How can you free range with a hawk in the neighborhood?

[enola]

In the case I am talking about, we caught the hawk IN THE ACT, INSIDE THE CHICKEN HOUSE.

We called the necessary authorities to turn the bird over to them, we could prove the hawk did damage, the chickens were injured.

That is what made our case legal, we did not just randomly shoot the neighborhood hawks because we wanted to make sure we got the right one!

 

[sourland]

Please, do a search on "Operation High Roller" these people were killing hawks in the act of killing their birds and were prosecuted. It is grievous misinformation to tell people that they can go out and kill raptors without a FEDERAL permit. This trumps what any state official may tell you. DONE!

 

[enola]

Pigeons are not considered livestock, chickens are.........

 

[gsim]

Quote:


Amen to that, brother. All contributors had best be aware that what they write in here might well be used against them in court. And this attitude by a government is nothing new. It was common in Nazi Germany in the 1930's and 40's. Men went to jail for killing wolves.

 

[beachchickie]

Two things I have learned 1.Most important- they have to have somewhere to run for cover 2. They learn what to do the older they get. When they are young they don't seem to get it. My older ones run for cover the first sign of hawk fly over. The younger ones stand still and watch-big mistake.

 

[JustAChickenLittle&More]

With a shotgun and an easy chair by your chickens.

 

[WingingIt]

Quote:
I don't want to make you more mad, as you are obviously relying on what someone who should have known better told you, but I do think you were given some VERY BAD advice and info. That staff person was incorrect and shame on them for handing out information that could get others fined and in trouble.

Here's a direct quote from the SC Code of Laws concerning birds of prey and hawks in particular (and there is no exception for them doing what they do, which is attacking another animal of any kind, as that person incorrectly told you):

SECTION 50-11-852. Unlawful to molest or kill birds of prey; bald eagles; penalties.

It is unlawful for any person to molest or kill any of the birds of prey within this State. Birds of prey include all hawks, eagles, falcons, kites, vultures, owls, and ospreys. Anyone violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days. However, if the bird of prey is a bald eagle, the person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or be imprisoned for not less than thirty days nor more than one year, or both.

If the bird of prey is a bald eagle, the person convicted shall also lose his privilege to hunt in this State for a period of five years from the date he is convicted of this offense if the bald eagle was killed and for a period of five years if the bald eagle was molested. "Convicted" for purposes of this section includes a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to the offense.


Here is the whole thing if anyone wants to read it all:

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t50c011.htm


ETA: Give me a minute and I'll copy the relevant info. for your DD's state for you, too. Sorry you got bum info!

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

I have a hawk nesting pair in the woods across the street and an owl pair in the back woods, my birds fully free range, but I have lot of trees and a pair of geese, and a roo for about every 10 hens. i will loose a small bird every once and awhile but that is the price I pay for free range

 

[WingingIt]

Billy, as the others have said, your only real options are to be with them at all times or to have a very large but covered area for them. Do you have any roos?

ETA: Good luck!

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Anytime you free range you have a chance of loosing a chicken to a dog, cat, raptor, thief, neighbors kids. Best way to keep your chickens safe is to keep them locked up in a covered run.

I choose to free range my chickens which means I choose to take to risk that I may loose some on occassion. I know the chicken lovers out here are going to want to string me up, but these are chickens, they aren't my kids, my cats or my dog. They provide me with eggs and reproduce nearly as quickly as the rats I try to keep out of their coop. I cried when I loss "Tessy the Headless Chicken" to the neighbors dog, but it was my fault they were out while I was at work.

You chose to have your chickens free range.