Old school tried and true solutions to most threats to your flock. Cheap and easy!

[Sparrow]

It is actually illegal to kill a bird-of-prey in ANY situation, livestock or not. They are exempt from the rule that allows you to protect your animals by killing. And if you get caught killing one(which is pretty likely, as many people watch/track these species), you are in for a world of trouble and financial loss.

 

[Righteous Rstr]

Thanks you are a very smart cookie. More importantly I learned about that grabber and
will add one to my coop ASAP. RR

 

[cookieman]

I believe in the three SSS ...shoot it ....shovel it......shut up!!!!!!

 

[Righteous Rstr]

Sparrow, I was very careful to read the FL statute first and double checked it with several L.E.
friends including the D.E.M. Which is a moot point because acceptance and maturity helped
me to realize the mistakes of my youth,hence the rusted shut shotgun. I figure billions of the
chickens on earth are basically tortured and eventually killed by corporate policy and I often
see Bald Eagles in flight. The lives of a handful of meat birds are a reasonable trade off ! For
whatever it's worth at the time '99? or so it was legal to defend your stock. Before our lives
became dependent on grocery stores and the garbage we consume now people lived and
died by the bounty of their land ! Speaking for small farmers every where if you were raised
unaware that eggs or steaks were not born in the store you just don't understand . Now it's
a fad to live off your own efforts. One thing you should know ask ten different people one Q.
and you get ten different opinions most are neither right or wrong just different . Obviously
you probably don,t have fowl for food and that's cool you must have a great deal of passion
to nurture a blind bird and rescue orphaned exotics. I respect and admire that just as you
may respect that every animal I keep has a job to do and humanity takes infinite forms in
a glorious collaboration of man and beast . FYI as the subject will surely arise sometime
when the flock is culled ,it is done so gently on the sleeping perches that the others don't
even wake up ! Unlike terrified creatures in large corporate factories. Even though my folks
did it the usual way,patience and great care have taught me stress free dispatching makes
a noticeable difference in the quality and flavor. Bet you didn't see that coming ? If there is
anyone interested how let me know ,it's a tiny bit more work and free. As far as the raptor
issue reread my post and clearly it demonstrates a then and now context, now being live
and let live mindset. To each his own every man has to decide for himself . RR

 

[Righteous Rstr]

Quote: COOKIEMAN,
WHAT? and deprive the vultures a nutritious meal ! Also a friend has several as the clean up
crew, they make cool pets they feed themselves just add water. Retire your shovel. RR

 

[gallavant]

Martin houses. Martin's are famous for chasing predatory birds - takes some time, but is worth the effort.

 

[wildsam]

Thanks gallivant. Now I gotta go and see what Martin houses are. Lol. Never heard of before but thanks!

 

[chickortreat]

It is actually illegal to kill a bird-of-prey in ANY situation, livestock or not. They are exempt from the rule that allows you to protect your animals by killing. And if you get caught killing one(which is pretty likely, as many people watch/track these species), you are in for a world of trouble and financial loss.

Illegal does not necessarily mean wrong, any more than legal always means right. It's a shame how far this country has fallen.

 

[cochinator]

There is a lot of talk on these boards about it being against federal law to kill a hawk. Federal laws are enforced by federal officials such as marshalls, the F.B.I. and the U.S. Attorney's office. Guess what - I've never even seen a federal marshall and I've never heard of a U.S. Attorney prosecuting anything that didn't involve drugs, death, child porn, or white collar crime. And unless you live in a very sleepy jurisdiction, I don't see it happening. There are a lot of talk about what the law actually is, but I've never heard one single story about anyone actually being prosecuted for protecting their flock. Fire away baby!

 

[sourland]

There is a lot of talk on these boards about it being against federal law to kill a hawk. Federal laws are enforced by federal officials such as marshalls, the F.B.I. and the U.S. Attorney's office. Guess what - I've never even seen a federal marshall and I've never heard of a U.S. Attorney prosecuting anything that didn't involve drugs, death, child porn, or white collar crime. And unless you live in a very sleepy jurisdiction, I don't see it happening. There are a lot of talk about what the law actually is, but I've never heard one single story about anyone actually being prosecuted for protecting their flock. Fire away baby!

Do a search on "operation high roller' - it was a federal sting operation that took down, prosecuted, fined, and incarcerated pigeon fanciers who were killing hawks and in some instances bragging about it on forums.