Lady feeding raptors - law on my side?

[spolicas]

Take a picture of it or find picture of same on internet. Heavy presence of one raptor species could be used to your advantage since if a dominant like red-tailed hawk, more problematic species with regards to chicks like Coopers can be excluded. Some raptor species can be protected against differently than others.



My bet is raptor(s) being fed juvenile red-tailed hawk. They can become extremely habituated to humans. Patches of heavy cover, adult standard sized roosters, or better yet an active dog can keep them from visiting yet hawk will keep others raptors away while it is doing its thing.

That's a good idea, I will definitely do that next time I see it.

Yeah, we have an active German Lab, I am looking into getting a rooster (we just have some in our family who refuse to eat fertilized eggs), and we do have some patches of dense underbrush (as well as a trailer to hide under) - in this realm I am also looking at growing a few square feet of grass really tall so they can hide in that as well.

 

[centrarchid]

That's a good idea, I will definitely do that next time I see it.

Yeah, we have an active German Lab, I am looking into getting a rooster (we just have some in our family who refuse to eat fertilized eggs), and we do have some patches of dense underbrush (as well as a trailer to hide under) - in this realm I am also looking at growing a few square feet of grass really tall so they can hide in that as well.

Think brambles rather than grass as cover. Red-tails readily hunt in 36" fescue but patches of brambles can force hawk to approach on ground and provide chickens with shade. Make hawk walk to contact chickens once chickens no hawk is about. Brambles can also be of the fruit bearing rasberry and blackberry varities.


Roosters can be very effective against hawk under trailer or other structure that denies hawk ability to fly. Make certain rooster(s) truelly adult and do not do the bantam stuff. I suggest strongly more than one rooster. They will scrap a little but gives backup. You may still loose a bird on occasion if dog not in place but such losses are likely to be seasonal. To provide aditional chick protection, consider having them hen reared. Hen and rooster, if he thinks he is daddy, will defend brood and from what I have seen with my birds, a pair of relatively small standard sized chickens can be more effective than a single wild turkey hen at defending against hawks. The business of little bitties and even juveniles moving about in open is like a candy store for hawks. Keep them in brooder or chicken tractor a little longer so big enough hawk cannot just pack them off.


As for the fertilized egg bit, a little fibbing might be in order. You can indicate nothing is really going on in eggs that are promptly collected (within a day) and placed in the refrigerator. Such is not too far from truth.


You can also have birds free-range only part of day which can be particularly important if dog is limiting. If dog must be restrained, then move it about periodically so hawk thinks dog is mobile. We used to have Coopers hawks getting gamechicks near chained hounds but moving dogs about seemed to keep hawks from coming in. Red-tails also seem to respect dogs more than Coopers do, espcially when chickens targeted are small.

 

[Bunnylady]

Take a picture of it or find picture of same on internet. Heavy presence of one raptor species could be used to your advantage since if a dominant like red-tailed hawk, more problematic species with regards to chicks like Coopers can be excluded. Some raptor species can be protected against differently than others.



My bet is raptor(s) being fed juvenile red-tailed hawk. They can become extremely habituated to humans. Patches of heavy cover, adult standard sized roosters, or better yet an active dog can keep them from visiting yet hawk will keep others raptors away while it is doing its thing.

I had a juvenile Red-Tail that targeted my flock one winter. Killed 2 EE's, 2 BR's, 2 Minorca's - basically all of my free-ranging large fowl (the only roo's I had were Bantam Cochins, they were no help at all! In fact, one of them was killed, too.). There was cover - I found one BR under a downed log; I had to scramble through brush to find it (scattered feathers drew my attention) so I'm betting this hawk had to follow the hen in there, too. They can be terribly persistent when they find a food source.


Random thought - IDK how this woman came to have a "pet hawk," but she is convinced that someone blew it away with a shotgun, and has fixed the blame on you. I don't think you will ever convince her otherwise. Even if you showed her that you don't have a gun and could prove that you have never had one, she probably would decide you poisoned the bird. You have nothing to gain by engaging her in conversation or any other interaction.


Another random thought - Unless this woman is delusional, she doesn't believe that the wild hawks "need" her to feed them. The fact that she is trying to call one to her hand makes me think she is getting off on a sort of power trip, in that she can get these "magnificent, wild, yadda yadda" animals to feed from her hand.


I believe that the best thing for you to do, is to protect your birds at home, and leave this lady and her pathetic fantasies out of it as much as possible. Ignore her. Ignore her feeding the birds - with a bit of luck, one of them will bite her when she tries to feed it! It's a nuisance to have to pen your birds up, but that was the option that I was forced to. I wish you the best of luck!

 

[centrarchid]

I had a juvenile Red-Tail that targeted my flock one winter. Killed 2 EE's, 2 BR's, 2 Minorca's - basically all of my free-ranging large fowl (the only roo's I had were Bantam Cochins, they were no help at all! In fact, one of them was killed, too.). There was cover - I found one BR under a downed log; I had to scramble through brush to find it (scattered feathers drew my attention) so I'm betting this hawk had to follow the hen in there, too. They can be terribly persistent when they find a food source.


Random thought - IDK how this woman came to have a "pet hawk," but she is convinced that someone blew it away with a shotgun, and has fixed the blame on you. I don't think you will ever convince her otherwise. Even if you showed her that you don't have a gun and could prove that you have never had one, she probably would decide you poisoned the bird. You have nothing to gain by engaging her in conversation or any other interaction.


Another random thought - Unless this woman is delusional, she doesn't believe that the wild hawks "need" her to feed them. The fact that she is trying to call one to her hand makes me think she is getting off on a sort of power trip, in that she can get these "magnificent, wild, yadda yadda" animals to feed from her hand.


I believe that the best thing for you to do, is to protect your birds at home, and leave this lady and her pathetic fantasies out of it as much as possible. Ignore her. Ignore her feeding the birds - with a bit of luck, one of them will bite her when she tries to feed it! It's a nuisance to have to pen your birds up, but that was the option that I was forced to. I wish you the best of luck!

Bantams should not be let out of brooder when predators present.

If hawk in consideration by OP is juvenile, then it could have dispersed, been eaten by a great-horned owl or died from some other event not involve direct human actions. Stop looking to reasons to get riled.

Hawks and wildlife in general are interesting. Understanding them can help understanding flock and self. If wildlife offends, get a rocketship and go to Mars or better yet Venus.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: If you look at the link I send you about the FEDERAL LAWS you will need that permit to even shot off the fireworks.

or the feds will get you under that law.


I will add this.... since the lady has caused this problem your only solution may be to use the permit and kill them. Not the best option in my opinion but they are there to stay, they have food so why leave.

 

[centrarchid]

I will add this.... since the lady has caused this problem your only solution may be to use the permit and kill them. Not the best option in my opinion but they are there to stay, they have food so why leave.

Feed supply provided provided by such a small flock is inadequate support a hawk for any length of time. Territory of such birds is minimum of several square miles. Most of the prey actually consumed will be dominated by small rodents. Only conceivable situations for me where a hawk would concentrate all hunting efforts on one location is no alternatives or winter conditions extreme and again alternatives hard to come by.


Hawk will move on or at least spread hunting effort over wider area.

 

[GoodwinMaine]

Hmmm.... some pretty strong opinions. Remember, there is an exception to EVERY rule.

 

[NateinFL]

Anyone that is feeding wild hawks is not right in the head, I would be very careful in dealing with her. In the meantime, keep your chickens safe. The good thing about bad neighbors is they usually go away. I doubt she will be feeding those hawks in a year from now. I still can't believe that she is perfectly legal in doing so but in the meantime, just let it ride.

 

[spolicas]

Think brambles rather than grass as cover. Red-tails readily hunt in 36" fescue but patches of brambles can force hawk to approach on ground and provide chickens with shade. Make hawk walk to contact chickens once chickens no hawk is about. Brambles can also be of the fruit bearing rasberry and blackberry varities.


Roosters can be very effective against hawk under trailer or other structure that denies hawk ability to fly. Make certain rooster(s) truelly adult and do not do the bantam stuff. I suggest strongly more than one rooster. They will scrap a little but gives backup. You may still loose a bird on occasion if dog not in place but such losses are likely to be seasonal. To provide aditional chick protection, consider having them hen reared. Hen and rooster, if he thinks he is daddy, will defend brood and from what I have seen with my birds, a pair of relatively small standard sized chickens can be more effective than a single wild turkey hen at defending against hawks. The business of little bitties and even juveniles moving about in open is like a candy store for hawks. Keep them in brooder or chicken tractor a little longer so big enough hawk cannot just pack them off.


As for the fertilized egg bit, a little fibbing might be in order. You can indicate nothing is really going on in eggs that are promptly collected (within a day) and placed in the refrigerator. Such is not too far from truth.


You can also have birds free-range only part of day which can be particularly important if dog is limiting. If dog must be restrained, then move it about periodically so hawk thinks dog is mobile. We used to have Coopers hawks getting gamechicks near chained hounds but moving dogs about seemed to keep hawks from coming in. Red-tails also seem to respect dogs more than Coopers do, espcially when chickens targeted are small.

Wow! Thank you so very much for all of the wisdom in this post. This really helps me alot, as I am relatively new to chicken rearing. I will look into this, yeah my GL is free to roam the property.

 

[spolicas]

Random thought - IDK how this woman came to have a "pet hawk," but she is convinced that someone blew it away with a shotgun, and has fixed the blame on you. I don't think you will ever convince her otherwise. Even if you showed her that you don't have a gun and could prove that you have never had one, she probably would decide you poisoned the bird. You have nothing to gain by engaging her in conversation or any other interaction.


Another random thought - Unless this woman is delusional, she doesn't believe that the wild hawks "need" her to feed them. The fact that she is trying to call one to her hand makes me think she is getting off on a sort of power trip, in that she can get these "magnificent, wild, yadda yadda" animals to feed from her hand.

Yeah, she has actually made a point of telling me how "magnificent it is to tame a raptor and have it as her pet"... I don't plan on talking much to her.