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

[briesberrypatch]

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I have been told that in Ohio, you can kill them if you catch them in the act, but I've never confirmed it because I wouldn't kill them anyway (I have an aversion to guns).

I lost several hens to hawks the first winter I had chickens...Came home from my in-laws on Christmas Day to find a hawk ripping into a hen. One day the hawks got two hens in the same day.

I haven't had a hawk problem since I got my guineas. We do have a huge hawk population though - when driving into town, I frequently see four or five sitting on power lines along my road and also watching my neighbors' flocks.

 

[BorderKelpie]

My dog actually caught one, granted, she had stunned herself hitting the chain link cover of my chicken run, but he grabbed her as she was struggling back up. She hadn't hit the ground ye,t but wasn't traveling very fast. I got her from him and sent her to a rehab facility. Coulter has been trying to catch another one ever since. (I guess hysterical praise works well!) As long as he is out, the hawks don't get close to my chickens. But they have picked off a couple when he was inside with me. Why do predators always get your favorites? How can they tell?
I have found that Kelpies and Kelpie crosses make great LGD if they are raised/trained with chickens. They are ever so alert and HIGH energy. Mine work really well without the hair and super size.
Best wishes to you and I am very sorry for your loss.

 

[Jajika]

I just had some recent experience with hawks.

For eight years I never had a problem as the hawks where I live are Sharp Shin's and have never gone after my birds.

About three months ago, I realized one of my chickens was killed by a daytime predator.

My chicken yard is a fenced off section of a small orchard. There are five trees (big and leafy) and many, many dense bushes plus two coops. I have always prided myself in keeping my animals safe from harm and very healthy. I consider it my responsibility for bringing them into my life and making them dependent on me.

None of the trees, bushes or coops kept the chickens safe from a hawk attack. It took me three days to completely cover this 900 square yard area over these trees.

That hawk found even the smallest hole to get in. Even with the netting I put up reflector tape, mirrors and owls.

After losing three chickens in four days, all seemed well again.

Until one three weeks ago. Again, although I was sure there was not one inch left uncovered, with all the dense foliage, poulty netting, mirrors etc, the hawk found a way in!!!!

All I'll say is this hawk will never come back and harm my chickens again.

 

[Justino]

hawks come and go here-- never have lost a bird though (knock on wood) but my grandpa said if they go after ur livestock u can shoot em.....not sure if he is right though lol

 

[AngieChick]

Federal law trumps state, it's a felony to harm a bird of prey. Unless you get a permit, but you have to prove that you have tried other measures first, I'm sure that would include a covered run for your chickens.

If you free range in hawk country it's a risk you take, that's just how it is. I understand that risk, so no, I would not harm a raptor. They are migratory, so there will always be a new one to take the place of one who is killed, it's a temporary fix. My girls would be restricted to their secure, covered run, or I would have to accept some losses, no matter the emotional toll.

 

[lotzahenz]

The hawk is just hungry, but I do understand the wanting to kill it. I am wondering if there is a way to feed it the culls, but as stated above, they always seem to get your favorite. I have decided that in winter, I will allow my culls to free-range all over the place, and if they are hawk food, that is okay. Hawks are beautiful birds and are just trying to feed their babies, and a penned up chook is like that big yellow M found all up and down every road in America, it is irristible when you are starving. I am truly addicted to McDonald's Sweet Tea and double cheeseburgers. I would find other ways to protect the fowl and not risk a fine or prison by harming the predator. BTW, I am sure Owls, especially owl feeding young would dine on chicken too. Everyone loves chicken! HenZ

 

[1acrefarm]

Quote:
I would not purposely let them have my culls. If you do that you are setting yourself up for a constantly returning predator that will not stop until you have no birds. You can't just give them a freebie and think they will thank you and respect you enough to leave your prized birds alone.

 

[briesberrypatch]

I was thinking about this and remembering the winter that I had so much hawk trouble...The hawk was really bold. The coop I was using at the time was fifteen feet from my house. After I caught him in the act, I kept my chickens in the coop until I figured out a solution. At the time I had bales of straw stacked around the coop to help insulate it, and that hawk would sit on the bale under the window and stare at the chickens. When I came out to scare him off, he would just look at me until I was within ten feet. Really, really bold.

Anyway, I ended up calling my local wildlife/natural resources agent and asked what I could do to deter the hawk. He was really surprised by the hawk's lack of fear. I remember he advised me not to kill it (wasn't planning to), because even if I killed it, another one would just take its place (already knew that). He had a lot of suggestions, starting with easy and cheap (scarecrow, putting my dog outside) to moderate (putting Catsclaws where the hawk liked to roost) all the way up to more extreme (shooting blanks to scare it away). He did say that they would loan me a gun and give me the blanks if it came to that.

Anyway, you might try calling your local agent to see what suggestions they have and how they might help.

 

[buck-wild-chick]

I wish hawks weren't protected is all i can say...

 

[nzpouter]

Quote:
Yep, saw it a few times... yep, shot them all... then again, it's legal here...