Hawks :(

[familycomp3]

I lost my first hen to a hawk last week! It was horrible. I cannot believe the way it messes the birds up mentally after they lose a flock mate. It has now been 8 days and they still are not the same. I used to laugh at how crows and blue jays would fly overhead and my chickens would scatter thinking its a bird of prey. My rooster would flap his wings, and be loud and was doing a great job ACTING tough. When it really came down to it though, he was hiding right along with the girls (and MAN can those chickens hide) I originally thought over half my birds were taken but they are just darn good at hiding.

It was wierd too that day last week my bird was eaten. Usually I can hear ANY sort of ruckus from them but never heard a single thing. I walked out my door and was immediately alarmed when my birds were not running toward me. Then I look down and there is one huddled between my house and a truck tool box almost completely against the house. She is one of my LEAST friendly and I bent down thinking she was sick and hiding because she was letting me touch her, and then it all just clicked. I said to myself "****, none of my birds are coming to me, something got them" Sure enough I race around the house seeing my rooster QUIVERING against the backside of the house and as I round the next corner there is that little F#%&er tearing apart my bird. I could see where he had chased her all around my rotodendron bushes because is was a MESS. I was so mad I picked up 3 huge rocks and threw them at him. Then I ran inside and grabbed the shot gun while on the phone with my husband. He told me I couldnt do that so I hung up and called the local trooper station and they told me to GO FOR IT! I don't even want to say I missed FOUR time with a bird shot ... BUT I DID! My birds ARE HUGE compared to him. He couldnt even fly off with it until it had been out there for 3 whole days. I did allot of reaserch and found hawks are very territorial so he should be the only one in the area so if I can just kill him I wont have to worry again. I was going to make a scarecrow though as I am NOT willing to lose another bird. I felt so heated when I saw that hawk gnawing on my bird. (of course she was the ONLY hen I have that would come to me..OF COURSE, it always works that way)

So Mr Hawk is still alive ... for now! I can say that I WILL NOT miss if he gets another one of my birds. I hate how affected they were. It took them 3 whole days to come out of thier coop again and now when they walk around they flap thier wings like crazy as to ... make themselves harder to catch or seem larger. I HAD JUST GOTTEN MY bird out of many illnesses too they were doing great, about to start laying again and then this put a little delay on that starting again. But TODAY...we got our first egg in a long time. So I am quite pleased...will be even more please once Mr Hawk is no more

 

[babsbag]

I am sorry you lost a chicken to a hawk; I am sure it was not fun to see. But be very very careful about killing the hawk. I believe that they are protected by Federal law and you can get in a lot of trouble. I certainly wouldn't be posting it on an open forum.

As ranchers and farmers I believe in taking care of what is ours; I am not opposed to your actions. Just be careful.

I have chickens that free range in my goat pen and to my knowledge I have never lost one to a hawk, but every now and then my livestock guardian dog gets caught in the act of eating one; or I find her after the deed is done with blood on her paws. It is so out of character for her and entirely random. After reading these stories of hawk attacks I am wondering if a hawk gets the chicken and then she chases off the hawk and does cleanup. It is part of her instinct to keep the pasture free of anything that would attract predators, which would include "cleaning up" any dead chickens.

I have seen hawks, alot of them, so now I have to wonder.

 

[Vamvakas]

I had a nice young rooster about 3-4 months old that I loved 2 years ago and a hawk attacked him but I ran out my house before the hawk can kill him, he was badly hurt but he died 1 month later and ever since then I hated hawks.. My dad used to have a cherry tree and he put a net around it for birds to not eat it and some hawk got caught in it so I shot it. I have no mercy for it.

 

[familycomp3]

I'm not an idiot! There is not one single species of hawk that is "protected" in my state. Did you read the entire post?? IT DOES SAY I CALLED AND CONFIRMED WITH THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. I wouldn't post illegal activity online. Geez

 

[familycomp3]

and yes, that WAS a good thought about the hawk being the killer of the chicken and the dog ends up cleaning up the mess. That sound VERY likely to me.

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

I'm not an idiot! There is not one single species of hawk that is "protected" in my state. Did you read the entire post?? IT DOES SAY I CALLED AND CONFIRMED WITH THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. I wouldn't post illegal activity online. Geez

Locals aren't feds. You go down for a federal crime that local-yocal isn't going to risk his job for you. All raptures (including hawks) are FEDERALLY protected. No state official can legally give you permission period. No state can over rule this period, that's just not how it works. I was told this directly by a federal wildlife officer. Face to face in my driveway. You want to risk prison time that's on you. If you were smart you would report the local official for giving out that advice. His word wont mean anything when you are the one in handcuffs. You can legally harass the crap out of them tho. My favorite would be mortar fireworks. Land a shot right and you wont ever see that hawk again.

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

I am sorry you lost a chicken to a hawk; I am sure it was not fun to see. But be very very careful about killing the hawk. I believe that they are protected by Federal law and you can get in a lot of trouble. I certainly wouldn't be posting it on an open forum.

As ranchers and farmers I believe in taking care of what is ours; I am not opposed to your actions. Just be careful.

I have chickens that free range in my goat pen and to my knowledge I have never lost one to a hawk, but every now and then my livestock guardian dog gets caught in the act of eating one; or I find her after the deed is done with blood on her paws. It is so out of character for her and entirely random. After reading these stories of hawk attacks I am wondering if a hawk gets the chicken and then she chases off the hawk and does cleanup. It is part of her instinct to keep the pasture free of anything that would attract predators, which would include "cleaning up" any dead chickens.

I have seen hawks, alot of them, so now I have to wonder.

You are 100% correct. They are federally protected. No state nor state "official" can give you permission to do so. Plenty of wildlife and fish and game agents on this board, wouldn't be surprised if someone gets a visitor at the door in all honesty.

 

[familycomp3]

Locals aren't feds. You go down for a federal crime that local-yocal isn't going to risk his job for you. All raptures (including hawks) are FEDERALLY protected. No state official can legally give you permission period. No state can over rule this period, that's just not how it works. I was told this directly by a federal wildlife officer. Face to face in my driveway. You want to risk prison time that's on you. If you were smart you would report the local official for giving out that advice. His word wont mean anything when you are the one in handcuffs. You can legally harass the crap out of them tho. My favorite would be mortar fireworks. Land a shot right and you wont ever see that hawk again.

A "FEDERAL WILDLIFE OFFICER" huh? Is that different from a REGULAR WILDLIFE OFFICER? To which I called and they said "SHOOT THE *******, as it was MY right as a livestock owner"

 

[jak2002003]

A "FEDERAL WILDLIFE OFFICER" huh? Is that different from a REGULAR WILDLIFE OFFICER? To which I called and they said "SHOOT THE *******, as it was MY right as a livestock owner"

Really I can not believe an official told you to "shoot the ********". I would report him and he will loose his job, not just for the bad and incorrect advise he gave you, but also for his bad language.

Honestly, just make a covered run for the chickens and stop worrying about the hawk, which will go away once it can not get to you birds.

Its cheaper and more sensible to make a secure covered run - which will last years and protect your chickens - so you do not need to worry once you are out at work etc.

But if people like to be lazy and want to waste money on guns, ammo, lost chickens, and lost time, and break the law, then just shoot it. Then in a few more weeks another hawk will come by and take the original ones place, so you got to go through it all again.

 

[leonphelps]

You are 100% correct. They are federally protected. No state nor state "official" can give you permission to do so. Plenty of wildlife and fish and game agents on this board, wouldn't be surprised if someone gets a visitor at the door in all honesty.

cough cough....not true

edited by staff