Cull by hawk? *Answered* Thank you

[BooBear]

Honestly it does not sound like a good idea, but, a really bad idea.
Agree on hawks associating your yard as easy food source. This can create future prblems for you.
Letting them go feral is not good as they can become carriers of disease and infect other peoples flocks.

The best stewardship is to raise what you can handle and to have a sound plan of culling ready when it is time for it.
Whether the plan be to offer them to a new owner or have them processed for food.

 

[silkiechicken]

I eat bantams and find they make great soup stock. Another thing to consider besides attracting wildlife to your place, is finding a way to only attract the wildlife you want.

There is no real guarantee that if you just let a small bird out that it will be taken quickly by preds. You could dispatch your birds first and leave them out for the wildlife but that may risk wildlife eating spoiled meat. I have heard of feeding platforms where meat for birds of prey is offered for them, but it is not recommended due to attracting ground predators.

 

[spacecowgirl]

I don't like this idea at all.

 

[EmtheFishLady]

Is humanely killing them too much work or something?

 

[ayamfeather12]

Quote:
Not really, but having owned carnivorous reptiles, I find killing in itself to be a waste when there are animals that would be more than happy to take it.

 

[GoChick]

I'm just puzzled why you'd do it this way? I mean, I think hawks are pretty capable of finding food, so why subject the unwanted chicks to this kind of death? If hawks were starving, then maybe, but that's not the case... Is it because you don't want to kill them yourself? I'm not trying to be judgmental, I'm curious as to why....

 

[EmtheFishLady]

Quote:
Not really, but having owned carnivorous reptiles, I find killing in itself to be a waste when there are animals that would be more than happy to take it.

So dispatch them humanely THEN let the animals have it.

I'm not seeing the need to have a live chicken killed intentionally by a hawk unless you're just wanting a show....

 

[Desert Rooster]

Quote:
Not really, but having owned carnivorous reptiles, I find killing in itself to be a waste when there are animals that would be more than happy to take it.

So dispatch them humanely THEN let the animals have it.

I'm not seeing the need to have a live chicken killed intentionally by a hawk unless you're just wanting a show....

I agree with EM

 

[BrattishTaz]

Quote:
So dispatch them humanely THEN let the animals have it.

I'm not seeing the need to have a live chicken killed intentionally by a hawk unless you're just wanting a show....

I agree with EM

Me too. It is just wrong.

I don't see where feeding wildlife is beneficial to them either. They hunt for their food without needing human assistance.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Not really, but having owned carnivorous reptiles, I find killing in itself to be a waste when there are animals that would be more than happy to take it.

So dispatch them humanely THEN let the animals have it.

I'm not seeing the need to have a live chicken killed intentionally by a hawk unless you're just wanting a show....

Ding! Ding! Ding!! And we have a winner!! Good point Em...