Hawks

[hen madame]

Offense has been taken when none was intended. Hopefully I can clarify myself. Yes, I do think shooting first and asking questions later is a bit harsh. This is just my opinion that I have a right to as you have a right to yours. Personally, I like to think that neighbors should talk to each other first before there is more blood shed. Perhaps there were extenuating circumstances to the dog getting out and it's owner is truly sorry about what has happened and makes restitution. Unless one speaks to the other, there is no way of knowing. Obviously, if the dog is threatening a person (especially a child) the dog should be shot - no question.

Now if your neighbor is a cretin and refuses to take responsibility or to contain his animal, all bets are off.

No, I don't think that a pet is more important than livestock, but I don't see them as inferior either.

If you don't have animal control in your county, that isn't your fault. In other words, a person has to do what a person has to do in that circumstance.

I never called anyone heartless, I don't feel that way at all.

Would I feel some responsibility if my chickens were taken out by any kind of a predator? Yes personally I would think it's my own **** fault. I'm sorry if I insinuated you should feel the same way about it. I do extend my apologies.

 

[WYNot]

No offense taken. I actually do like discussing and hearing other people's viewpoints and reasonings. Probably won't change my mind but if nothing else it will help me refine my own for future discussions.

Simply a matter of timing. I'm much more inclined to end the threat and then deal with the humans.

The heartless comments weren't aimed at you. But, rather the lurkers who may assume I am a bit harsh because I do indeed value a livestock animal (that puts food on the table and/or money in the bank) over a pet. Guess it is the farmer in me. Doesn't mean I don't love and cherish my dogs and even my cats. Simply means that I expect people to take responsibility for maintaining control of their animals before something happens. Because that saves me the unpleasantness of having to deal with their lack of responsibility.

 

[hen madame]

Fair enough.

 

[carrieb62]

No offense taken here either. I'm just trying to highlight that each situation is different - I was trying to break the barrier of an assumption that many people have, an assumption I once had when I first moved into this county - I assumed "animal control" was everywhere in every town & county across the nation. That day was a horrible event for me, not just because of my dead chickens BUT because someone had neglected to take care of these two beautiful dogs. I feel horrible for those dogs - WHY? Because the owners never really cared. They left their dogs at their parents house, left town, and left someone else to tend to them. The owners waited 2 & 1/2 weeks to "look" for them. And when the Sheriffs Dept called them, the dogs owners - they never called the deputy back. I did however about a week ago meet the mother of the owners - I expressed my condolences to her at which she seemed to "understand" but then shrugged the whole thing off and tell me "well, I'm not going to tell her." By the way she acted, I think she never wanted the dogs there to begin with. I offered closure to them because I know what it's like to have a pet go missing - I'd be looking for answers and wouldn't stop looking for months! I had that happen me before, and the closure part, the answer, turned out bad but at least I knew what had happened. But here, with them, it was only few weeks passed and they just figured, "oh, well". It's when dealing with people like this that makes me firm believer in do what you have to when it comes to protecting yourself & your property.

 

[MsChickenMomma]

Well, the hawk is still hanging around. Yesterday we saw it sitting on a telephone pole a mile away from the house (yes I'm positive it was the same one), and this morning at about 9:30am it was hiding about 50ft from the coop in the un-mowed grass around our property. My rooster and I both saw it take flight and land on the telephone pole in the neighbors yard. He alerted the hens and got them all inside while I stood my ground with two trash can lids. It just sat there watching me for about a half an hour, not moving an inch.

I went in the house and by 12:00pm the hawk was nowhere in sight, so I let the chickens back out. It's 2:53pm and I still haven't seen it. The chickens seem more calm as well. Usually between the hours of 9:00am-11:00am they are all on high alert for it. I only ever see it in the mornings, and the chickens seem to know that's when it comes around.

The hawk refuses to come anywhere near the barn when I am out there, so I'm not sure how to scare it off. As soon as I go in the house the hawk goes straight for the chickens. Does that CD trick really work? Or is it an old wives tale?

 

[scooter147]

I got a chuckle. My minds picture I can just see you standing there with two trash cans lids like they are great shields and you are waiting for the attack of the great mythical creature with very large talons.

I would have flung one at him like a freesbee (sp?) and hoped I could have knocked some sense into him or her to move along.

As far as the cd thing, some people have luck with it. In most cases people are crisscrossing their runs with fishing line and hanging cd's from that and not hanging the cd's randomly around the yard in a free range situation. Personally I wouldn't trust it, I have another way of dealing with it.

 

[MsChickenMomma]

I got a chuckle.  My minds picture  I can just see you standing there with two trash cans lids like they are great shields and you are waiting for the attack of the great mythical creature with very large talons.

I would have flung one at him like a freesbee (sp?) and hoped I could have knocked some sense into him or her to move along.

As far as the cd thing, some people have luck with it. In most cases people are crisscrossing their runs with fishing line and hanging cd's from that and not hanging the cd's randomly around the yard in a free range situation.  Personally I wouldn't trust it, I have another way of dealing with it.

I'm sure it looked hilarious to the neighbors too. But hey, a girl has to protect her chickens right?? lol

I don't have a run, so I wouldn't be able to do the fishing line trick. I have always free ranged my chickens, so we never really bothered with a run, and now we can't afford to put one up. For now I'll do the best I can to protect my girls.

We thought about just shooting the hawk, but we have neighbors on all sides, and it would be just our luck that one of them would see us do it. It just wouldn't be worth it if we got caught. My family aren't really much of rule breakers.

 

[hosspak]

Yes... but you have to use Ricky Martin, Miley Cyrus, New Kids on the Block, Shakira, and Robin Thicke CD's. And throw in some of those Justin Boober, Baaber or Beiber CD's as well. Hawks hate their music.

 

[hosspak]

You could shoot the bird if it's not a protected species. I would use a pellet gun which isn't illegal to shoot in town. Wait till the hawk is on the ground or somewhere that doesn't have anything behind it.

 

[aggiemae]

Yes you can kill this hawk and the one that replaces the dead one and the one after that and so one forever or you could just build a simple and unobtrusive run cover using fishing line in under an hour...

Quote:
Originally Posted by scooter147


As far as the cd thing, some people have luck with it. In most cases people are crisscrossing their runs with fishing line and hanging cd's from that and not hanging the cd's randomly around the yard in a free range situation. Personally I wouldn't trust it, I have another way of dealing with it.



After loosing almost all my pond fish to a pair of green heron I have used this system for over 10 years and have not lost a fish or a chicken in all that time.