I've noticed that the roosters on the tie cords don't get messed with and they're a pretty good alarm system! That's how I know when its out there. But It goes after my full sized hens that are running on the yard! ALL my babies are in brooders. I pull them after 3 days with their mommies! One of our chicken buddies told me a trick of tying some old cd's or dvd's to the trees and that would scare them off. Do you know if this is true?
That's why I asked if anyone knew how to CAPTURE for relocation first! Or for tips on SCARING them off. I DON'T relish the thought of killing ANYTHING that isn't for consumption. I understand the NATURE of things and know I'll loose a few birds, not only to hawks, but a MULTITUDE of different predators.......this is just the one I'm having issues with NOW.It makes me chuckle to see those who post about killing and harassing birds of prey. They are protected for good reason. If they were not, everyone who had a flock of birds which were not protected well enough otherwise...or small dogs that roam all over freely, or cats, whatever...would be shooting them out of the sky to the point of extinction. Is that the legacy we want future generations to have? No wildlife left except in zoos because we have encroached on them to the point that they are the enemy and have to be eliminated from our little space on this planet.
Either accept that you WILL lose birds on occasion if you free range, or pen them securely enough to keep them safe from ALL predators. Do not blame a predator for taking an easy meal. It's like putting a buffet down in front of a fat kid.
No, NO! Don't be sorry! This helped alot! I JUST had a friend with chickens tell me about the cd's and you confirmed it! We have LOTS of hiding places for the free range. I don't think the last owner FED them but can't say for sure. I know they didn't have chickens though. We didn't start seeing it till about 2 weeks ago and it's NOT afraid of humans. Wind chimes, hu? I have some of those! I just need to spread 'em out throughout the yard! Thanks for the input!
Lol, I'm sorry as well, I thought I was replying to the original person. Doesn't matter though, the laws are still the same.The same laws that protect these birds also protect us. If you can show you have taken every precaution [ie; covered area for them to be in, and other deterants to passively scare them away] you can to protect your livestock and you are still losing them, the Dept of Fish and Wildlife has to step in and remove the offender. Don't take my word for it though, look it up yourself and you will be armed before you contact the authorities. Again, you have the right to protect what is yours, just go through the proper channels to get it done and all will be well in the end.
yes the CD's do work as well as anything else. Predators, flying or on all fours do not like things that flash. Their instincts tell them that the flashes are eyes that are hunting them. That's why those red lights work, they imitate the red shine you get when you flash a light into an animals eyes at night. The CD's or anything else that will wink and shine in the light will do the same thing. Day or night. Again, you need to provide a secure place for the hens when you can't be there with them. I cannot stress this enough. This hawk may move on once it realises you're not running a 'fly through' for it's meals but then again it might not. If you don't make all the changes you possibly can to protect your birds, you will not have a leg to stand on when and if you try to convince the authorities you need help.
DUH!! Just saw this reply. Another thing comes to mind though. They sell 'boomers', can't remember the real name, at some farm supply stores and hunting supply places as well. They go on top of a grill gas bottle and make random booms like a gun going off. I have no idea about where you live or how close your neighbors are. If they're close, within a 1/4 mile, I'd say this isn't for you. The thing is loud but very effective. Farmers use it to keep the crows, ect., out of their fields. I know of people that have used it in the past and after two days there were no crows, no deer, no coyotes, bear.....nothing, for a while. I think it lasted for about a month. You could also run out anytime you know they're near and beat on a metal pan, can, what have you, but your neighbors might not understand. You have to make what it considers it's hunting ground to be so undesirable that it moves on. That's another reason to point at it either with your hand or a stick. You have to let it know YOU are the dominant one and you are 'hunting' it.
