That is what hawks … So, I suspect despite my efforts, there will come a day when my relentless hawk return to hunting my chickens. Shooting the hawk is not an option, its highly illegal. It is illegal to kill birds of prey and I would never want to do that.

Even if they decimate your flock. So, here are my top five ways to learn how to protect chickens from hawks and other aerial predators.
I stopped feeding the birds and the hawk went away. First, you need to know that hawks are protected in the United States under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 USC, 703-711). It is against federal law for you to harm or harass the bird in any way.

As a general rule, hawks cannot carry more than they weigh. I had a hawk picking birds off of my feeders. They are protected. It is illegal to harm them, or to hunt, trap, cage, shoot, or poison them without a permit.

You cannot kill a protected species. Shooting it would not only violate that law, but probably state and local ordinances as well.
As part of my research, I also learned that hawks can live for 20 years.

Red-tailed hawks are the most common in residential areas and can lift 4 to 5 pounds – about the weight of an adult rabbit.

Because hawks are protected in the United states under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 USC, 703-711). I would provide a cover, netting or containment for the chickens. If that happens, I may have to resort to a fully-protected run. Then I started feeding again. It is illegal to hunt, harm, cage, trap, shoot, or poison them without a permit. You can see the wing imprints left in the snow and a pile of White Leghorn feathers from a failed attack. Depends on where you live and the laws. I think if you can stop free ranging the chickens for awhile, the hawks will go away. They can also spend that whole time in the same location if the weather and hunting is good.

Doing so is punishable as a misdemeanor and with fines of up to $15,000.

When killing a chicken or other large animal, most hawks will slay it on the ground and eat it there. You must solve your problem some other way if the hawk is protected. No. As much a nuisance as hawks are to poultry keepers, you must know that they must not be killed, trapped, or caged.