What can I do to scare away a hawk?

Perhaps I am unusual in this forum, but from my perspective, I would rather protect my flock from the many predators that like a good chicken dinner with good fencing, including a top cover. I don't have time to sit out with them with a gun to shoot every dog, cat, coyote, fox, weasel, raccoon, etc. that wants to make a meal off them. And I sure as beck am not going to prison for killing a varmint, to protect my flock, when I could just build a fence.

I have not read every single post in this thread, but what I have read seems more like political posturing than ordinary common sense. Build good fences. Put a good top over it. Build a good solid coop. That is how to keep poultry alive.

If one wants to free range poultry, there are going to be losses Tractors can minimize losses and still give many of the benefits of free ranging.

Myrth said:

Perhaps I am unusual in this forum, but from my perspective, I would rather protect my flock from the many predators that like a good chicken dinner with good fencing, including a top cover. I don't have time to sit out with them with a gun to shoot every dog, cat, coyote, fox, weasel, raccoon, etc. that wants to make a meal off them. And I sure as beck am not going to prison for killing a varmint, to protect my flock, when I could just build a fence.

I have not read every single post in this thread, but what I have read seems more like political posturing than ordinary common sense. Build good fences. Put a good top over it. Build a good solid coop. That is how to keep poultry alive.

If one wants to free range poultry, there are going to be losses Tractors can minimize losses and still give many of the benefits of free ranging.

Click to expand...

Take a look at this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/815897/what-done-this

Based on the images, wooden coops are not that safe..yet most people think they are..I know I did...however, I agree with your perspective but every situation can be different. Every geographic area poses its own challenges and many people have limited resources. Not everyone can harden their coops or have the knowledge to improve anti-predator protection. Maybe using a gun is there only means. I do know its not to difficult too get frustrated..One thinks they did things right only to find out they were wrong...

I am new to the boards..I am getting birds next month..That is why I am hanging in this forum and not the raising forum. If I am not well versed in protecting them (and my garden from them) whats the point of having them? I know I won't be using a gun to protect them..I might use voltage though.

I'm not sure what any of this has to do with the op's hawk problem!!! I have lost 2 birds in 10 years to a white goss hawk. My problem stopped when I put a pony and a goat in the run with them. Even our resident sea eagles won't land in .

Fancychooklady said:

I'm not sure what any of this has to do with the op's hawk problem!!! I have lost 2 birds in 10 years to a white goss hawk. My problem stopped when I put a pony and a goat in the run with them. Even our resident sea eagles won't land in .

Click to expand...

You are completely right... We are getting off topic... The pony and the goat would be the way to go. I would get one if our property area allowed it. I haven't had much a problem with hawks though just because of the brush cover. If it hasn't been suggested already, OP could plans some shrubs/bushes in the open areas. That gives the chickens a chance to hide in cover. The hawk usually is more apprehensive about landing in brushy areas.

Oh I give up! I would like to apologise to the OP, who seems to have been scared away by all this talk of politics.

Quote: I just finished reading your diatribe completely (skimmed through it before). Respect is earned, not given.

Does this act (planting drugs) earn public trust and respect? Or this? How many police are involved? I know, I know,... this was just a bad cop...or this was just all the bad cops on that shift...right? Isolated incident...right?

Obviously, this earns the public respect and trust or this
There are tons of other examples and it is a nation wide problem. Respect is earned not given. Clean up the police forces (state, Local, and federal) then you will have a legit complaint. There is something wrong with the vetting process when thugs and dishonest people are allowed to have a badge.

And your solution is what? Instead of recognizing law enforcement has a problem you go to the extreme as I quoted above...How about law enforcement living within the law and arresting there own when misconduct is witnessed? It is funny, you never here about police misconduct unless a video tape catches the police red handed...Why is that? Does misconduct only occur when video is rolling? How can one enforce the law when they are breaking the law?

How about punishing those who let conspiracies (such as planting drugs) happen. You may be a honest cop...but how would I know? because you say? I am sure that if asked all the cops in those video's they would say they are honest as well...

Why bring the MOD's into this discussion? What do you want them to do? Silence people that disagree with you? People gave there opinions (right or wrong). Your entitled to your opinion as well.

From the rules:

Quote:
Killing birds of prey is against federal law, and posts that discuss doing so will be removed. If you persist in posting this, you may find your access to BYC removed.

It has been posted on BYC many times that special federal permits to kill raptors are available. It has also been posted that they are not available to chicken owners for the purpose of protecting their flocks. If you wish to apply for one and post about it, feel free to do so.