Capturing/Killing a hawk??

[campyconnors]

Hey all.

I know its illegal in pretty much the entire country, but a hawk has gotten to 2 of my hens in the last week. I keep my birds as pets so I was heartbroken. Im hell bent on capturing or killing this thing. If anyone has any tips, let me know.

 

[Folly's place]

Your birds need to be in their safe coop and covered run for the next two weeks or so, until that hawk moves on. That's the choice, and will work fine. Raptors are federally protected everywhere in the USA. Mary

 

[campyconnors]

Sounds like a much more reasonable approach. I would like to avoid killing it if possible. But I just want my chickens to be safe.

 

[NewhAtch3r]

I'm not a lawyer but if that hawk was to risk the infliction of serious bodily harm or death to you you may be able to defend yourself. I would call someone who is license falconry they maybe able to help.

 

[waddles99]

If you are going to kill it, don't post on a public forum saying that you are going to commit a federal crime....

Seriously, its not worth it. Your two options are getting a guard dog, or enclosing the run. Sometimes you can get someone from the government to come and capture it for you and release it elsewhere, but only if it is worth their time. A hawk that kills two birds isn't really a problem for them.

The punishment for killing a hawk can be up to $15,000 fine and 6 months in prison, FYI.

 

[pattyhen]

I'm sorry for the loss of your two hens I understand completely. Don't post it if you do dispose of the hawk or tell anyone what you did. There is the old saying about hawks. SSS Shoot, shovel and shutup. Good luck.

 

[Soylent Chick]

What sort of enclosure do you keep your birds? Cover and secure their run if you haven't already.

 

[Chickento]

A cheaper alternative to not kill or capture the hawk would be to just put up a fake owl, or just get some deer netting. Or to replace your chickens you have lost get at least 4 guinea fowl to alert your chickens and even possibly their noises would deter the hawk scaring it away.
I had a falcon kill one of my full grown rhode island reds, the next day I put some netting up and never had a problem with him again. Now stray/neighbors dogs on the other hand... those are annoying. Hope this helps.

 

[bobbi-j]

As others have stated - build a secure run for your birds, lock them up for a few weeks, and your hawk will move on. If you don't ever want anything to get your birds, don't free range. Predator attacks are the chance you take when you do free range.

 

[Folly's place]

A hawk will visit every three or four days, and take one bird at a time, if they aren't protected. A dog or fox will kill every bird in you flock in a very few minutes, and many other predators will do the same at night if the coop isn't secure. Over the years I've lost fewer birds to hawks than to other critters, and free ranging birds are at risk everywhere. Mary