I have posted previously about a hawk family that has taken up residence in my yard and is hunting my chickens. Here is a link to the previous thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=6952912#p6952912
Just to summarize: 1 parent, 2 juvenile hawks. They live right behind my back fence in a tree. They took my Mamma hen (thin from brooding, probably trying to protect chicks?) and keep coming around to hunt babies and other chickens. I built an enclosed run in a corner of the yard with some tree cover, with bird netting over top, and no longer let them free during the day (the big girls get a couple of semi-supervised hours in the morning or evening). Chickens seem unhappy not to access yard, and egg quality has gone down, but they are safe.
Yesterday I was sitting in the run, feeding a young marans out of my hand, and the juvenile tried to swoop and grab her out of my lap. It was just a few feet from my head. The birds ran for cover, but the hawk flapped over and tried to perch on the fence/come in through another spot- all the while looking at the chickens. I stood up and walked towards it- easily could have grabbed it through the bird netting. Finally, it flew away.
Last night I went to lock the chickens up for the night. One of them was somehow out of the coop and run, on top of the bird netting. Not sure if she somehow got there herself, or if the hawk grabbed her through one of the open spots and dropped her? She was ok.
Anyway, talked to the guys at the feed store and they said the owls/fake hawks do nothing, and reflective stuff does very little aside from making them pause and double check after seeing it the first time. They suggested I use a high power water hose, "bait" them with the little chickens, and sit under tree cover and spray them every time they try to land. This would be possible- they have absolutely no fear of me. He said that all I can do is protect the chickens and 'train' the hawk. Does anyone know if this is allowed? Someone else suggested a potato gun or non-harmful pellet gun, but i don't want to accidentally hurt them and I don't trust my aim. The hose would be effective, but I know there are laws regarding not harming birds of prey or their chicks or nests- and I wouldn't want to. I value the hawks and enjoy watching them, but I want them to hunt rodents instead of my chickens.
Thanks
Does anyone have a link or info about whether it is allowed to use detourants such as hoses?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=6952912#p6952912
Just to summarize: 1 parent, 2 juvenile hawks. They live right behind my back fence in a tree. They took my Mamma hen (thin from brooding, probably trying to protect chicks?) and keep coming around to hunt babies and other chickens. I built an enclosed run in a corner of the yard with some tree cover, with bird netting over top, and no longer let them free during the day (the big girls get a couple of semi-supervised hours in the morning or evening). Chickens seem unhappy not to access yard, and egg quality has gone down, but they are safe.
Yesterday I was sitting in the run, feeding a young marans out of my hand, and the juvenile tried to swoop and grab her out of my lap. It was just a few feet from my head. The birds ran for cover, but the hawk flapped over and tried to perch on the fence/come in through another spot- all the while looking at the chickens. I stood up and walked towards it- easily could have grabbed it through the bird netting. Finally, it flew away.
Last night I went to lock the chickens up for the night. One of them was somehow out of the coop and run, on top of the bird netting. Not sure if she somehow got there herself, or if the hawk grabbed her through one of the open spots and dropped her? She was ok.
Anyway, talked to the guys at the feed store and they said the owls/fake hawks do nothing, and reflective stuff does very little aside from making them pause and double check after seeing it the first time. They suggested I use a high power water hose, "bait" them with the little chickens, and sit under tree cover and spray them every time they try to land. This would be possible- they have absolutely no fear of me. He said that all I can do is protect the chickens and 'train' the hawk. Does anyone know if this is allowed? Someone else suggested a potato gun or non-harmful pellet gun, but i don't want to accidentally hurt them and I don't trust my aim. The hose would be effective, but I know there are laws regarding not harming birds of prey or their chicks or nests- and I wouldn't want to. I value the hawks and enjoy watching them, but I want them to hunt rodents instead of my chickens.
Thanks
Does anyone have a link or info about whether it is allowed to use detourants such as hoses?