Believe it or not, there are some chickens who are completely black. There are 14 breeds of black chickens, which is not a lot. Interestingly enough, the Silkie and the Ayam Cemani have black skin, feathers, organs, and bones! It is described as being like it has been dipped in ink.
Black chickens are rare to an extent and can be a hundred dollars or more because of the rarity of them. However, rumors are that black chickens can be good for keeping hawks away and in this article, we will find out if they really are.
Contents
Do Black Chickens Deter Hawks?
Black chickens actually do deter hawks! If you have a farm or a chicken coop and find yourself with a hawk problem, then something you definitely want to consider doing is getting a black chicken to add to the rest of the flock that you own.
One of the main and biggest reasons that black chickens deter hawks is because when a hawk is hovering above and sees the black chicken amongst the rest of them, it is going to think it is a crow.
Crows, despite their much smaller size than hawks, can be a danger to hawks. They are an enemy of hawks so if a hawk thinks a hawk is down there in the chicken coop, they will avoid it like the plague.
Hawks have good eyesight but cannot tell that the black chicken is not a crow. That is good luck for all the chickens in your coop.
Do Hawks Kill Chickens Quickly?
A hawk will kill a chicken during the first move. After it swoops down and grabs the chicken in its talons, the chicken is already dead. This is a good thing for chickens, so they do not have to suffer. At least you do not have to worry about them lying there in pain or slowly bleeding out from their wounds.
Rarely will you see a struggle. A hawk is very quick and strikes from above, so all that you will see is a missing chicken. After getting the chicken, they will start to eat it. They will not eat all of it at once and will keep it in a secure location before going back to eat it.
Hawks can grab a chicken that is a few pounds heavy and then fly off with said chicken. Again, by the time you notice it your chicken is going to be long gone.
Do Wind Chimes Keep Hawks Away?
Noise, like wind chimes, is a way to keep hawks far away from your chicken coop. They just do not seem to like noises very much and loud noises will work at keeping them away. You can use radios along with the wind chimes.
Adding it with bright flashes of light is a great idea as well. The noise and the light will do double the duty of keeping the hawk from swooping down and flying off with one of your precious chickens.
It is important to keep in mind that you do have to switch up the noise now and then and use other sources of noise. They can get used to noises, as any animal or human would.
When that happens, they will just keep going with their business and try to swoop down and get that chicken. However, by switching up the noises now and then you can keep the hawk at bay.
Will Goats Protect Chickens From Hawks?
Goats are not going to protect chickens and fight off hawks if one uses your chicken coop for a meal. The size of the goat might keep hawks and other birds of prey away from hunting your chickens, but this is not a guarantee. While goats are impressive animals, they rarely protect the other animals on the farm.
Eagles can actually hunt goats believe it or not. They have a wingspan that is all the way to 8 feet, so it’s no wonder that they can swoop down and grab a goat with no trouble. Usually, they get goat kids (baby goats), but they may decide to grab a full-grown goat if that fits their fancy.
Could a hawk, another bird of prey, hunt a goat? Yes, it is very possible. It is unlikely the hawk could fly off with the goat or an exceptionally large one, but it could happen. This is why goats make bad animals to protect your coop.
Will Dogs Protect Chickens From Hawks?
Dogs actually are some of the best protectors of livestock out there, which should not be a surprise. Canines have been used for a variety of jobs and this includes protecting animals on farms from predators. However, you can’t just get any old dog. Certain breeds are better equipped for protecting chickens and these include:
· Old English Sheepdog: These animals are large with very fluffy coats and the sheer size of them could be useful for keeping hawks away.
· Great Pyrenees: This breed has been used to herd sheep and protects them, so why not use them for your chicken coop?
· Kuvasz: These dogs are quick, agile, and have athletic builds. Perfect for keeping hawks away.
· Anatolian Shepard: These dogs are very protective so your chicken coup will be in good hands—we mean paws.
· Puli: They are quick and intelligent so what else could you need in a breed?!
· Pyrenean Mastiff: Yet another large breed here and that alone will keep hawks away!
· Komondor: They have a loud bark and if trained right can be great protectors.
· Akbash: The Akbash breed is large and quick. They are quick when running and barking!
· Maremma Sheepdog: This dog breed is also known as a livestock guardian dog so that is enough said.
Obviously, these are not the only breeds that will keep your livestock safe, but they are some great choices. Before buying a dog to protect your chickens, always make sure that they can be used for this. Some breeds are just not great for protection.
How do You Keep Hawks Away From Your Yard?
There are actually several ways to keep hawks away from your yard. Some of these ways include:
· Hawks dislike owls and vice versa. If you set up an owl decoy or scarecrow in your backyard, this will make the hawk think it is something that is going to hurt it. However, make sure you move it now and then or the hawk will know it’s not something to fear. Hey, they are smart!
· Bright lights and noises, which we mentioned earlier in the article.
· Covers for your free-range chickens, which gives them a place to duck under.
· Deer netting is also something you can use on chicken pens so consider purchasing this in order to keep your chickens safe.
There are obviously not all the options available for keeping hawks out of your yard, but these are some of the best ones out there that actually work. When in doubt, always do some research of your own.
How to Keep Hawks Away From Chickens?
It might seem like a daunting task, but there are ways you can keep your chickens safe from hawks. Some reasons, a few we have mentioned but want to reiterate, are:
· Adding a rooster to the flock is perfect because this is what roosters do! The second they see any danger they will alert the hens who will go running.
· Guard dog, which we covered before.
· Getting a coop and keeping them safely confined.
· A secure cover.
· Owl or some kind of decoy.
· Making noise and/or using light to deter them.
· Flashy tape is another thing you can do because remember they dislike a lot of noise.
Again, these are not all the options available out there to keep hawks from your chickens. It could take a bit of trial and error as well. Some might work and some might not. It is always better to mix it up. Using more than one option gives you a better chance of success and for your chickens, which you have invested time and money into, it is safe.
No one wants to see their pets get hurt and what is their investment going up in smoke.
Final Thoughts
Now you know black chickens can keep hawks away from your chicken coop. Actually, you might learn for the first time that they actually exist, but that is beside the point. Black Chickens and the other methods we listed here are great ways to keep your chickens safe.
Birds of prey are going to well… prey. You can only do so much and sometimes it may not be enough. At least you can sleep well knowing you did everything you could in your power to keep your animals safe from predators.
