Hawk checking out the birds.

[cmom]

I have RIR's I haven't lost any birds to hawks even though I have seen them around but I believe a neighborhood dog got one of my girls.

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

Quote:
Depends on the Hawk!

I have many smaller hawks that swoop my bird feeders, but they dont come near when the chickens are out. However, we broke up a startling fight this fall, between our smallish alpha roo, 'Chester' and a bloody big hawk that had a 5 foot wing span! I couldnt tell what he was, (red shouldered, or red tailed, or coopers probably) but when he spread those wings I freaked! I thought Chester was a gonner! But between chester 'puttin the boots to him' and our three younger roos running his way, and two big dogs, and us, The hawk choose to take off rather than stick around!

Took us two hours to find all the hens tho, they had stuffed and wedged themselves into all kinds of wierd places, wood pile, under pallets, and in a pvc tube! We had to help a couple get un-stuck!

In answer to your question, I think a BIG hawk will go for a standard sized hen, if hungry enough. Thats why we keep a few BIG roos, other than lil Chester.

Good Luck!

 

[MSturtevant]

I recently started noticing hawks in our area, and a couple friends of mine have had some missing hens. We are all almost positive it was a hawk, though none of us did see anything. They are frequently being seen on multiple properties, and I dont want to loose any of my flock. So i was curious as to why no one has just shot one of them. Is there a legal issue with that?

 

[allaboutdemchicks]

Yes, it is a legal issue. If you get caught.

Also, a large redtailed hawk will take a wild turkey if that tells anyone how large their prey can be. Years ago I had a mean, mean rooster that would fight off a hawk...everytime. To see one do this is amazing. Oh, and crows will chase away the hawks..just keep diving, pecking and pulling feathers till he tires of it and leaves.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

In Ohio you can shoot hawks. They have to be in the act of killing your livestock though. Go figure. If you use a bird shot your liable to kill both you chicken and the hawk.

I guess you can get away with it if you don't get caught, I would keep my mouth shut if you decided to go that route.

 

[amazondoc]

Guys --

It is a *federal* offense to kill any bird of prey without a permit. The individual states can not simply choose to ignore federal laws. If you kill a bird of prey without a permit anywhere in the USA, the penalties can range up to several thousand dollars and even jail time.

In order to get a permit to kill any bird of prey, you must first be able to show that you have already tried NON-Lethal methods of control.

Talk to your local FWS agent for details on getting an application for a depredation permit.

 

[WalkingWolf]

I keep a gas charged air soft pistol handy it can not kill anything. But it has enough velocity to sting. You would be surprised at how accurate and how far it will shoot. I used to get rid of crows and I can hit a sitting crow in a tree. Even if I don't hit the bird the yellow pellet whizzing by them gets their attention. I lost a Peking duck last year to a hawk, he could not pick him up so one of the dogs attacked the hawk. Was not in time though his talons had punctured Donald's lungs.

Hawks will attack people on occasion, one left a nasty gash on my mother in-laws head. If YOU are being attacked by the hawk you are within your rights to shoot it, but be ready to prove it. Had a friend arrested for shooting a attacking bear on a federal reserve. And he went through the trouble to report it after the incident. Eventually all charges are dropped, but some fish and wildlife do not care about people at all.

 

[wasatusay]

I have a few red tail hawks. They will sit in the trees and watch the chickens and ducks. Twice I had one come down to grab at some of my old english BB reds. Luckily he failed. But he did mess up the one time and came in where the Peking ducks were..you never saw something so funny in your life! Them ducks were all over him, all you see was a few sightings of the hawks wings flapping under this pile of white, mad ducks. When he finally did get out from under them he barley cleared the fence and was a bit worn out and stunned.
But since that day I have put up a big plastic owl with a bobble head and move it every few days. I think the hawk is really after some of the birds on the feeder or mistake the BBs for rats since they are so small. He has never went after any of the bigger chickens.
I have read that young red tail will try and take a small chicken but mature ones usually leave them alone. But it also stated that if one does get a small chicken and has a taste for them you will have a big problem until you can get rid of the problem hawk or put up netting.

 

[wasatusay]

I also put up fence posts about knee high and attached small tarps. Abut 6 poles to a tarp. This give them good hiding spots, shelter from the sun and they have turned them all into places to sand bath or just hang out.

 

[wasatusay]

Right you are amazondoc about the legal aspects. If you are having a problem some DNR (dept. of natural resources) will trap and relocate animals.
I had to call them to get a permit to trap or kill the bobcat that took my big peking Double Trouble. But I never have got him. I gave up when I realized that cat is smarter than me. So now everyone just gets locked into the coops at night. Also if you are going to trap something make sure you know what you are going to do afterward. DNR told me if I trapped the cat they would not relocated it, it would be my problem.