Hawk Lurking in a Tree (with pics)

[Fredster]

Quote:
Thankya.

They're Great Pyrenees. I think they may be the best $100 I ever spent --- we lost three chickens to hawks in a short time, and we've lost zero since we got the protectors. Six weeks now, no incidents, just dogs confronting and chasing off everything from hawks to dogs to possums to birds. They'll face down people and bark unless I tell them it's okay.

I wax poetic about the dogs because we're not dog people (cat people!), and these dogs have been a dream come true because they do such a good job.

 

[redhen]

SSS....i'm just sayin'.......

.....

 

[GopherBoyFarms]

Quote:
I second that

 

[redhen]

also..i wonder why it is that..we can shoot peoples PET dogs, and coyotes and every other predator..BUT..not a Hawk?.....and dont tell me they are endangered...cause i have a million here.....

 

[Lmarie]

ugh, theres a neighbors dog I'd like to shoot..But he's a cop....

 

[dacjohns]

When the law is in your favor you scream for help and enforcement. When it isn't you scream how unjust it is.

Too many backyard lawyers. To much psuedo science.

Time for me to just shut up. Can't convince someone that doesn't want to listen.

 

[Lmarie]

a bit defensive, maybe?

 

[Lmarie]

Quote:
I wasn't harping on law enforcement. I am all for everything they do and greatly appreciate it, I just figured he REALLY wouldn't appreciate me shooting his dog. Especially since he is part of the local authorityI figured he'd know the leash law in our county. Being that his dog has killed three of my chicks. Thanks for jumping on me, not knowing the full story. Too many 'backyard judges'

 

[LaLoomis]

I'm willing to wait for the hawk to get tired and go away. I'm not ready let the chickens out yet anyway so a couple weeks won't hurt. I'll do my best to keep an eye on them once they're out.

 

[Debi214]

Quote:
Oh dear, let's not start this again. Migratory birds (including raptors) are protected in the US and shooting/harrassing them is a federal offense with possible jail times and hefty fines, unless of course you have a permit issued to you. A permit will only be issued if it is deemed that other non-lethal means have been attempted. As this is a federal law, it trumps any state/local laws and ordinances. This is easy to look up and has been covered in threads in BYC many times before.

As to the OP's girls: you will need to keep the dears in their run until the hawk has moved on. Others have encouraged crows to help scare away raptors, or have hung CD's, or have livestock guard dogs. You may be able to wait him out, though. For now, I would keep them in their safe little run (it looks great, BTW) and just make sure they have things to scratch for and some greens.

They don't move on for good - I have to stay outside with mine most of the time. I had a SLW lose a bunch of feathers in the tail end once when one of the hawks that circle above tried to grab her. These hawks are larger than my chickens and I envision one grabbing one of my chickens, flying up into the sky and then dropping her to her ultimate death to the ground because she is too heavy.