Eek!! Large Bird of Prey!!

[menageriemama]

Thanks everybody for the advice

!! I am sure it will be back, so I guess its time to invest in a paintball gun

My DS will be THRILLED!! (Thanks the1much for the suggestion

) For a split second I thought about grabbing the .22 or something else out of our arsenal to shoot into the air to scare it, but I don't think our DNR dude/dudette would really like that, and with my luck, he or she would come rolling down our driveway right after. The paintball gun would be perfect!! I love eagles and other raptors, but man they are scary when your feathered investments are running around underneath them. Redhen: I will ask my mother to look at your pics and see if she can identify your bird. She is a birding fanatic, so she should have some idea. Thanks again guys!!

 

[AngieChick]

Our eagles won't be back for another month, they come down from the far north and overwinter here. They are HUGE and will eat ducks, geese and even lambs if they can get them. They are incredible animals and I am always grateful to see them. Good luck with your raptor, hopefully for your chicken's sake he is just migrating through and will continue his way south.

 

[Dustoff79]

Has anyone tried or heard of using old compact disks (CD's) hanging from tree branches/poles by fishing line to deter the hawks? I have an Owl but don't think it makes much impact with the Hawk.

 

[the1much]

them plastic owls are nothing other then a pigeon ( which it doesnt work) scarers < cool werd heh...aint no hawk scared of an owl, if their stupid enough to think that a brown thing sitting somewhere never moving, never eating, and out during the day,, then i dont think their smart enough to catch a chicken,

the cd thing will work if close by and you have alot, they get "nervous" with all the movement and reflections.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

The pic may be a turkey vulture, too. They are HUGE!! and cool to look at when they fly high, but when they come low, and you can see them closer, LOL they're sort of ugly.

We have them all over out here - the chickens don't even flinch when they pass over, but they seem to know if it's a hawk - go figure.

Turkey vultures will not prey on your animals or birds - they are strictly scavengers. They are the recyclers of the local skies.

Not sure if this is what ya have, but if you do find out that it is, don't worry about it, just kick back with a glass of ice tea and watch them flying up there, they are fun to watch.

Peace -
Meriah

 

[the1much]

Quote:
hahaha

they look like a guinea/turkey/crow mix,,hahaa

we have hawks,vultures,and few others,, and my rooster somehow can tell the difference EVERY time. they dont pay the vultures no mind at all,, but when its a hawk,, he lets out his scream and EVERYONE takes cover and doesnt make a sound.

 

[Cetawin]

redhen that is a broadwing hawk...most likely a red shouldered hawk. Beautiful creatures.

 

[chickiebaby]

Eagles are amazing. A couple of my chickens have that crazy eagle-brow thing going on. It makes them look much more vicious and exciting then they actually afe . . .

 

[nnbreeder]

Harassing a bird of prey in any way is a Federal crime, that includes a paintball gun, rocks or even yelling at it. That being said try to attract Barn Swallows, Mockingbirds, Scissortail Flycatchers or even Purple Martins. They hate birds of prey and can very legally harrass them till they leave the area.

 

[Jarhead]

You are correct, we have a martin house, as well as numerous mockingbirds. They chase and nip at the hawks that try to get the bunnies in the field behind our house. Pretty funny to watch, tons of little birds dive bombing a huge soaring hawk all in the air. Eventually they do chase them off. Everyday the hawk is back for more though. Please never ever mess with one, they are truly unique creatures. Play defense not offense. That being said, I love watching birds of prey, really cool creatures IMO. I don't think "ours" would take an adult chicken, most I seem them get is small mice, baby bunnies, really never see them with any kind of bird. Maybe they are not conditioned to eat them. Not yet has one swooped into our yard at a chick... at least yet.