Do hawks eat chickens? Learn how to recognize the Cooper’s Hawk and how you can protect your flock from one of the most common chicken hawks found in North America.

Chicken Hawks

Do hawks eat chickens? Yes. North America is home to two species of hawks commonly referred to as chicken hawks. The Red-Tailed Hawk and the Cooper’s Hawk. The Red Tail Hawk is larger than the Cooper’s Hawk, but don’t let the smaller stature fool you. Cooper’s Hawks are strong hunters and prey on bantam and standard-sized chickens.

Appearance

With their short wing span (wingspan averaging about two and a half feet) and long, rounded tail, the Cooper’s hawk is usually easy to recognize. Cooper’s Hawks are generally smaller than Red-Tailed Hawks, averaging fourteen to twenty inches tall. Their upright position makes this bird of prey easy to spot when sitting in a tree or on an electric pole.

Cooper’s Hawks sport a rust-colored chest and dark wing tips (visible only in flight). The back feathers are a solid slate gray. The long tail feathers are light in color and have several black bands (visible in flight). The beaks are slate gray with a bright yellow point.

Habitat

The Cooper’s Hawk is often thought of as a woodland hawk, but they are also commonly spotted on farms and residential areas. These graceful birds of prey are acrobatic and fast fliers, often flying through thickly wooded areas, twisting and turning to steer clear of undergrowth. Cooper’s hawks are extremely adaptable and stop at nothing to seize a hunting opportunity.

Hunting Behaviors

The Cooper’s Hawk’s excellent flying ability puts them at an advantage over backyard flocks.  Many times the hawk will fly low out of sight before rising up and over an obstacle such as a coop or small tree to ambush their prey by surprise.

Recognizing a Cooper’s Hawk in Flight

The Cooper’s Hawk is relatively easy to recognize even in flight. If you think a Cooper’s Hawk may be checking out your flock, here are some things to look for:

Size: Cooper’s Hawks are generally about the size of a Mallard or Crow.

Shape: Look for short, rounded wings and a long, rounded tail.

Flight Pattern: The Cooper’s Hawk’s flight pattern generally consists of a flap-flap-glide style.

Head Size: Large head in proportion to the body.

Cooper’s Hawk Visits

Do hawks eat chickens? Yes. Hawks are the most common bird of prey to kill and eat chickens. So, if you notice a Cooper’s Hawk or other birds of prey visiting your backyard, it’s time to take preventive measures.

The best way to prevent a hawk attack is by confining your flock to a covered chicken tractor or run, versus free-ranging. Chicken tractors are a great option if hawks are the biggest predatorial threat in your neighborhood, as they allow chickens the benefit of free-ranging, i.e., fresh grass and bugs, while still offering your flock protection from hawks.

Chicken tractors and runs should be covered with a heavy-duty, weather-proof tarp or half-inch, 16 gauge hardware cloth. Choosing sturdy hardware cloth is vital to protecting your chickens, as hawks are intelligent birds, with many having figured out if they bounce on flimsy wire (such as chicken wire), the wire will break or bend, allowing access to the hens below.

Hawk Attack Calling Cards

Do hawks eat chickens without leaving behind any calling cards? Hawks may kill a chicken without leaving any trace of the attack behind, but if the hawk decides to eat its prey on the spot, they often leave scattered feathers on the ground. If you suspect your flock has been attacked by a hawk, here are a few telltale signs:

• Free-ranging hens disappearing without any trace of an attack
• Disappearing chickens with only scattered feathers
• Surviving victims with deep puncture marks from talons
• Piles of feathers lying under a tree, bush, or fence post where the hawk consumed its prey.

All hawks, including the Cooper’s, usually only attack one chicken at a time but will come back to strike the flock again in the future if an opportunity arises.

Deterring Hawks From Visiting Your Backyard

Deterring hawks from visiting your backyard can be tricky, but here are a few pointers that many chicken keepers find to help reduce hawk attacks.

Keep a Rooster

If you can legally keep a rooster in your neighborhood, adding one to your flock may prevent hawks from wanting to visit your flock. Upon spotting a hawk, roosters sound an alarm cry, letting your flock and all the neighborhood birds know to seek cover. With nothing to hunt, most hawks will eventually take the hint and fly off somewhere else.

Note: Roosters should only be used to warn the flock of possible danger and should not be expected to protect the flock against predators.

Avoid Free-Ranging

Avoiding free-ranging is the best way to prevent Cooper’s hawks and other hawk attacks. Only allow chickens to free-range if you are outside right with the flock to deter hawk attacks.

Shiny Objects

Hanging shiny objects such as old CDs and DVDs may help to prevent hawks from visiting your coop and run.

Take Your Dog for a Walk

Yes, you read that right. Taking your dog for a walk around the yard several times a day discourages both land and aerial predators from wanting to visit your backyard. For best results, switch up the routine so predators never know when to expect you and your canine companion.

Do hawks eat chickens? Yes, hawks do eat chickens, but they don’t have to prey on your flock. Knowing how to protect your flock will help keep them safe from a hawk attack.

This article about do hawks eat chickens was written for Chickens magazine. Click here to subscribe.