9 Proven Ways to Protect Chickens from Hawks and Owls

Last updated on August 5, 2025

It’s a sight that makes every chicken keeper’s heart skip a beat: a dark shadow suddenly passing over your yard, sending your flock scattering for cover. Hawks, owls, and other birds of prey are swift, silent, and incredibly effective hunters, posing a unique aerial threat. But protecting chickens from aerial predators isn’t impossible—it just requires a smart, multi-layered defense.

In this guide, we’ll break down nine proven and practical ways to protect your chickens from hawks and owls, offering strategies from physical barriers to clever deterrents that will create a safer sky for your flock and give you peace of mind. Remember, a complete security plan defends from all angles, so while this guide focuses on aerial threats, be sure to read our Ultimate Guide to Chicken Predator Protection to learn how to stop ground predators, too.

Signs of an Aerial Predator Attack

It’s a chilling discovery no chicken keeper wants to make. Quickly identifying the culprit after a suspected aerial attack is crucial for preventing future losses. Here’s what we’ve learned to look for:

• How to tell if a hawk killed my chicken: Look for a carcass with the breast meat and internal organs eaten, as raptors often target these parts. Sometimes, only a pile of feathers remains, indicating the bird was carried away.
• Do hawks kill chickens quickly? Yes, hawks are swift predators. They typically kill their prey quickly with their powerful talons, often breaking the neck or crushing vital organs.
• Why do hawks kill chickens but not eat them? While less common for hawks than for some ground predators, a hawk might abandon its prey if startled or scared off mid-attack, leaving the carcass behind.
• Do chicken hawks eat chickens? Yes, “chicken hawks” (a common term for various raptors that prey on poultry, such as Cooper’s Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks) absolutely eat chickens. They are natural predators of poultry.

The 9 Proven Defenses

#1: Cover Your Run Completely

This is the most important, non-negotiable step for any enclosed chicken run. A solid roof or robust overhead covering is the only 100% effective method to prevent aerial attacks.

• Gold Standard: For permanent structures, a solid roof (plywood, metal sheeting) or heavy-duty hardware cloth (1/2-inch or 1/4-inch welded wire) provides impenetrable protection while allowing sunlight. We once lost a young pullet when a hawk dove into our uncovered run. After installing hardware cloth over the entire top, we haven’t had a single aerial breach.
• Budget Option: Hawk netting for chickens or poultry netting can cover large areas. However, these are less durable, can be compromised by heavy snow or falling branches, and offer no protection from climbing ground predators like raccoons. Will bird netting stop a hawk? Yes, if properly installed and of sufficient strength, bird netting can deter a hawk, but it’s not as robust as hardware cloth.
• Can a hawk get through chicken wire? Yes, a determined hawk can easily tear through flimsy chicken wire, and its wide mesh offers little protection against powerful talons. Using hardware cloth is also the #1 way to protect your flock from ground predators like raccoons, as discussed in our Raccoon-Proof Chicken Coop guide.

#2: Provide Abundant Natural Cover

For free-ranging chickens, natural cover is their best defense. Hawks are ambush predators that need a clear line of sight to dive.

Dense shrubs, thick bushes, evergreen trees, and even tall, leafy garden plants like sunflowers or corn break up this sightline. They give chickens immediate places to run and hide when a threat appears. This is key to how to protect free-range chickens from hawks. We’ve observed our flock instinctively darting under a dense lilac bush the moment a hawk is spotted, a clear testament to its effectiveness.

#3: Create Artificial Shelters

If your yard lacks natural cover, create artificial shelters. These provide quick, accessible refuge for your flock.

Simple DIY ideas include A-frame structures made of plywood, lean-tos built against a fence, or even old patio furniture or large dog houses. Scatter them strategically around the yard. We built a simple lean-to from scrap wood, and it quickly became the chickens’ favorite midday shaded retreat, doubling as a hawk hideout.

#4: Use “Scare Tape” and Reflective Objects

These visual deterrents are among the best hawk deterrents for chickens. They work by disorienting and confusing birds of prey.

• How it Works: Scare tape (also known as flash tape) is reflective and creates unpredictable flashes of sunlight when strung across open areas. These flashes disrupt a hawk’s ability to lock onto a target. Predator eye balloons and mirrors work on the same principle, creating confusing reflections and mimicking the eyes of a larger predator. As the Cornell Lab of Ornithology recommends, reflective, mirror-like surfaces are effective in “spooking aerial predators” and “minimizing damage by birds.” Source: Hobby Farms
• Will a fake owl keep hawks away from chickens? No, static deterrents like fake owls or scarecrows are generally ineffective. We tried a plastic owl once; it worked for about two days before the hawks completely ignored it. Hawks are intelligent and quickly learn that a statue that never moves is not a real threat, a phenomenon known as habituation. Dynamic deterrents like flash tape are much more reliable.
• How to scare hawks away but not birds? Scare tape and reflective objects are specifically designed to deter birds of prey, which are startled by the flashes. Most songbirds are generally not bothered by these visual disruptions.

#5: Employ a Guardian Rooster

A good rooster is the flock’s dedicated “watchtower” and an invaluable asset for aerial predator protection.

He constantly scans the sky and has a specific alarm call for aerial threats, sending the hens running for cover. His vigilance is a primary reason he’s considered the best protector for chickens within the flock itself. As one chicken keeper shared, “Many times I’ve watched our rooster, Hank, scanning the skies for flying predators. If he sees something, he’s quick to let out his alarm call and gather the hens in a protected spot.” Source: Backyard Poultry Magazine

#6: Add Larger Guardian Birds to Your Flock

This expert-level tip leverages interspecies dynamics. Hawks are less likely to attack a mixed flock that includes larger, more intimidating birds.

Guardian geese are notoriously loud and aggressive, actively watching the sky. Turkeys and guinea fowl also serve as excellent “alarm” systems, raising a ruckus at the sight of potential danger. We introduced a pair of geese to our free-range area, and the hawk fly-overs significantly decreased.

#7. Eliminate Perch Points

Large raptors like Red-tailed Hawks and Great Horned Owls often survey an area from a high perch before attacking.

Remove any dead trees, tall lone posts, or other elevated structures near your coop and free-range areas that could serve as convenient lookout points for predators. We identified a tall, dead tree near our property line that a hawk frequently used; after removing it, hawk sightings in the immediate vicinity dropped dramatically. If removal isn’t possible, consider adding bird spikes to the top of nearby fence posts.

#8: Be Smart About Timing and Supervision

Vigilance during peak activity times can significantly reduce risk.

• What time of day are hawks most active? Hawks are typically most active during early morning and late afternoon, when their prey (including chickens) are also most active.
• Protecting free-range chickens from hawks during these peak times means being present to supervise or limiting free-ranging to the middle of the day when hawks may be less active. We found that letting our chickens out later in the morning and bringing them in earlier in the evening drastically reduced close calls.

#9: Use a Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD)

For larger properties or persistent hawk problems, a Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD) can be the ultimate deterrent.

Breeds like Great Pyrenees or Anatolian Shepherds are bred to bond with and protect livestock. Their mere presence patrolling the yard is often enough to deter hawks from even attempting an attack, as raptors will not risk swooping into an area protected by a potential threat like an LGD. As one farmer noted about their LGD, “The hawk noticed the dog though. Without any whooping or throwing of buckets, the hawk was gone, soaring away to the south. It didn’t come back.” Source: Local Harvest (For a deep dive into the best breeds, see our guide to Choosing a Livestock Guardian Dog for Your Flock).

Conclusion: Building a “Safe Sky” for Your Flock

Protecting chickens from aerial predators is an ongoing commitment, but with the right strategies, you can significantly reduce the risk to your flock. It requires a multi-layered approach, addressing threats from all angles.

Overhead cover is essential for runs, natural or artificial cover is critical for free-ranging, and visual/auditory deterrents add a helpful secondary layer of defense. Consistent vigilance and adapting your methods are key.

By implementing these proven strategies, you’ll gain the confidence to let your chickens enjoy the outdoors safely. You can rest easy, knowing you’ve created a truly “safe sky” for your happy flock.

Quick FAQs on Proven Ways to Protect Chickens from Hawks and Owls

For those who prefer a visual guide, this video demonstrates several effective hawk deterrents in a real backyard setting: Deterring Hawks from your Chickens!.