Will a Hawk Eat a Chicken? The Truth About These Aerial Predators

If you’re a backyard chicken keeper you’ve probably wondered about the dangers lurking above your flock. One question I hear all the time from fellow chicken enthusiasts is will a hawk eat a chicken? The short answer is yes hawks absolutely will eat chickens—and they’re pretty good at it too.

As someone who’s been raising backyard chickens for years, I’ve unfortunately witnessed firsthand the devastating impact these aerial predators can have on a beloved flock. Today, I’m sharing everything you need to know about hawks as chicken predators and how to protect your feathered friends.

Hawks: The Natural-Born Chicken Hunters

Hawks are impressive predators that have evolved specifically to hunt and kill small to medium-sized animals—and your chickens definitely fall into that category, There are three species in the United States commonly known as “chicken hawks”

• Red-tailed hawks
• Sharp-shinned hawks
• Cooper’s hawks

These birds of prey are incredibly efficient hunters with several advantages:

• Exceptional eyesight that can spot chickens from great distances
• Silent flight that allows them to swoop down without warning
• Sharp talons and hooked beaks designed for grabbing and killing prey
• Impressive intelligence and adaptability to overcome obstacles

What makes hawks particularly dangerous is their hunting technique. They typically spot prey from a distance using their keen eyesight before swooping down swiftly. The attack happens so quickly that your chickens often don’t have time to react. Even when a hawk doesn’t successfully kill a chicken immediately, the injuries from its talons can prove fatal.

Real-Life Hawk Attack Stories

I’ll never forget the day I walked out to my chicken coop and saw a red-tailed hawk calmly eating one of my White Leghorns. The hawk flew off when it spotted me, dropping the Leghorn’s body. As a birdwatcher, I was fascinated by the hawk sighting, but as a chicken owner, I was devastated.

Another time, I heard a huge commotion from my backyard and ran outside to find a hawk rolling down my hill with one of my Buff Brahmas caught in its talons! They were in a mighty struggle. My yelling and running scared the hawk away, and luckily my Brahma survived the encounter.

These aren’t isolated incidents. Hawks are year-round predators that pose a constant threat to free-ranging chickens. Whether it’s summer or winter, hawks are always on the lookout for an easy meal—and your chickens might just be it.

How to Protect Your Chickens from Hawks

Now for the good news: there are effective ways to protect your flock from hawk attacks! Here are some tried-and-true methods that have worked for me and many other chicken keepers:

1. Add a Rooster to Your Flock

Roosters are fantastic protectors for your hens. My rooster Hank constantly scans the skies for danger. When he spots a hawk, he immediately sounds an alarm call and gathers the hens in a protected spot. He’ll then walk back and forth in front of them, keeping them together until the danger passes.

During one hawk attack, my rooster had the entire flock backed up against the house under an overhang with his wings spread protectively over them. He was ready to fight!

2. Provide Cover and Shelter

Hawks prefer to attack in open spaces where they can swoop down unimpeded. Giving your chickens places to hide is crucial:

• Keep chickens in a covered run when unsupervised
• Plant bushes and shrubs throughout your yard
• Position coops with overhangs where chickens can hide
• Use decks or other structures as shelter

My chickens love hiding under our coop (which is raised off the ground), under our deck, and beneath the overhang of our house when they spot danger overhead.

3. Use Visual Deterrents

Hawks are cautious predators that don’t like unfamiliar or potentially threatening objects. Try these visual deterrents:

• Scarecrows positioned around your chicken yard (move them every few days)
• Shiny objects like pie tins hung from tree branches
• Fake owls (hawks don’t like owls and vice versa)
• Shiny garden spinners that create movement and reflections
• Bright-colored tarps or plastic mesh overhead

4. Get a Watchdog

Dogs can be excellent deterrents for hawks. Our dog Sophie was wonderful with our chickens and provided great protection. I would let her out at various times throughout the day so predators couldn’t learn her schedule.

Not all dogs are good with chickens though, so make sure your dog is well-trained and trustworthy around your flock.

5. Add Black Chickens to Your Flock

This might sound strange, but hawks often avoid attacking flocks that contain jet-black chickens. Why? They associate black plumage with crows, which are known to mob and attack hawks. Including a few black birds in your flock might give hawks second thoughts.

6. Consider Larger Birds

Adding turkeys or geese to your flock can provide protection. These larger birds aren’t typical prey for hawks and can act as living shields for your chickens. They’re also great at spotting predators and sounding alarms.

7. Be Strategic About Feeding

Hawks often strike at feeding time when chickens are distracted. To reduce risk:

• Feed chickens in covered areas
• Use feeders with overhead protection
• Place feeding stations near bushes or structures
• Change feeder locations and appearance occasionally

8. Time Their Free-Range Sessions

Hawks are most active during early morning and late afternoon/evening hours. Keep your chickens confined during these peak hunting times and only allow free-ranging when you can supervise.

Important Legal Considerations

Before you reach for your shotgun in frustration, remember that hawks are protected by federal and state laws. It is illegal to kill or harass birds of prey, including hawks and owls, no matter how much they threaten your flock or how much money they cost you.

This legal protection means you need to focus on deterrence rather than elimination. The good news is that with consistent application of the protection methods I’ve outlined, you can significantly reduce or even eliminate hawk predation of your chickens.

The Bottom Line: Hawks Will Eat Chickens, But You Can Protect Your Flock

So, will a hawk eat a chicken? Absolutely. But with proper precautions, you can keep your flock safe from these aerial predators.

In my experience, the threat from hawks is real but manageable. I’ve found that using multiple protection methods simultaneously works best. My combination of a watchful rooster, strategic cover, visual deterrents, and a protective dog has greatly reduced hawk attacks on my flock.

Remember that hawks are just doing what comes naturally to them—hunting to survive. With some thoughtful planning and consistent application of these protective measures, both your chickens and the local hawk population can coexist.

Have you experienced hawk attacks on your chickens? What methods have worked best for protecting your flock? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments below!