Lady feeding raptors - law on my side?

[cafarmgirl]

You said she boards her horses at this barn and comes to take care of them. So does she own this property or just board her horses there? If she does not own the property then perhaps you could have a conversation about this with the owner, let them know this is causing a lot problems for you and you'd like it to stop. If she does not own the property and they tell her to stop then she will have to do so, or move her horses some place else.

 

[spolicas]

You said she boards her horses at this barn and comes to take care of them. So does she own this property or just board her horses there? If she does not own the property then perhaps you could have a conversation about this with the owner, let them know this is causing a lot problems for you and you'd like it to stop. If she does not own the property and they tell her to stop then she will have to do so, or move her horses some place else.

Yeah, I did tell the owners a while back, I'll probably mention it to them again when I see them. And yes, she just boards there.

 

[spolicas]

You may look into American games or old English game fowl, you prob have a few people in Florida that have them! I have lots of hawks where I live now, but they usually go after smaller chickens and chicks, then the rest learn to look out and hide....I'm not sure bout Fla laws and raptors since they are governed by special interests, but here, you can kill any bird of prey that is killing your livestock....just make certain it is...I have few losses from hawks, don't know why exactly....but I gotta say, the person feeding that hawk is an idiot, if she knew what she was doing, she would stop in their best interests. She probably killed the hawk herself feeding it spoiled meat since that is not their mainstay. I'm really surprised there isn't a law against feeding wildlife of any sort in Florida....next it will be gators. I'd start digging for that blanket law.

Okay, I'll look into those types. Are they friendly? What would make them better than an Orpington roo? Would they be able to mate with my Oprington hens? What kind/color of chick would that produce?

Yeah, as I said earlier there is a Right To Farm law in Florida, and the Dept. of Ag has a law that allows farmers to obtain a permit to use ground-to-air fireworks in order to protect their livestock and crops. I'll probably use this route as a stop gap for now, while looking for other more permanent alternatives that are less costly .

Yeah the only wildlife you aren't allowed to feed are ones that cause public safety concern (Alligators, Florida Panther, Florida Black Bear, etc.) and endangered species (Scrub Jay, Sandhill Crane, etc.). I will keep looking for a blanket law for now.

If anyone knows of any law, or where to look for one, in The State of Florida, please let me know! I've searched on the FWC and DoA websites to no avail - I'll be calling them tomorrow when their offices open to ask about laws and ordinances.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Yeah, I did tell the owners a while back, I'll probably mention it to them again when I see them. And yes, she just boards there.

Then that is probably your best route if you want this stopped. I would talk to them again, tell them you run a business on your property too and that this behaviour is really causing a problem. Hopefully keeping good neighbor relations will be more important to them then letting this woman continue this ridiculous behaviour.

By the way, I totally feel for you. I have an idiot neighbor who allows coyotes to den on her property AND feeds them and there is nothing we can do about it. Except shoot them whenever we can. Thank goodness neighbor on the other side has a very good LGD who consider's my property part of his territory, otherwise we'd be overrun.

 

[Stephanie739]

Spolicas, you have hawks in your area that eat chickens. You have 2 options: watch your chickens be eaten by hawks or pen them up with a covered pen unless someone is standing right over them.

I seriously doubt that you can do anything about the neighbor feeding hawks. It's up to you to protect your birds. It's not her responsibility in any way shape or form to take care of your poultry. I think she is being inconsiderate, but inconsiderate is not usually against the law.

I think I am leaning towards this opinion too. I'm sorry. I wish you the best of luck. I would cover the run.

 

[Stephanie739]

I called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and it is perfectly legal to feed/handle raptors in The State of Florida - so long as they are not being penned. I am going to call the Florida Department of Agriculture and report her as a nuisance to my farm, maybe?

I do know in The State of Florida that we do have a law which allows us to buy fireworks that lift off the ground for agricultural purposes (otherwise they are banned). As most people abuse the law, I am unable to find much of anything that is helpful related to agriculture use online. I do know though if I get an Agricultural Fireworks Permit that I can light off ground-to-air rockets whenever this lady or the birds are around in order to protect my property and defend my right to farm. Has anyone used this?

That is an interesting solution! I like it. That will be playing by the rules, keeping the law out of the matter, and likely winning.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and it is perfectly legal to feed/handle raptors in The State of Florida - so long as they are not being penned. I am going to call the Florida Department of Agriculture and report her as a nuisance to my farm, maybe?

I do know in The State of Florida that we do have a law which allows us to buy fireworks that lift off the ground for agricultural purposes (otherwise they are banned). As most people abuse the law, I am unable to find much of anything that is helpful related to agriculture use online. I do know though if I get an Agricultural Fireworks Permit that I can light off ground-to-air rockets whenever this lady or the birds are around in order to protect my property and defend my right to farm. Has anyone used this?

A lot of people here use ag noise makers in the fruit and nut orchards to keep birds away, makes a heck of a boom at intervals. I don't know anything about them but you might look into it if you can't get an ag firework permit. (although I do enjoy the idea of you setting off your rockets at the fenceline when she is trying to feed the hawks!)

 

[centrarchid]

A lot of people here use ag noise makers in the fruit and nut orchards to keep birds away, makes a heck of a boom at intervals. I don't know anything about them but you might look into it if you can't get an ag firework permit. (although I do enjoy the idea of you setting off your rockets at the fenceline when she is trying to feed the hawks!)

I smell lawsuit potential coming from owner of horses if horses panic. Evidence on this thread would prove damning to party using pyrotechnics in part to intimidate another party in addition to protected wildlife.

 

[spolicas]

I smell lawsuit potential coming from owner of horses if horses panic. Evidence on this thread would prove damning to party using pyrotechnics in part to intimidate another party in addition to protected wildlife.

I would never use them to intimidate another party. Only to scare off the birds she is trying to feed.

Plus where she feeds the hawks is not near the horses, it is out in a pasture that has an old lean-to in it.

And this past 4th of July many of our neighbors lit off huge fireworks and the horses were okay...

 

[Baymule]

Get a shamo rooster. They stand about 3 feet tall, are awesome flock protectors, but friendly to people. You just can't have another rooster or the fight is on. But if you only want one rooster and you aren't breeding your hens for chicks, then it doesn't matter that they would be mixed breed. You could even get a shamo hen or two just for the heck of it. Here is a link, there is a lot more information available if you do a search.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/455195/shamo-anyone