owl just got a hen UPDATED

[chicknmania]

We're talking Federal law...that applies to everyone's parts. You'd better do some research. Prevention is much better anyway than trying to kill everything under the sun. Predators are just hungry....starving even Look at the weather. It isn't personally directed at you or your birds. And besides, owls are beautiful birds doing their part towards balancing the environment. Predator proof your pens.

 

[Ladyhawke1]

Quote:
And at the same time it is complicated.

Birds are covered by international treaties and federal laws.

Then you have game animals that can be covered by federal and state laws.

Then you have what is defined as livestock by state/local laws.

What is the definition of a pet where you live.

And this is still keeping it simple. It's really a lot more complex.

It isn't easy. You need to familiarize yourself with the laws, just don't go with what someone else says, especially if they are from a different state.



But yes, birds of prey are not bears. They are covered by different laws and are more mobile. Bears are more dangerous to humans.


Lady, you were editing while I was writing.

I agree with everything.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

Quote:
Right On! While I believe that you should be able to defend your animals from predators if need be, I would like to see people do some "preventative" defense for a change. How about proper & secure housing? These wild animals are paying the price for the lack of planning and effort put into a lot of people's poultry housing. That's not an (insert name of predator/hungry animal trying to eat the buffet laid out in front of him)'s fault. Factually, a lot less of this "defending my chickens" would be going on if there was more emphasis on predator exclusion.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Quote:
Right On! While I believe that you should be able to defend your animals from predators if need be, I would like to see people do some "preventative" defense for a change. How about proper & secure housing? These wild animals are paying the price for the lack of planning and effort put into a lot of people's poultry housing. That's not an (insert name of predator/hungry animal trying to eat the buffet laid out in front of him)'s fault. Factually, a lot less of this "defending my chickens" would be going on if there was more emphasis on predator exclusion.

If it's simply laziness then I agree, but if it is lack of funds and a person is just raising meat and eggs to support their family..then I say do what you have to do to protect your livelihood. If a person CAN put up better controls than just having a gun by the door, they should definately do so. This isn't too far off from letting dogs protect stock though. The only difference is a dog is doing the killing rather than a bullet(if that is even what happened). Also,roosters kill a hawk, and everyone cheers, but let someone shoot a hawk, and everyone jumps on the person. IDK, but it seems to me, if it is lawful to protect your livestock, then you should be able to do so within reason, and not have to argue your case to anyone else. I don't know what I would do in the same situation, nor does anyone else really if they have never been in that situation. Personally, I'm glad the chickens are safe, and hope the OP has no more issues. If he does, I say handle it however you deem necessary. Either way one animal generally has to die to protect another. Protect the owl=lose chickens. Protect the chickens=lose the owl either by dogs, gunshot, or starvation. One has to go. No way around it.

 

[FaereChicken]

To me, securing the flock is just so much easier. We have several families of Great Horned Owls nearby, and Screech Owls and Barred Owls. Knowing they're out there helps me plan ahead. And I'm glad they're out there - we have fewer mice & rats by far.

And because I'd really like to know, for those who are scared of owls: what is it that's scary to you? Seriously. I'm really interested in your answer.

 

[Ladyhawke1]

At the moment of invasion, we tend to become irrational. It is normal to want to defend our families and homes. We need to take a moment and step back and take inventory.

At three o’clock in the morning, before I had chickens, I had a hundred pound Akita (dog) hit my sliding glass window. This was at the side of my house and backyard and it had probably squeezed though my gate. I was up at the time, and my cat was behind the curtain looking out the window, and she was beautifully backlit. I guess the dog, seeing the cat went nuts and hit the window. Thank god, there was an animal guard on the screen part of the door. I am sure it took most of the brunt of the hit, or the window would have shattered. It scared the bejesus out of me.

At that time, I was forced, by my utilities companies to keep my gate unlocked so they could maintain access to my property to read the meters. I rectified that by contacting the electric company and they without complaint, installed a state of the art –from –the-street monitoring system. No charge. Whereas, the GAS COMPANY, wanted $150.00 plus... to move said meter to the front of my property. I even reported one of their men peeing on the back of my fence on one of his visits. What a guy.

I think I had had enough, and I then locked the gate and said too bad to the GAS COMPANY. They now have to look over the wall with field glasses to read the meter. I knew I was getting chickens and I took proactive action and I do not need people going to the bathroom in my yard. I happen to live in a nice city and not a slum. Nothing is going to get through that gate without my permission. If something climbs over then that is another matter. And yes, I have raccoons the size of German Shepards…..well…..almost.

 

[mistyfeather]

Quote:
In regards to shooting protected species you might want to check with a competent lawyer in your area before stating that it is legal to "shoot first and ask questions later". A better understanding now might prevent legal problems on down the road.

Ed

that is VERY NOT TRUE!!!!!! do not shoot a bird of prey even if they are getting livestoke you can not shoot them , un like if you had a problem bobcat. you can an will do jail time if someone reports you, it does not matter what state you live in it is a federal law that is taken extreamly seriously! as to having it stuffed you could not afford the fines for that if it was found in your house as the fines usualy go by the number of feathers found in your possesion

 

[fancbrd4me02]

For over a decade a family of owls has resided on our property. Every year, a pair returns and raises a family. Our 60-100 foot cedar trees are some of the highest points in our area, and during the day Red-tails, sparrow hawks, & other raptors use them as look outs. They never eat my chickens, my chickens are safe. I agree if a family supports itself and has no means of supporting that it could be argued that they have no other recourse but to shoot/kill a predator. However, I think the people in that catagory are in the minority, and that it is unlikely that the family would not be better off/save money by buying cheap factory eggs provided to them by gov't with coupons for the impoversished. I myself have virtually no money for anything but the bills & some poultry feed but have managed to house the birds I have because I planned saved. I have nothing but sympathy for people in financial hardship. Everyone else, please start builing secure housing for your birds. Craigslist is often full of ads for free builing materials for those on a budget.

I'm sorry, but you CAN have raptors & poultry on the same property with no problems. And your rat problems will go down too.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Ladyhawke1 I'd have shot the man peeing on my fence...lol!!!! That's just nasty! I'd have got him with a bb gun at the very least...some people

I totally agree about the taking a moment to think about it before taking action. Some folks just go ballistic though. Both of my girls are panic prone. My oldest stepped on a rake in flip flops one time and the youngest screamed and just froze, couldn't move a muscle...well besides the larynx

Point is everybody tends to react differently. I'm not sure I wouldn't shoot a predator. I have taken every possible precaution to guard against them, but my neighbors dog jumped my fence when the chickens were ranging and attacked, I shot it with small game load to get the point across, and the dog survived, but hasn't come back. Keep in mind this was the THIRD time the dog had done that. So I guess action is more often dependent upon the person and circumstances and is almost never just cut and dry.

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
You and several others have mentioned securing the flock and I agree. The sad thing is that if the owl tore into the coop that easily then when Mr. and Mrs. Coon (and family) get wind of the Chicken Buffet they'll be there with a hearty appetite and won't have any problem tearing into the coop (Mr. and Mrs. Coon will probably let the youngster tear into it...for the practice, ya know). Unfortunately, they tend to waste a good bit of meat rather than just taking what they need (like the owls).

Ed