Ferruginous Hawk

[Portia]

Sorry to hear about the new resident hawk. I had my chickens for 10 months before I had my first hawk strike. I've had several of the chicks disappear during the day, so I assume that was a hawk, and I came home to a nearly decapitated corpse of a speckled sussex hen another day. Finally, I caught him chowing down on the neck of another speckled sussex. When I opened the basement door my dog shot out and I saw this huge red tail fly up when the dog was about 5 feet away. Haven't seen the hawk since, but i know he'll be back. He/She lives in the surrounding forest, but usually hunts for meals along the neighboring fields and roads. I put up some extra shelters for fleeing chickens, so far so good. As for my rooster, he is the first to reach shelter when he is alerted; but he his calling for his girls all the way there and they usually scramble for shelter...however the SS have a mind of their own, so I think that's why they were taken.

 

[deerman]

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[dacjohns]

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Others might be interested so I'll do it this way instead of email or PM.

Up at the top of the page on the blue bar; third from the left "Rules".

 

[hinkjc]

The rules are posted here.. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/misc.php?action=rules

This is a family friendly forum. Inappropriate language will not be tolerated.

Jody

 

[eggchel]

John, Im sorry that you lost your BRs to a huge hawk.

Perhaps you could get some large geese to free range with your chickens. I think that my geese deter the hawks from going after flock of ducks and chickens.

Also, I know that it is expensive, but maybe you could get flight netting and put it up. A 100 x 100 ft net would cover nearly a quarter of an acre.


Chel

 

[cmom]

I'm after some skunks that have been getting into things in my barn and was going for my chicks one evening. My husband said I can't shoot any more because they stink to much so I set a have-a-heart trap. I also have some leg traps. I didn't go out to check the trap today because it rained all day. If I get anything, I'll take it way out back and shoot it. I don't shoot them in the have-a-heart trap. I open the trap and let them out then shoot. I have a nice deep hole already dug. I checked with my local game and wildlife office and skunks aren't off limits. There are some areas where it's illegal to shoot skunks.

Some friends used CD's and the hawks didn't come around. When my birds were younger I made my range area smaller attached to a covered run. I put netting over the range area because I had some Red tailed hawks and some Bald eagles. There are some pictures on my BYC page.

 

[deerman]

Like the pic, of the Bald Eagle.

 

[Farmer John]

Thanks again guys.
I should go hang some CDs, couldn't hurt.
I've been busy since my last post;
- building an enclosed pen around their coop that I put some netting over top
-chasing away the Hawk/s.

I think today is the 1st day I didn't see them since they killed the birds last Thursday. Hopefully, knock wood, they've moved on. The local wild birds are back and chirping away as usual now so that's a good sign.

From what I heard here and what I heard from asking around, they're migrating south. Hopefully they're long south of town by now.

I didn't have this issue a year ago, but I didn't have as many birds then either. I'll be more prepared this time next year.
I understand I'll have losses... I have in the past. As said red tails are around all the time, they just don't mess with my flock. Then this Ferruginous Hawk which i've never seen before showed up 'out'a no place' and killed the three(3) in one(1) day... wow, I was super bummed to say the least. Very frustrating.

Hopefully my hens be able to be pastured again later in the week if I feel it's safe. I like having my birds go wherever they want all over my property, as we know, its great pest control.

I'll keep you folks posted. Gotta take some photos of their new set up.

John