SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/chick-hawk-attacks

Which predator usually attacks chickens from above in daytime?

Hawks hunt during daylight and often strike from above.

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  1. Fox
  2. Raccoon
  3. Hawk ✔

Why: Hawks hunt in the daytime and swoop down on chickens in open runs. Netting or wire over the run blocks their attack.

Huh, didn't know that: Owls are the night shift: Kentucky Extension notes owls hunt at night, while hawks hunt by day.

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Why did the hawk skip the covered run? It could not net a reservation.
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References

Answer: Hawk. Hawks hunt in the daytime and swoop down on chickens in open runs. Netting or wire over the run blocks their attack.

  1. University of Kentucky Extension: Predator Management for Small-scale Poultry (ID-245) publications.ca.uky.edu/files/ID245.pdf
    Hawks typically hunt during the day, while owls hunt at night.
    Checked 2026-10-11.
  2. Penn State Extension: Small Scale Poultry Housing extension.psu.edu/small-scale-poultry-housing
    To prevent problems with hawks and owls, cover your outside runs with mesh wire or netting.
    Checked 2026-10-11.

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