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Coopers Hawk in chicken coop

15 years ago

Yesterday I encountered a Cooper's Hawk IN my chicken coop in the barn. It apparently had grabbed one hen before I got inside to scare it off. She had a hole in her back and died overnight.

I have done my best to wrap up the coop area, covering all the holes I could find between it and the rest of the barn.

This morning I saw the hawk perched on the fence outside the barn. I ran out and scared it away.

Now that this hawk knows there's a chicken meal inside, and we're in the middle of a blizzard, reducing the supply of field mice, etc. outside, do you have any suggestions to further deter the hawk?

Thanks.

--Johanna

Here is a link that might be useful: My blog story about the hawk in the coop

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Comments (2)

kit_813
15 years ago
Hi Johanna,

First of all thanks for letting the hawk go unharmed. Yes it is illegal to harm or kill them, but still not everybody would have acted in a way respectful of the law (and the animal!) in your situation.

You did the best thing by securing the coop; the best way to avoid having one of your chicken grabbed through the wire by any predator would be to use 2 layers of fence, 12 inches appart or so. Where there is a chicken coop, there are Coopers, but also racoons and those are much more destructive than a bird of prey.

Then if the Cooper has no access, it will understand in time and move on, checking in once in a while. These birds have a high metabolism and need to eat on a daily basis so he won't loose his time on a lost cause. If it becomes a real problem, you can call your state or your state falconry association to have a falconer come and legally trap the hawk for you. The bird will then be released unharmed in an area that can sustain it and where he won't disturb anyone.

But with chickens, be ready to see predators once in a while. Good luck!

Audrey
johanna_h
Original Author
15 years ago
Audrey--

Oh, I wouldn't ever kill one. It's a beautiful bird. I just want it to hunt elsewhere. If I could just get all the mice in the barn to parade out into the yard, we could provide a feast!

I've had chickens in this barn since 2005 and I thought I'd never had a problem. But thinking back, there have been a couple of "unexplained deaths" that included once a hole in the chest and once a totally eaten-down carcass. Each time I assumed the chicken had somehow injured itself and the drop of blood had attracted the others to peck. Now I'm not so sure...

The hawk flew by twice on Monday that I saw. Each time I ran out in the yard and chased it off. I hope it's moved on for now.

--Johanna

Here is a link that might be useful: My place: Busy Solitude Farm
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