A hawk that just won't quit!!!

[ginbart]

Have you tried hanging those plastic owls out and around your coop? Also if you put some bird feeders out for other wild birds they keep them away. Been there and done that.

NOW, lets stop talking about SSS I would have loved to do that to the hawk that got EE's but I didn't. We Don't want to have to get the thread closed on the OP. Lets try and help.

 

[gypsygirl1421]

You can go the the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Website and apply for a permit that allows you to shoot the hawk. The permit costs $50. I don't know how to link but the address is http://www.fws.gov/permits/applicationforms/ApplicationLM.html#MBTA. Or if you google USFWS and click on the subheading permits it will take you to that page, than click on Application Forms, than MBTA than click on Depredating Birds/3-200-13. The permit is good for a year and can be renewed. Try to take a photo of the hawk to make sure you can get the correct species. I work with the USFWS and have helped several people obtain this permit. What people are saying is true, once they figure out where to get a good meal, they usually return.

 

[thekid]

Quote:
The reason i say to shoot it is because my very good friend (chickencrazy69) lost his favorite chicken to a hawk and do you know what else killed his roo? Yup a hawk. He lives out in the middle of the country with a house dog. But he hasnt killed it. He said if it attacks. Its getting the bullet.

I lost 14 birds to predators last year. Three to a coyote (my fault for not penning up birds that otherwise roosted only waste high), three to a neighbors dog (reason behind acquirine dog I have now), four to a great horned owl (birds already designated as culls and not given adequate overhead cover), one to Coopers hawk (from brooder raised batch without adult standing guard), and three to ferugenous hawk during winter (took cockerols that spent to much time away from cover). I consumed or sold 10 times as many lost. That was the worst year I ever had to predators. It was nothing. Every year more birds lost to disease and that will always be part of game when trying to produce birds in constant contact with natural environment. It is one of the cost of keeping chickens. My losses are greater than yours and your friends combined and I put a significant $ value on loss of a game chicken. Still it is not my right or yours to destroy wildlife that belong to all tax payers. I pay taxes for wildlife management so I can go hunting later. I also manage my pastures and woodlot to provide habitat for wildlife. When you kill the wildlife, I and many others reguard it as a personal loss in an investment. Some wildlife, especially smaller mammals as a population can handle occasional culling for praying on livestock. Other species such as long lived birds of prey can not reproduce fast enough if everybody started shooting them because of killing or though to be a threat of it on poultry.

This year I have lost none to predators. I have learned to be smarter than my foe. Foe will beat me once in a while but losses are tolerable.

And were im from its apperantly legal to shoot hawks if they are attacking your animals. We have lots of red tail hawks around here. That is what is legal to shoot.

 

[centrarchid]

thekid,

Double check your local federal law. When it is more restrictive it prevails.

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
You can get a permit to shoot a hawk for consuming pet chickens? My understanding is other options must be tried first. I have had Coopers successfully take a chick or two and then be kept away usually with a modest management change.

 

[sourland]

Quote:
You can get a permit to shoot a hawk for consuming pet chickens? My understanding is other options must be tried first. I have had Coopers successfully take a chick or two and then be kept away usually with a modest management change.

You can apply for a permit. "Getting" one is a far different story.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
You can get a permit to shoot a hawk for consuming pet chickens? My understanding is other options must be tried first. I have had Coopers successfully take a chick or two and then be kept away usually with a modest management change.

harrasment needs to be documented and presented to USFW when you are in the process of attempting to obtain said permit if you call FWS there is no other way you can go but legal after you bring them in having said this there are a lot of farmers here that just shoot them from the village of deep creek va. to Elizabeth city NC on HWY 17

 

[peteyfoozer]

We've been very lucky. There are 3 great horned owls living in the barn I can see from our window, and tons of hawks and other birds here. I have a bunch of meaties living on the lawn next to the greenhouse, and had smaller chickens free ranging in the back yard (until the new grass seed came up, now they are confined until its established).
The owls were swooping down at night, but I hollered at them. My two Maremmas picked up on that, and they have been keeping all large birds away since then! They chase them out of the orchard as well. If you have the property for it, an LGD that is poultry friendly is great for peace of mind.