How to deal with hawks in the yard?

[microchick]

I read it fast. Thought I read WI.

It still bothers me to see a bird of prey shot. Just the way I am. Yep, microchick has got Native American blood in her veins.

I worry that somebody might see it and do the same thing--wind up in trouble.

@folly'splace, same here. DH keeps the birds of prey at bay with his flying skills but our big problem here is fox. Our neighbor, who lost an entire flock to a fox this past spring told us on Thanksgiving that her kits are now stalking their flock. Around here 4 footed predators are a lot more risk than 2 legged winged ones.

 

[centrarchid]

Grenada in the West (W) Indies(I). I am betting laws there pretty similar to those of most other English speaking nations.

 

[Folly's place]

I have cocks of three different breeds, and can't also have a game bred cock, because he would take out my other boys! If I only wanted one cock bird, it might be a Malay, or some very large fighting bred bird. As it is, can't do it. Most (all) of my raptor losses have been either bantams, or youngsters of any breed. 'Young and dumb' describes many of them. Mary

 

[microchick]

I have cock of three different breeds, and can't also have a game bred cock, because he would take out my other boys! If I only wanted one cock bird, it might be a Malay, or some very large fighting bred bird. As it is, can't do it. Most (all) of my raptor losses have been either bantams, or youngsters of any breed. 'Young and dumb' describes many of them. Mary

My OEGB/Cochin and heaven knows what else bantam boys are super tough on my standard sized roosters. One on one they aren't two imposing but we have watched 5 or 6 gang up on one of my Welsummer boys and beat the living dirt out of him. Think Rocky Balboa at the end of Rocky. They were all over that poor rooster like fire ants. He lived on our back porch in a cage for three weeks getting healed up and we were relieved to see in the end that he didn't loose his eye. So I can appreciate your reluctance. I finally had to separate my last 4 standard roosters from the bantam boys just to keep them alive.

When they call them scrappy, they aren't exaggerating.

 

[laughingdog]

Encourage crows to nest on your property. They will try to take young squab and chicks if harsh winter coming but otherwise they chase Hawks off and kill their babies. I used to keep flying flight and oriental roller pigeons,and they loved leading even chasing in flock all Hawks etc but peregrine falcons into buildings bushes large water bodies etc or ground knocking them out of air then dogs rip Hawks apart eating (one ate a tracker once and uncle same came asking about but nothing they could do). Have a line of Scooby that chase Hawks flying after pulling feathers n flesh out grounding for dogs. had game breeds that would fly up on roofs trees etc, waiting in fighting position or fake injury to lure them away from nest n young (much better parents than silkie even), to kill Hawks etc with their natural spurs on hens (Sid taylers and mixes of will tear the eyes tongue brains and other organs out of Hawks foxes coons cats and dogs so you gotta prepare for gory dead predators, but they were fine with pets n friends kids). My local cop, sheriff, highway patrol, farmer, game bird keeping, bird feeding and pond fish keeping neighbors etc just say and do shoot them etc, but my luck I'd not kill it n have to save nursing back to health if got before animals (half maincoon and had half bobcat would kill Hawks owls songbirds that came around coops they slept lounged etc in on under around). I like Hawks around, only having a forest hawk, neighbors pet peregrine, and young condor (dnr said it n mother had escaped a facility across state border. Cop neighbor shot it's mother after it swooped after their lil dogs and winged juvi which landed in trees just past my place, and called because I felt bad even though it's been trying to attack and eat eggs and squab). Otherwise I like breeding for tougher birds and fly fledgling Birmingham rollers during hawk migration to weed weak etc out while keeping performance of my pigeons and chickens, but show birds need protecting and or supervision (lost some show birds before conceded to that fact. Had people say about shooting fireworks off towards Hawks when ever see or hear near enough, shooting: been bags, rock salt, paint balls, pepper balls etc. I'm not sure how legal these are even though hopefully not kill Hawks etc. Used to do falconry for lil while so I respect them n try to save from animals when can as have seven nests around and gangly clumbsy young are easy prey for my animals that eat them. Good luck it's tough that Hawks protected from you unless your a major cattle or sheep rancher.. they are legally exempt from federal laws rest of us have to follow, and can shoot any animal/bird even eagles and condors that stop or cross private and federal land that may pose possible supposed threat to stock, where rest of us can't even legally touch one to save it life, or stop from being in middle of killing our pigeons chickens Rabbits fish etc (I think if you prove it's habitual killer of farm animals/pets etc, that you should be able to call and have it killed or removed, or permission to put it down, same as nuisance animals of other kinds.

 

[Below frigid]

Had one flying from fence post to fence post licking his chops. Key word is HAD! Love my Mossberg!

 

[casportpony]

Had one flying from fence post to fence post licking his chops. Key word is HAD! Love my Mossberg!

Careful what you publish on social media sites. If you live in the US it's probably best not to make comments about shooting federally protected animals.

 

[casportpony]

My turkey and Muscovies chase the small hawks

 

[casportpony]

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

x2!

 

[Crooked Chicken]

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.

Very well said