Need to buy a pellet gun

[startingaflock]

We have hawks and turkey vultures around here and I haven't had a problem with them. My chickens are in an enclosed pen all the time because of dogs in the area but I have netting over the pen and a plastic owl on the corner of the fence and nothing seems to bother my girls. Just giving my 2 cents worth.

 

[mistyfeather]

one thing that will work but you have to watch out for them- go to wal mart or any out doors place may sell them and get a large air horn. it will take a cople times but it has work for my old nieghbors even on bears.

 

[mistyfeather]

it also works wounder on prowling cats

 

[the 412 chicks]

srry i feel the same way one almost got my duck but you cant shoot em or i would of had a few.

 

[kycklingar!]

I don't know if your chickens are full grown yet, but I'm also in the city limits and have both a red tail and cooper's hawk in my backyard regularly. The cooper's picked up one of my hens when she was a pullet, and I chased him (didn't take long) until he released her. But now that they are full grown, the hawks have clearly decided not to bother the chickens. They're just too big. I've watched the chickens scatter and hide when they see the hawk, but the hawk completely ignores them.
If you have banties, it's a different story, but if you have pullets, maybe it's just a matter of time. Keep them in covered enclosures until they are fully grown. Definitely a good idea to find alternatives to breaking the law, if they are available.

Good luck!

 

[Orpstralope]

Being a chicken owner I understand your problem but PLEEEASE do not shoot the bird. There are ways to scare them off without killing of injuring them. for example, with that Crossman air-gun shot near them but DONT hit them! These birds are as sacred as ours - maybe as precious! so take time to scare them off from the prey but remember laws and statutes that can get you in the end for disturbance and poaching! PS airhorn sounds like a wonderful idea to scare a bird of prey off - surprise them!

 

[CHICKENBOY 1]

call animal controlbut if you have to soot it i'd go with crossman .177 calaber with a ponted pellet.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Thanks all. Please be assured that I won't shoot it. I was upset when I posted last night. This was a younger chicken and it's never bothered any of the bigger ones or the ducks before. I have also noticed less rodents so I guess we'll learn to co-exist peacefully. I didn't realize all raptors were protected; learned something new! And despite the shock of seeing my dead chicken, seeing the hawk that close up was definitely awe-inspiring.

 

[enola]

Even shooting AT them is illegal, it is considered harassment !

 

[WalkingWolf]

Quote:
The city of Raleigh, NC arrested two teens on their own property a couple years ago playing war games with paintball guns. They were charged with discharging a firearm within city limits. That said a paintball or airsoft gun probably would be a good deterrent. Also what worked for me was stretching white clothes line, and you might want to consider hanging some CDs.
Quote:
Actually you are allowed, and you cannot obtain a permit to kill without showing that you used means to harass them. If I wave my arms that deters them, stringing clothesline deters them, hanging CDs deters them, it is all considered harassing them. If you do not have livestock you can get in trouble for using any means to deter them, but you are allowed to protect your livestock.