Ever witness a hawk killing one of your birds? Did you kill it?

[will hunt for food]

Just asking, because I believe it is a Federal offense for killing birds of prey. I wonder if there is an exception if you are protecting your livestock, poultry etc?

I had a hawk sit on a branch within 20 feet of my coop/run today. I just put them in the run about 10 minutes before the hawk landed on a branch about 15 feet off the ground.

Boy, it would be tough not doing something if I caught the hawk in the act, but I would not go to jail over a chicken. Seems like everyone is using the "cruelty to animals" card pretty loosely these days.

 

[Emzyyy]

Well if you could shoot a bird like that everyone would be doing it. Its a hefty fine and like a year or two in prison. I think its a good thing. I would never shoot one even if I caught it in the act. I came home to one sitting on a guinea munching away I just chased it away. Its your fault if they get one of your birds they don't know its your property their wild to them its just like some wild duck or a rabbit, you have to be a responsible owner and protect your own flock. I had one grap one of my silkies up into the air right in front of me and I chased after it and got my silkie back nothing wrong with it but I would of NEVER thought of shooting that bird, what if it had a nest of chicks to feed? I blame myself for the 2 times I had probs with the birds.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

I caught one in the act just chased him away, it was the first time that flock of birds had been out, most birds learn to keep to the fence or under the trees or in the coop,I've not lost a bird to hawks since then, but I've also got turkeys and geese, which help

 

[Emzyyy]

or if you don't want to cover your run or you want to leave them free ranging plant some bushes for hawk cover for your chickens.

 

[Shared Acres]

Emzyy, saying it's the guys fault is a bit harsh to me.

Have I ever killed one? No. Had I wanted to? Yes. Would I? Probably not.

I was out with the whole flock one day and one swooped down and picked up one of my Showgirl chicks that was less than a month old, just carried him right off.

I was horrified.

This is nature for the bird and I understand that. But I also will fight to keep my birds from becoming hawk food or any other type of predator.

 

[Judy]

As I understand it from reading on here, it is possible to get some sort of license to kill them, but it is expensive and a lengthy process, with lots of red tape. For birds of prey, evidently the fact that you catch one killing your chicken does not make it legal for you to take it out. On the contrary, you are expected to use measures to shoo them away or discourage them, but have to be careful that these measures do not fall into the "cruelty to animals" category.

I am much too lazy to do all that legal research.

 

[Emzyyy]

if you hang CDS up their supposed to scare crows and things away I wonder if it would work for hawks?

 

[chickenbottom]

when i lived with my uncle a hawks got into the coop at night heard noises and grabbed the shot gun the hawk down in the coop with a silkie under it i didnt even hessitate to pulling the trigger. but that was years ago and its in the past.

 

[tonini3059]

My husband saw one right after it killed one of my polish chicks. He threw a soccer ball at it to scare it off. We bought a fake owl and put it up and we have not seen the hawk since. You have to make sure to move it around everyday, 2x is better. Plus it probably helps that we have a nest of Horned Owls nearby with 2 hungry screaming babies!! Luckily they have never bothered my birds.

 

[citrusdreams]

Quote:
It depends on your state. Some states allow you to kill a bird of prey if it is killing your livestock, others don't allow it. It's up to you to research it and know your laws. You can also call your game warden and ask him/her. I wouldn't listen to anyone else except an authority either way.

You can also apply for a license to kill them. Some say it's a waste of time or too hard, but if your chickens are worth it and with all that time and money we spend on them, I think it's worth it. But everyone has a different definition of "worth"

If one gets trapped accidentally (like in netting) or on purpose, you can call your game warden or animal control to come and get it.

You can also sic your dogs or livestock guardian on it without consequence. When the hawks circle around my girls, I just let my dogs out and they scare them away.