Cooper's Hawk - will it eat a full grown chicken?

[sommrluv]

You can get a permit to shoot the hawk, of course they can be shot!

I never understand why I see the same post over and over again..."don't shoot hawks, you'll get a fine"

Sometimes it's as easy as a phone call to get permission.

 

[Opa]

I in no way want to start an arguement with anyone but before killing a eagle, hawk or owl you had better check with your state's Game or Wildlife Agency. It does vary for state to state and will require a permit in those few that allow it.

All hawks and owls are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 USC, 703-711). These laws strictly prohibit the capture, killing, or possession of hawks or owls without special permit. No permits are required to scare depredating migratory birds except for endangered or threatened species, including bald and golden eagles.

Even in Pennsylvania it isn't easy. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, in September of 2002, a Chester County PA woman, Gwynne McDevitt, a 71 year old Chrysler heiress, was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and fined $130,000.00 for paying others to kill hawks in or near her property.

Many people are advocating that ever stricter laws protecting raptors be put in place following the conviction of members of an Oregon racing pigeon club for killing hawk and falcon in California and Oregon. Oregon's House of Representative Peter DeFazio has introduced the following- House Resolution 4093, provides penalties of up to a $50,000 fine and a year in jail for intentional killing of migratory birds and up to a $25,000 fine and six months in jail for other violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Prosecutors would have discretion to prosecute violations as misdemeanors.

 

[NateinFL]

That's weird Opa hard to imagine somebody's wanting stricter rules on that. Last I checked Cooper's Hawks werent in any kind of population decline. So if one is killing of flock members in a horrible way, I dont see any different than a hawk and a coyote. Those laws were designed a long long time ago when people were out there just shooting at random wild animals for fun or food. I personally think the laws should bend the other way and let us people have a few exceptions to the rule. Like making it easier for a permit to kill a single adult or something. I mean really, when you have a predator killing your livestock you should have the right to defend your animals. Whether it be hawk, coyote, or coon. (Please dont hate me for saying this as I tend to get in trouble on these predator forums).

 

[Opa]

I agree that you should be able to protect your flock but people need to really be sure about the laws in their area before taking action. The call for stricter rules came as a result of a few people in Oregon and California declaring war on raptors to prevent their homing and racing pigeons being at risk. Seems like they killed some huge number of falcons (close to 2000).

 

[sommrluv]

It's a national law that allows you to seek permits. And yes, without permit or permission, you can be fined.

Some of the details are at the begging of this topic, in the before you post section. Losing wildlife? Call the game commision or wildlife control, most times they are happy to help.

 

[Tikichicken]

So yesterday afternoon the girls were free ranging in the yard as usual. They have plenty of room in the coop and small attached run, but manage to guilt me into letting them out more and more. It started out with supervised time, but I had become so comfortable with it I've been letting them roam while I do chores, watch tv - whatever. Then there was a strange noise and my labradoor ran to the back door barking (she thinks she's part of the flock). Anyway, I looked out to find the girls in their coop peering up at a cooper's sitting on the open coop door. At least the girls were smart enough to run for cover. Wow, I had seen him around, but thought he was so small he wouldn't be a threat. He's smaller than the girls. I'll have to keep a closer eye on them now.

yikes!

 

[ccshambhala]

We've not had any problems with Coopers or Red shoulder hawks taking chickens - other than d'uccles. We have a Red-shouldered hawk family that lives nearby - they sit on our fence every morning and hunt for small prey. We also have Cooper's hawks in our yard - I've seen them take a blue jay and a d'uccle. All of our chickens free range (and we have quite the variety) starting at about 8 weeks (not just when we are home). I don't buy bantams anymore to be on the safe side (altho I am SURE we never lost any other bantams to hawks). I won't begrudge wildlife a meal - for them it is life and death. But I also don't buy chickens to feed them

 

[NateinFL]

Quote:
So do you still have that d'uccle roo or do you need to change your signature

 

[RHRanch]

I free range even bantams - have few problems. Most if the hawks in my area just want smaller prey like baby chicks. Due to my location, birds of prey migrate constantly. When large hawks and eagles move through the area, I merely pen up my birds for a few days. The hawks will move on. Having a nice covered shelter where they free range really helps, too. In my yard I have barn owls that nest, kestrals (sparrow hawk), crows, and Kites. Birds that routinely use my trees as outposts (some of out trees are the tallest and highest up are on our property) include the ones I already mentions, as well are red tails, ferriginous, and whatever migratory raptor is in town. I free range duccles under those trees. Sometimes a kestral comes by and dive bombs them, but I go out there and make my presence known and pen up the bantys for a day or two... If I lose some, I lose some.

I agree with the permits for shooting a bird of prey. The reason is, there are too many people that overreact when a bird of prey comes into thier area, and one bird shot here and there, it adds up over time to large numbers of dead hawks. It's not just one or two people here and there who want to shoot a hawk they see as a problem, its when lots of people over time do it, and thats where you start to have bird population declines. While each of us may be an individual with our own lives and property to consider, we also have to share the world with each other and without decimating animal species that are inconvenient to us. You have to look at the big picture. If a bird is a real problem, bring the evidence to the US Dept of fish and wildlife (or whomever regulates the permits) and present your case. If you have no other recourse, a permit will probably be granted. Hawks and other birds of prey serve a purpose in maintaining lower rodent, rat and snake populations, so I for one prefer to deal with the threat of chicken predation as a trade-off.

 

[ccshambhala]

Quote:
So do you still have that d'uccle roo or do you need to change your signature

I do still have one d'uccle roo!