How to deal with hawks in the yard?

[duncan5]

Totally enclose your chicken keeping area.

 

[WildCHILD400]

BB or Airsoft guns get the job done

 

[Molpet]

I fully understand the need to not predate various breeds of birds, and that some would hunt simply for fun. But if you are keeping livestock you should be able to defend it.

I do not go out looking for our local chicken hawks, but if they come knocking on my door I take care of business.

I admire them from afar, and regret killing them, but I am not going to watch them choosing which chick to eat while perching on adjacent trees without reaching for my PCP rifle.
View attachment 1196577
There is no protection order here,

umm but you get hurricanes

 

[Violetsrblu]

We have free range bantam and large fowl chickens. All of our roosters were bantams and they were getting killed by the hawks while protecting the hens. We live in a subdivision in a city and I was afraid that a large rooster would crow too loudly and invite complaints.

After losing 10 bantam roosters and hens over 3 years, I bought a very large OE rooster. All attacks stopped like magic! We see the hawks every day, but there has been no attempts since we got the OE nearly 2 years ago. We even let a small flock of Seramas free range in our yard for the past 18 mos. I wonder if this roo’s size is intimidating to the hawks? I believe our raptors are falcons and red tails. Another wonderful thing about our big boy is that his crow is only slightly louder than the bantams and is easier on the ears, because he is not as shrill as the bantams.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

Well, I'll stick with my current routine. Not going to kill or chase off the predatory wild birds. They too serve a purpose.

I do love that idea of using the RC thing -- would be great entertainment a time or 2. lol

 

[microchick]

Could be.

If you are going to get a drone, it had better be a big drone, LOL. At least as big as the hawk.

Sigh. Not a good idea IMHO to brag on a public forum that you have killed a protected species let along post a picture of the kill. Here in Missouri you cannot possess even a feather of a bird of prey unless you are a Native American. You can kill a predatory animal such as a fox, cougar or coyote that has killed livestock but killing or harming a bird of prey, has the potential of getting you on somebody official's radar.

I would never harm a bird of prey. They are magnificent creatures that rule the sky when they take to wing. When they kill a chicken, or other flock animal, they are not being malicious or cruel. They are surviving. They do not kill for sport. They kill to eat or feed their young. It is up to us to protect our flocks from them.

They were here first.

 

[Molpet]

Could be.

If you are going to get a drone, it had better be a big drone, LOL. At least as big as the hawk.

Sigh. Not a good idea IMHO to brag on a public forum that you have killed a protected species let along post a picture of the kill. Here in Missouri you cannot possess even a feather of a bird of prey unless you are a Native American. You can kill a predatory animal such as a fox, cougar or coyote that has killed livestock but killing or harming a bird of prey, has the potential of getting you on somebody official's radar.

I would never harm a bird of prey. They are magnificent creatures that rule the sky when they take to wing. When they kill a chicken, or other flock animal, they are not being malicious or cruel. They are surviving. They do not kill for sport. They kill to eat or feed their young. It is up to us to protect our flocks from them.

They were here first.

He is not in the USA

 

[centrarchid]

Does W.I. stand for West Indies?

 

[Folly's place]

So true, and rules differ. Here in the USA I'm happy to protect my birds and enjoy watching the raptors.
For a few years here in southern Michigan, the Bald Eagles are making a come-back! Wonderful!
Raptors are the least of my problems with flock predators.
Mary

 

[centrarchid]

He is not in the USA

I think actual location will make this discussion very educational for multiple parties.