Hawk help needed

[Pagemaker]

Has anyone had any luck raising pigeons as decoys? Perhaps the hawks would prey on the pigeons rather than your prized chickens.

 

[nnbreeder]

Get birds such as Jays, Mockingbirds, Scissor-Tailed Flycatchers and Crows to hang around. They will legally run the varmets off. Crows will take young chicks themselves so added protection for them is a must and the Jays and Mockingbirds will drive cats and dogs to near insanity if they get too close to the nesting area.

But that is fun to watch!!

 

[troy5775]

Check your state laws, in many places it is legal to protect your livestock against predators. Also, try bottle rockets to deter them, your not trying to harrass them, just shooting fireworks.

 

[ShaggysGirl]

Thanks for all the input. I'm still trying to convince DH to take out the pine trees and replace with some smaller trees like apple, pears, peaches things that we could use

I have between 1/4 to a 1/2 acre in the back that is lined with very tall pines that to me are a nuance. Many are half dead and they drop needles all over and sap. I think if we got rid of those if may help the hawks to move on. We have woods next to us but the trees aren't as tall and I don't think they are as hawk friendly.
I have the run totally covered now but we are still watching the chicks closely when they are out of the coop. We are getting those spinning pinwheels and maybe some balloons.
These 4 hawks are hunting the squirrels and wild birds like crazy here. I know it is natural but that doesn't mean I have to like it and I for sure will do all i can to protect my flock.
DH seen one of the babies on the ground making a ruckus and one of the adults was in the tree looking. It seemed to him the little one was trying to lure something so the other could jump it. They are very smart.

 

[Uppity Peon]

I think you can keep the pine trees. Mine are full of blackbird nests. The neighbor's barn is full of swallows. And the blackberry patch seems to have lots of wild birds in it. Hawks around here get no rest whatsoever!

 

[Cock-L-Doodle Garoo]

I was having alot of hawk problems earlier this year (maybe just migratory). Between them and the snakes I lossed 15 of 19 from my first hatchings. Got that rat snake takin care of. For the hawks, I tried the hanging shiny CD/DVD trick I'd had read here at BYC, and so far I haven't lost any birds for months. I started making some and when I was looking at two side-by-side it looked like a wild pair of eyes. So I made a wire frame to put two together. I have several pairs of what I call my "SCARE HAWK".

PS: Un-burned ones are more shinyer.

 

[CMV]

Cock-L-Doodle Garoo great idea! You should sell them on Ebay.