Need to buy a pellet gun

[baldie]

Quote:
My son has had every pellet gun made and they all STINK!!! And we also tried the BB GUn thing and that didnt work either.

Needless to say we had a similar problem. I wait til they get close, I sit very quiet and then BAM, I chuck a rock...the velocity from that could do some damage. Although I havent connected yet.

 

[baldie]

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!

Not true, it depends on the size of the hawk. The hawk got my turkey, she was about 6 months old. It made it 1/2 way across the field and dropped her and defeathered her right there.​

 

[WalkingWolf]

Quote:
My son has had every pellet gun made and they all STINK!!! And we also tried the BB GUn thing and that didnt work either.

Needless to say we had a similar problem. I wait til they get close, I sit very quiet and then BAM, I chuck a rock...the velocity from that could do some damage. Although I havent connected yet.

Ruger makes a 1,000fps pellet gun, still any long shot would be difficult due to low ballistic coefficient of most pellets and lack of sufficient weight.

 

[mdbokc]

Before one puts down all pellet guns, check this out...
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5913355
Be sure to use the point tips pellets and not the flat ones used in target practice.

Twice, people here have said to check the local ordinance definition of a 'firearm' as this usually always qualifies as one. Just because it is quiet doesn't mean you can't be in a lot of hurt as a result of using one.

 

[theFox]

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.

WalkingWolf,

Thank you for pointing out the Raleigh, NC incident as some places anything that propels a projectile is considered a firearm. So now you know why I mentioned check your local laws definition of firearm.

Harassment is yet another thing that requires checking out the laws.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Whenever I have something I'd like to "spook off" but not harm, I use a wrist rocket with something flashy and perhaps has a loud hit (if I hit something solid, but not the critter). Something such as a red or yellow "superball" (like ya get in candy machines at the store) plus, if it actually hits the critter it'll leave a welt, but do no permanant damage.

Of course, this is temporary solution - not a permamant one - you have to catch them in the act, or catch them hanging out looking for a snack.

meri

 

[nancysmith2]

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?

 

[Mattemma]

I have hawk issues as well.Counted 8 one day,but I really think we only have 1 or 2 that hang around. My chickens became very vocal last night,and when I went out the hawk was about 15-20 feet from them....watching them. It flew off as I came outside. Unfortunately I only have bird netting up,but was hoping it would slow the hawk down enough for me to do what I plan to do(not kill).

I would like a gun as well to pick off critters.

The hawk was huge and I doubt it would have a problem tearing my girls to pieces.

 

[twentynine]

Never had a hawk mess with a full grown chicken. Most all we have here are red tail hawks. No falcons or eagles here.

Protect the birds, even if you get a pellet gun, shot gun or rifle you still will not be around to stand guard over your birds all day everyday. So I would say you need some sort of primary protection. Me I use yellow 1/4" rope stretched back and forth over the run

I have some old .22 and .177 cal Benjamin pumps they will do the job. You will have to get with in 100' for a lethal shot though.

That being said, I highly recommend not shootin a hawk, them revenuers take their laws serious.

 

[mistyfeather]

if a hawlk as had a chicken before it wont have a problem taking full grown chickens, i lived in the mountains here in colorado, our nieghbors lost several to hawlks, when they are hungry they will try anything, we saw one with a yearling greathorned owl. coopers hawks are even worse because they will actualy hunt in groups.