I Hate Hawks

[nacrowe]

I have or had two great bantams 'one roo and one pullet' with my mixed flock of americanas and brahmas. They were the perfect couple always together and friendly. Then the roo vanished last week with out a trace just gone. Well yesterday I was feeding my son a bottle when my dog started going crazy i looked out the window just in time to see a giant Redtail hawk fly off with my bantam pullet. She was in side the coop and he flew in the front door and got her. I have many colorful words id like to say to that hawk. Does anyone have any good ideas on how to protect the rest of my girls from a Hawk other than lead poisoning. I can't watch them all day with a rifle so i need a new solution.

thanks adam

 

[nzpouter]

check your local law...

sometimes all you can do is to lock up your chickens.....

 

[cray4en]

so sorry, mine have been staying in there coop/run since i lost my last girl. i figure they would rather be alive than dinner for the hawk that will not fly elsewhere.

 

[Kittymomma]

I haven't tried it, but have read of people having good luck with hanging cd's and stringing heavy fishing line around the areas their chickens roam. Sorry about your hen.

 

[newchickengirl]

Firstly Im sure that you can not kill it...Its against the law in almost all the usa...Im sorry for your loss...Last year I lost several bantys and other types when My lab went on permanent vacation. I would invest in some pie pans, old cd,s, and a good LGD...Ive havent lost any to a hawk since November and have been seeing several hawks recently in My area. Kinda makes Me think they are migrating back north now for mating season. Oh one more thing, if you use the three S's Shoot---Shovel--Shutup please be aware that some of the birds of prey are tagged and monitored with GPS tracking devices so be careful and good luck on which ever route you decide.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

My chickens have not been outside in over a month. I put up some netting over their run because a hawk has killed 3 of my birds since Oct. Two were killed while free ranging, then I shut them in their run only to have one killed there. The snow has since pulled all my netting down, now I have no way to protect them when their outside. I let them out the front door yesterday for a few hours figuring they wouldn't leave the sidewalk and overhang area because of the snow (they won't go in the snow). I figured they would be safe there, now I find out hawks are flying in the doors, THAT'S JUST GREAT.

Something else to have to worry about. I can't wait for this snow to melt. I need to build a better covered run, something I have never had to do in all my years having poultry. I know how you feel nacrowe, I would like to

these hawks into the next county.

 

[dacjohns]

Put the gun away unless you have the proper permit.

Make the coop and run hawk and other predator proof.

If you free range accept there will very likely be losses.

 

[nacrowe]

Well as much as i would like to shoot the hawk i cant because of laws and my neighbor is a falconer and it might be one of his birds. But thanks for the tips on cds and fishing line ill give that a try. My girls are picky and will not lay if i lock them in the coop even though the coop is a 6'x 8' barn with a 12'x 8' screened in play yard. Plus they love to come up to the back door and peck the glass for a treat.

 

[jlapham]

As mentioned it is against the law, don't get caught. I pulled one out of a barbed wire fence and got chewed out. What I do is keep guinea hens and when something is in the area they let you know, I also keep an Large plastic Owl on the roof of my buildings it also helps. Sorry to here about your birds. But nature is nature. If the hawk went in the house try using a radio in their. Keeps all the chickens happy to.

 

[8wishbonechicks]

OK this is a weird question. Would having a scarecrow like in my garden keep hawks away too? All I've seen is vultures, seagulls and crows, but my hubby saw a hawk a week ago. Thanks for the CDs and the owl ideas.