyard which is home to 8 hens. I've been keeping chickens here for about 9 years and have never had an aerial attack--until a couple of weeks ago. One of my girls started alarm calling. I went out to check on them and saw a large hawk lift up. My smallest hen was torn to shreds. The others were all ok but they did not want to go outside for a good 2 weeks afterwards.
Nothing is foolproof, but everything helps
I have lost some even with the owl, etc.
I even had netting over the top and a hawk got in :(
My dad always used to call white or light colored pigeons "hawk bait".
Hahaha
I used the owls for a couple years. I have found to move the owls around every few days, them red-tails and coopers hawks get smart!!!
I thought I would have to move mine too, but so far..... so good
Fake snakes helps also
We had a hawk attack yesterday, It was on a barred rock. So far I have had 3. 2 black birds and 1 white. I will try the owl and crow idea. Crows are definite enemies.
I used to have a fake owl at my coop but it actually brought in more hawks. Some time later I ran into some old bird watchers up on a mountain and they used a fake owl to draw in coopers hawks. They said one time a hawk actually attacked the thing. They did so to get a better look at the birds. Figured wow, I'm making life worse for my hens. I found a scarecrow works kind of ok, as long as you move it around every so often. Other than that I try to attract crows, they chase em off
Sounds like a plan
And thanks for the info about the decoys
I was thinking like you - Why not attract the real thing? We have crows and black birds showing up frequently. I think I might study some YT videos on how to attract them and keep them around. My understanding is that they are hard to befriend, but when you do, you have a friend for life.
Maybe an owl painted black would deter them...
My chicken that was attacked was in fact a black chicken. But I will use your link for the owl. Thanks.
Nothing is foolproof, but I think it helps.
Thank you for sharing this important information listening from Bangs Texas
Glad it was helpful!
Lost one of my ducks last week 😢. Thanks for your video! Just ordered 2 crows 😊
Oh no!
Hope the crows help... 👍😎
They will figure out the decoys. Been there done that. Only way to protect is a chicken wire top.
Many put fishing line over.
Lots of comments here about that
We had two HUGE owls come in with the spring migration in 2018. Owls are silent, massacred our guineas and ducks (who were sleeping outside the coop), and got a few chickens who roosted near the door. Owls bite off the head, rip out the wings, and fly off with the torso -- no drag from the removed wings. The owls killed 3 beautiful red tailed hawks that had lived in our woods for years. Killed most of the squirrels. We lost 40+ ducks and 28 guineas, plus hens. I rebuilt roosts and made a spider web of monofilament fishing line across the top of the runs. No more problem with hawks, but did kill two possums and scare off a big bobcat and a coyote that came for chicken dinner every night.
I'm going to HAVE to do the fishing line thing... lots of folks commented here that do that successfully
thanks!
I have a fake owl and 2 fake ravens/ crows. I move them around , but probably not often enough. I don't think they help much, for me. I think very sturdy 1/2" or 1/4" steel hardware cloth mesh, or wood roof over the chickens or pigeons, is the best deterrent to hawks and eagles. My chicken yard is covered with welded steel deer fencing, with openings @1"x2", but it has been there for 10 years, and predator birds tore right through that, on multiple occasions, creating slightly larger spaces which they squeezed through and attacked my birds. I literally had to physically fight them off of my birds several times, until they found the slightly larger hole they had created in the fencing, and squeezed back out. They can be scary in hand to hand combat.
I have downsized my run/yard area, and covered it with chain-link and plywood, which has been working against the predator birds, until I can afford more 1/2" hardware cloth. The sides of my run area are chain-link, partially covered with hardware mesh, heavy wire screening, and heavy duty shade cloth. There can be more predators in the suburbs than I thought.
Wow... You're really having a battle!
@@BIGALTX yup...
I have barred rocks, buffs and arcaunas, I lost a barred rock last week to a hawk who found the smallest opening in the bird netting over my pen. Going to try the owl next, thanks.
Give it a shot... might be just the thing!
you can make crow decoys with black trash bags or get those pink flamngos and paint them black I bought minet at the 1.25 store
Great tip. Thanks!
First hen I lost was a barred rock. Then three black Polish chickens.
Ooops... maybe my hawks just don't like BRs 😎
I had a great horned owl issue this summer with my free range chickens at the end of the summer. I thought he had moved on until this last cold snap. Looks like I will have to build a large fully enclosed area for the chickens and ducks.
Sorry to hear that
I lost two black chickens to a hawk in summer. Maybe the barred rock because they are black and white look more like shadows.
Could be.
I just lost a barred rock to a big hawk a few weeks ago. I’ve got them pinned up now for safety.
Thanks for sharing your videos and keep them coming please.
Will do
Morning Alan! I sent this link to Grandpa Adler Farms. I thought this might be some helpful info, for him for his girls.
Awesome thank you!
I put up CDs on fishing line. They blow around in the wind reflecting light all over the place, they keep the hawks away.
Nice! 👍😎
Does it works !?
@@kulvindersinghvirk7521 yup
I have fishing line across my run and they never fly in their. Also hang silver cup cake cups, reflection drives them crazy
Good tip!
Someone else mentioned fishing line... nice tip!
The decoys usually don’t last to long, they have worked for me for the Red tail hawks, but not the Falcon.
Good to know, thanks!
My standard poodle has been protecting my little flock of 7 reddish brown hens.
Wow... never thought of a poodle as a guard animal :)
@@BIGALTXyes, they are natural bird dogs and have a prey instinct. My dog loves to chase little animals- years ago she caught a goose at the lake and a duck- but she knows not to hurt the chickens. She enjoys watching them. and she wants to please me. Besides, she is very smart.
I once seen like 25 crows chasing and attacking a hawk, I haven’t seen that hawk since. He was around here for a few days before I saw that.
I saw crows chasing a huge eagle one day on my property. Unreal. That Eagle could’ve turned around and tore them up… But they just don’t.
For some reason, they are scared of them.
Same. I've seen a few incredible ariel battles. The crows seem more agile and have better endurance in flight. They can keep on flapping and turning whereas I think the hawks can't keep up since are more gliders. And the crows are just relentless. They don't let up and overwhelm the hawks with numbers.
Love crows now. Chickens' best friends.
@@mayorpufnstuf4470 Agreed !
We did lose a barred rock chicken from a red tailed hawk several years ago.
Good to know... winter will tell the tale
I have black and barred chickens. Orpington and Austrolope. Maybe hawks are color blind. If you have a nest of eagles it’s only time till you lose some chickens.
I haven't seen them since winter, so not sure if they are still there or not...
I got black australorps for that reason. I've not had a problem since
Good to know!!
I have just lost my second silkie to an arial predator. One black and one speckled. I wish it wasnt illegal to shoot the hawks that are hunting my chickens. Its heartbreaking to lose my docile chickens that rely on me to protect them. I will try the owl and crow combo. Thank you, i really hope this works. 🤞
So sorry. It's tough to lose animals :(
You might try the silver reflective predator tape. It snaps in the wind and flashes light across the sky. That makes it hard for birds to see their targets.
I'm here to tell you, hawks do not care if you shoot at them. It's like they're aware you're going to miss. They dint even flinch. If you come after my food source on my land, I'm going to do what needs to be done, laws or not. It's never made a difference though
We have native crows here that show up end of September same as the Red Tailed Hawks. They seem to co-exist fine, unfortunately. Haven't tried the owl yet.
My female German Shepherd chased off a hawk the other day. Unfortunately she also goes after my chickens, ducks and Guineas. 😏
We free range in the day and coop at night so we lose lots of our birds to predators. Animal and human!
Losing livestock is the worst...
Interesting. Hawks never come near my ducks. I believe it is because there are always 2-4 crows around here.
I got an owl and 4 crows last year in December. I did lose some chickens in January including a full grown Buff Orpington rooster. It was good all summer until a couple weeks ago the hawks killed one. I lost 100 chickens last year between September and January so I am hoping that the migration from the North does not effect them this year.
100 chickens?!?!?!
Wow... that's horrible
How many do you raise?
Great info! Thanks for sharing.
Glad it was helpful!
thanks
You're welcome!
Growing some guinea fowls can act as hawk alarms .
Nice!
The last hen I lost to a hawk was black…… a pair of red tail hawks went into the coop, where my girls run to be safe, and one of them was setting in the coop eating her. 🥴
Ouch... I need to keep my eyes UP
I got some aseel roosters, they took out two kestrels so far. Even hawks are terrified of my babies
Wow... good to know
@@BIGALTX you are welcome 😊
On my drive to town (8 mins from my house) on two separate occasions, I saw multiple crows, multiple turkey vultures and 1 and 2 different bald eagles feast on roadkill (hog) all at the same time. It was so confusing to me.
I guess everybody’s got to eat 😊
I have big, fat Cinnamon Queens, and the neighborhood hawk settled for a squirrel instead..
Hahaha... hard to haul away the big ones!
Owls are my nemesis
Hahaha... gotcha! 👍😎
You have to move the crow around...I have done this too, but not the owl...but I am getting 1 now..lol
👍😎
Great job!
Thanks for the visit
The very large easteregger was a victim. Very dark head and I would think she blended well at that time. And this was new hawk my old hawk never bothered my chickens . I still have all my bright red chickens. It’s not a color preference it’s opportunity. My owl did nothing to help :(
Hmmmm... you might be right
Thanks for sharing
Does your Owl have the moving head? If not that might be the difference? I hope you figure something out!
@@backyardbirdies no it doesn’t. But I don’t think they’d be phased if it did. I had a hawk go after a dove 12inches off my porch recently. Last yr and this yr there’s an influx of hawks migrating here every spring. Two types. Osprey and a brown hawk. Osprey maybe hawk it’s white breasted with chocolate brown feathers over back and they’re nasty ! None of any bird species are safe whatever they are :( there’s probably 4 near my home so hens are stay in a small pen until we move then I can build bigger area
Great Story BC24!
Glad you enjoyed it
I just lost a month-old barred rock to an owl - maybe just the hawks and eagles avoid the black chickens.
Maybe... not sure...
Our black Australorp is the only one that got attacked from above. It got away.
Wow... that's not expected :(
But thanks for sharing
That's very true, our neighbors lost their white chickens, we have black only lost blonde ones to 🦊 and coyotes.
Thanks for the confirmation!!
I lost one of my Barred Rock to a hawk. I used to let my Jersey Giants out and later started letting my BR out, but a hawk took one of them so while it may work in some instances it didn't in mine.
Sorry, but good to know, thanks!
You'll find your owl will even be more effective if you will collect some downy feathers from your chickens and glue them to the plastic owl.😃
Wow... THAT's a great idea!
I was deer hunti on the edge of a big clear cut ,and there must have been more than 100
crows chasing a big bird that litt in a tall cypress about 50 yards from me and more crows joined in the fray this lasted several minutes and a bird skeleton fell to the ground and evert one flew of across the clear cut after the eagle all over him.The skeleton was picked clean no in testines left.
Wow... must have been amazing to see
Thanks for sharing
Decoy or Dummies work. I have Stanley he is my blue heron Decoy he watches over my fish pond. He does a great job he's been on duty for 5 years or so haven't lost any of my gold fish since he's been on duty. I had lost some koi prior. I'll need to add a crow for my girls never can have to many safe guards. Thanks for the video.
Hahaha.... tell Stanley "Good Job!" 👍😎
My sister has a life size metal crane in her pond. The neighorhood hawks have figured out its not real and she looses a fish from time to time. If the hawks wanted s free feast they should raid all the frogs she has that come out at night.
@@pamelapenick6871 I have a choir at my pond too.
Thanks for the knowledge
You bet! 👍😎
lol Not sure how it will work but I hope it do. A little story; my next door neighbour has 2 plastic Owls on his roof in different spots to keep the pigeons away, it don't work, I seen the pigeons cozy up behind the Owls to get out of the wind...lol lol
Maybe the rotating head will spook them or maybe they may see the head spin and think it is a demon Owl hehehe
As for the Crow I seen Hawks attack Crows and vise versa but it was 2 Crows and 1 hawk so for me it was 2 against 1... lol lol
Now we wait mmmmmm, mmmmmmm, lol lol Cheers
I've had these up for about 7 months.. so far so good :)
I had lost a Barred Rock chicken to a hawk last winter.
Ouch... that hurts
Crow or raven? Major difference between the two. Ravins can get huge, and in August and September, you'll see them hunting new born rattlers and copperheads.
I don't think we have ravens... but not sure
Thank you.
👍😎
Good info
Glad you think so!
Thank you!
Glad to help!
crows are territorial and they call their cousins and their other cousins and those cousins and those cousins from another mother twice removed. i have seen it. i have an 8lb morkie they hunt relentlessly. i have had them come in arms length. she wont always stay 6 ' and its hard to not let her play. our neighbor feeds our squirrels and i think that brings them. they migrate atleast during the hot months in fl. i had ravens following us . i thought they were the third eye raven ravens. just turned out the hawks were hunting us and they were territorial. hawks also seem to hunt in tandem. yes i've seen it.
I have a lot of crows too. I used to chase them off, but now I keep them around to chase off the hawks :)
@@BIGALTX i was hoping i was the third eye raven. i was just carrying a dinner plate
As far as the predation issue I can't say. But you can make friends with crows and they will watch over you. On the other hand, if you cross them they will seek revenge.
Hahaha... I've had a few like that too!! 👍😎
I have yet to have bird of pray come on my chickens .
They have one acre
To roam .
But I have black chickens in my mix as well.
Going on 5 years
Good for you
I haven't had any problems since last winter 👍😎
I though there was something to the black chicken thing - I had ten chickens for about 5yrs and a red one and a white one were picked off in that time - then in a two week time period 3 of my 4 black chickens were killed by a hawk - I have invested in some netting to try and stop it
Good luck
Look under this video. Some of the comments are very informative about keeping hawks away
I lost one of my older black chickens today from a hawk😔 i have three of her babys left though.
Ouch
That’s terrible
😞
Bird shot.
Check the law before doing that. I have not checked for a while, but I believe that birds of prey are protected and bald eagles certainly are.
@@loquat44-40 i dont follow the laws of satanic pedos.
Can not, not, not, not shoot them
Big fine or jail time
Very true... can not shoot them
Its ok to shoot cyotes,racoons, foxes ect that eat livestock.
I thought people preached equality these days?
Other than that, yeah people should not be shooting them just cause.
I have seen crows bring eagles to ground
Wow.
That would be amazing to watch.
Damn coons figured out how to open my teenagers coop and killed 10 one night and 10 the next night … I gave that coop away and am building a cattle panel hoop coop for them with hardware cloth on it and wire on the bottom so nothing can dig in …
You sure it was coons?
I had a possum kill 13 of mine in a week... then caught him!
That’s exactly how mine is made, with a two foot mesh apron all around it and seven hook/eye locks on the door. It’s like Alcatraz and so secure that a locust couldn’t get out!
My coop will be overly secure…
My neighbor feeds the coons but not near enough… I have seen coons but no possum since the last one that I killed that was sitting in a nest before dark eating eggs
I have had 2 live traps set every night since the massacre but haven’t caught anything … my neighbors daughter did tell me last week that she thought that we had a fox or bobcat because the coons and cats were disappearing
Hi I just lost a black chicken today to a hawk. I saw it.
That's too bad. I guess he's not scared of black birds
Yeah idk a hawk took my black hen yesterday
Yes… It happens. It’s not full proof, but it does help.
@@BIGALTX I'm thinking maybe my black hen to brown hen ratio isn't significant enough. I ordered some more black australorp chicks. If I remember to I'll let you know how it works out with the larger number of black hens.
Buenas ideas me gusta mucho este método. Un saludo
Glad to help, thanks!
Thanks for the info. Shame about your rooster doing his job and getting killed in the line of duty. I'm building a coop now. My chickens haven't been out yet til it's done. They will free range. I can't believe I have a red shoulder already checking out the coop. They know what the buildings are! That's nuts. I have a video on my channel. It's the newest one called Progress On Coop Early Oct 2022. I've never had problems in the past but this year may be bad. I have an accidental rooster so hope he takes care of my hens. But I don't want to lose him. He's not the biggest rooster though. I'd say medium sized.
Nice coop build!!
@@BIGALTX Thank you. Here's hoping it will end well.
I noticed a face made of shadows on the tree to the left of the coop/run. Weird that it just pops out once you see it. Then you can't unsee it.
👍😎
adding this comment because i just had a hawk attack in Maine all the videos i have been watching everyone is saying hawks don't attack black chickens... the hawk attacked my only black chicken don't know if you will see this but just wanted to let you know
Unfortunately, you are correct. Nothing is fool proof. I think some of the methods I have discussed help, but again nothing is fool proof…
Unfortunately aerial attacks are the hardest to prevent.
We're going to need to free range our flock, at least 2-3 days a week. We have a pyrenees in the pasture not far from them that scares off day ground and aerial predators. That'll help. At night and when not free ranging, we have a secure coop and run. I think I'm going to pickup a owl and crow for extra security. Thanks for the information. Pray, Plan, Prep
Sounds like you're doing all you can for your livestock... keep it up!
(Reads title) (Reads channel name)
The solution is a quad .50 cal mounted turret (M45 Quadmount) just like that Spaa from WW2..... yehaw?
Hahaha
BUT... can't shoot them... "endangered"
@@BIGALTX Yeah agreed they will be after that
How about foxes and coyotes ? We have both, and they can jump or climb right up fences. I need electric. But my chickens also free range.
I have an electric fence that comes on at night till dawn
You need some netting for them to free range in
@@BIGALTX Thanks Tex
They need to change the stupid law from the early 1900s and allow us to protect our livestock. Bang…bang.
True… But until then, no bang bang
When you lost your black Orpington, did you have the owl and crow decoy out?
I don't think so.
I just got them last year
an owl got two of our chickens, and the one barred roc was the first one it got :P
Hmmm... Interesting
Owls usually hunt at night
Maybe since crows aren't out at night that might have made a difference... not sure
I'd say your lucky. I've had barred rock and at one time, only solid black bantam chickens the six of crows and it was nothing for the Coppers Hawks and Redtail Hawks to feast on them. I ended up having to totally cover my run with chicken wire. Maybe the hawks are just picky down your way. LOL I know I lost a lot of birds, but that is the way it is with raising chickens.
Thanks. I'll keep that in mind
Winter is coming when other game is scarcer