Horrible weekend! UPDATE!! He came back!!!

[marie_martin]

We let the chickens out Sat. morning and were inside fixing breakfast and heard them go crazy. I ran out and saw the roo and nothing was around him. I could not figure out what he was squawking about. Looked to my left and under some bushes by the house were several of the chickens but no predator. Then I hear the loudes squawk yet and ran around the house to see a hawk trying to get my little faverolle pullet from under a bush. I ran with my arms flapping and yelling and it flew up into an oak tree. By the time I got everyone gathered up and into the coop, i realized i did not have her. I looked everywhere and no signs of her. I knew in my heart I saw her go under a bush and that she was not bleeding or at least I did not see any blood. But I could not find her so I did not know. But at dusk she was home waiting to go into the coop and looks fine. Her eye appears to be pecked or scratched and has a cloudy area over it. I hope it heals but no other injuries. Then on Sun afternoon we sat outside and watched and that stupid hawk came back and was circling over our heads and me yelling like a crazy woman. It finally realized I was not going to just stand by and let him get my babies and left. DH is going to borrow a gun from a friend and shoot the darn thing if it comes back. We will be covering the run this week too. Should have had it done but have not had much time. But it will be done now. I wish I could trap them somehow but we will shoot the darn thing.

Marie

 

[Windy Ridge]

Quote:
I'm sorry to hear you're having this trouble! However, it's illegal to shoot, kill or trap raptors. In most places it's even illegal to possess their feathers. I recommend you contact your local extension agent or DNR office. They can usually recommend a licensed person to relocate a bird of prey that is bothering livestock or is in an area it shouldn't be. (We even have these where I live, and my closest town only has about 200 people in it.)

 

[marie_martin]

Thanks. I will call but if he comes back, I will just have to take a chance. I am not going to stand by and let him eat all my chickens. But thanks for the info.

Marie

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Hopefully, if you can get your run covered and keep the chickens temporarily locked up, it'll decide to move on to better hunting grounds. It's hanging around now, because it's been successful there. After enough days go by without it getting any food there, it should go hunt somewhere else.

I'm glad you were able to save your little Faverolles. They are such sweet chickens. Sometimes I wish chickens weren't such a popular menu choice for every predator on the planet!

 

[Cuban Longtails]

In Oklahoma raptors & owls are protected except when killed in the act of destroying domestic birds or fowl.

Here's a link I found for this and other information regarding most states: animallaw.info


Edited to include information website.

 

[marie_martin]

That may be the case here as well. I have talked to several people who have animals and they told me to shoot him. But no one said anything about it being against the law. I guess it would have to be in the act though for that to help. I am going to call the extension office. Will let you know what I find out.

Marie

 

[Windy Ridge]

They're protected under federal law. Here is a list of the current species of raptors protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act

Family ACCIPITRIDAE (Kites, Eagles, Hawks, and Allies)
Pandion haliaetus, Osprey
Chondrohierax uncinatus, Hook-billed Kite
Elanoides forficatus, Swallow-tailed (=American Swallow-tailed) Kite
Elanus leucurus (=caeruleus), White-tailed (=Black-shouldered) Kite
Rostrhamus sociabilis, Snail Kite
Ictinia mississippiensis, Mississippi Kite
Milvus migrans, Black Kite
Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Bald Eagle
albicilla, White-tailed Eagle
pelagicus, Steller's Sea-Eagle
Circus cyaneus, Northern Harrier
Accipiter gularis, Asiatic Sparrow Hawk
striatus, Sharp-shinned Hawk
cooperii, Cooper's Hawk
gentilis, Northern Goshawk
Buteogallus anthracinus, Common Black-Hawk
Parabuteo unicinctus, Harris' Hawk
Buteo nitidus, Gray Hawk
lineatus, Red-shouldered Hawk
platypterus, Broad-winged Hawk
brachyurus, Short-tailed Hawk
swainsoni, Swainson's Hawk
albicaudatus, White-tailed Hawk
albonotatus, Zone-tailed Hawk
solitarius, Hawaiian Hawk
jamaicensis, Red-tailed Hawk
regalis, Ferruginous Hawk
lagopus, Rough-legged HawkAquila chrysaetos, Golden Eagle

Family FALCONIDAE (Caracaras and Falcons)
Caracara (=Polyborus) plancus, Crested Caracara
Falco tinnunculus, Eurasian Kestrel
sparverius, American Kestrel
columbarius, Merlin
femoralis, Aplomado Falcon
peregrinus, Peregrine Falcon
rusticolus, Gyrfalcon
mexicanus, Prairie Falcon

Here is a link to a story about a couple people being prosecuted for violating it . They were trying to protect their pigeons... and they were in oregon. I'm not sure how that would fall out in OK. I'm not an expert in the field of law; I can only suggest that shooting them as a first resort is probably not the best idea.

 

[marie_martin]

I am waiting to hear back from the extension office. Will let you know what they say.

Marie

 

[Windy Ridge]

I hope things work out. I don't want you to lose any birds!

 

[justusnak]

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Hawks can be determined little critters. Keeping your chickens in lock down for about a week will help. The hawk will not be able to get a free meal, and should move on. Also....if you can sit out there, wait on him, get a water hose....FULL BLAST! That will warn the hawk to move on! Oh, and its Legal! LOL