Protecting a backyard flock from aerial predators requires understanding hawk behavior. The risk of predation is a daily concern, making knowledge of raptor habits the first step in effective defense. Since all hawks are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, physically harming them is illegal. Therefore, deterrence and environmental modification are the only viable strategies.
Identifying Common Predatory Hawks
The most frequent threats to backyard poultry come from two main groups of raptors: Accipiters and Buteos. Accipiters, including the Cooper’s Hawk and the Sharp-shinned Hawk, are specialized bird hunters. They are recognizable by their short, rounded wings and long tails, which allow them to maneuver quickly through dense cover.
The Cooper’s Hawk often takes adult chickens, while the smaller Sharp-shinned Hawk typically targets younger or bantam birds. Buteos, such as the Red-tailed Hawk, are larger, broad-winged birds that prefer to hunt in open areas. They primarily scan for prey from a high perch, like a utility pole or tree, before executing a downward swoop. While Red-tailed Hawks mostly prey on rodents, they will take chickens, especially smaller ones, if the opportunity presents itself.
Timing and Seasonal Patterns of Attacks
Hawk activity is linked to the availability of light, making attacks a daytime phenomenon, in contrast to nocturnal predators like owls. Peak hunting hours generally occur during the early morning and again in the late afternoon or dusk. These times align with high prey movement and lower light conditions, which provide a slight advantage for the raptor.
Seasonal variations significantly influence the risk of predation. Hunting pressure increases notably during the fall and early winter due to the annual raptor migration. This influx of traveling birds, combined with a decline in natural prey due to colder weather, makes chickens a more appealing target. Predation risk is also elevated during the spring and summer nesting season, as adult hawks hunt aggressively to feed their young.
Hawk Hunting Methods and Prey Selection
Hawks employ varied hunting strategies. Accipiters are more likely to use a “surprise attack” strategy, often flying low and fast through tree lines or brush to ambush prey. The sheer speed and force of the strike, delivered with sharp talons, is often enough to kill the chicken instantly upon impact.
Prey selection is determined by vulnerability, with hawks consistently targeting isolated birds or those that are smaller in size, such as chicks or bantam breeds. Chickens are easy targets because they lack the natural evasive flight behaviors of wild birds and are often distracted while foraging. A hawk will often carry off a smaller bird or eat a larger chicken’s breast meat at the point of attack, leaving a scatter of plucked feathers as a sign of predation.
Effective Deterrence and Flock Protection
The most reliable method of protection is creating a physical barrier to block the raptor’s downward attack path. Installing overhead coverage, such as aviary netting or hardware cloth, over the entire chicken run is highly effective, preventing the hawk from successfully stooping on the flock. For free-range areas, stringing thin, brightly colored wire or fishing line in a grid pattern across the yard disrupts the hawk’s flight path, making the space less appealing to hunt.
Visual deterrents exploit the hawk’s excellent eyesight and cautious nature. Reflective objects like Mylar tape, aluminum pie plates, or old CDs hung near the coop will flash unpredictably, confusing and deterring the birds. Decoys, such as plastic owls, can also be used, but their placement must be changed frequently to prevent hawks from recognizing them as non-threats. Providing natural cover like dense shrubs, brush piles, or covered lean-tos gives the chickens immediate places to hide when a raptor alarm call is sounded.