non-leathal hawk deterant

[Attila the Hen]

Quote:
I've heard crows won't tolerate hawks and have seen it. As soon as I hear the crows making a racket, I go outside to add my 2 cents. Of course I am not always here. I've hoped the crows would come down and eat some of the corn I throw out for the chickens and hang out but they are too smart. I also worry about wild birds bringing in some sort of disease.
Oh well. Life is dangerous. None of us will get out of it alive. I think it is worth the risk of free ranging in the fenced yard. After all I might not make it home tonight. Just my personal philosophy and that's not to say I wouldn't be devasted if a predator got one of my animals, nor would it mean I wouldn't then run around looking for alternatives.

 

[dbcooper02]

This summer when the Bald Eagles became a problem here I tried out my idea to string VHS video tape over the yard. Kind of a cross between the CD idea and the string or fish line. It is flashy and definately made the eagles think twice about coming down. There is about 600 feet of tape in a 6 hour tape. However the tape is not real long lasting and strong winds will tear it down, making a mess to clean up. The tape can also give you a nasty cut like a paper cut, gloves recommended. It did help deter the eagles till they moved on.

 

[Tracydr]

I once had a red tailed hawk pull a large ( 1 pound) peachick out of the side bars of a doggy exercise pen that had a top on it. My ex-husband even took pictures of it. ( thanks for not saving the chick!

) so, those birds can be smart and determined. These chicks were set up inside my small fenced in back yard, not way out by the barn or anything.

 

[Yetti]

I'M amazed you guys haven't made the suggestion. Hawks and owls don't like competition. get a hawk statue and place it over the top of the pen sitting on a post. if one Hawk see another it will leave.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
I have seen folks try to use the fake owls as pigeon deterrents at some point the pigeons lose all fear of them and perch on them