Here's a pic of my scarecrow. I made him after losing my prize rooster G.Q to a Hawk attack!
What do you think - SILLY or SCARY? Tried to give him a menacing look.
Losing G.Q. was a traumatic experience for our family (feathered family too) He was a SPECTACULAR BIRD!
He died defending his girls. What a HERO! He was the BEST chicken I've ever owned ,and the most loved, and the most missed. I am trying to give them the best possible life,and am convinced that they are HAPPIEST and most fullfilled while free-ranging.The most natural environment and all that.Am I doing the right thing?I don't want to put my pets in harm's way.
I did find a pretty good replacement ( can't ever really replace GQ ) His name is SON or SONNY.(I've always wanted a son!)
He's YOUNG and pretty handsome and he's trying his best to fill GQ's role as the king of the farm.I hope his sickle feathers lengthen.He was sold to me ($5) as a junglefowl / game mix. Time will tell.
Now to seek your advice,comment,and experiences with HAWKS! Are scare-crows an effective deterrent to hawk attack? Do OWL DECOYS really work? I have setup three owl decoys around the ol' homestead. One right on top of the coop.
One overlooks the property from the peak of the front porch.
And one over the garden.I REALLY want to continue to let my flock free-range,and there have been no further attack attempts made since.I think and hope and PRAY that this will continue and peace remain. What have you guys experienced?Any further tips or tricks?
On a more personal note,I have the next 4 days in a row off from work and plan to do ALOT of first-hand supervision from one of the following prime GUARD-POSTS. Either here-my FAVORITE resting spot in the deep shade by the CREEK.
Or here...
Or here
We are truely BLESSED by GOD to be living in a real PARADISE! And of course I'll have to keep a close eye on my flock of the luckiest DUCKS in the world! Our wide,slow moving stream is IDEAL for our 4 ducks.Truely DUCK HEAVEN! They can leave anytime and they choose to stick around. They CHOSE us! I don't really blame them.
SEND IN THOSE SCARE-CROW PICS!
10 Chickens,5 Ducks,5 Doggies(in the house!)1 Cat,and 2 Cockatiels!
10 Chickens,5 Ducks,5 Doggies(in the house!)1 Cat,and 2 Cockatiels!
Stands for Silent But Deadly....the dog rarely ever barks but just shows up with the predator lying dead in the backyard the next morning. I think he is successful because of his silence and his agile quickness. 
