Need to buy a pellet gun

[WalkingWolf]

Quote:
I wave my arms, clap my hands, and yell if I see them. They do not seem to get scared by my antics but they usually do move their circling to another area.

 

[gsim]

They will eventually get their meal at your expense, if they congregate to watch regularly. My neighbor lost a full grown hen to a chicken hawk that actually carried it off. They will land and kill one on the ground and eat it while the others watch. If you do not put up netting, be prepared to keep feeding the hawks.

 

[jasulliv]

I find it interesting that some of you say that hawks don't mess with grown chickens. I lost 2 pullets to a hawk last summer. The two from that group that are still alive are 8 months old. They might weigh 3 lbs.I have a red tail hawk or a red shouldered hawk flying about now and again that is as large as a barn owl. No joke. I dont think he would hesitate to nab my chickens. Anyone lost fully grown hens to a hawk?

I had a juvenile red tail hit and take a big chunk out of one of my hens this evening. I heard the disturbance and saw that the hawk had the hen pinned from my office window but couldn't take the shot (~60 ft LOS, ~30 below ) but all I had was a unrifled bb gun, so I was as likely to kill my own hen as dissuade the hawk. I ran down two flights of stairs and around the house to chase it off, and mover her into the run to hopefully recover. At sun set she was still alive, but she is on the ground rather than on one of the purches. She has a nickel size hole ripped out of her neck, but the bleeding has stopped.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

I don't disagree however the feds might. All raptors (hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls) are protected by federal law. If you must shoot, don't get caught. The fines are steep.
Ken

I have heard upwards of $20,000. Now that's steep.

 

[Krugerrand]

I have heard upwards of $20,000. Now that's steep.

The thread is 14+ years old. Inflation hits us all.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

The thread is 14+ years old. Inflation hits us all.

Inflation is for the Birds!