Peregrine Falcon Problem

[Mother Bird]

I am new to owning chickens. I have a small flock as pets and for eggs. I have lost 3 to a Peregrine Falcon who is hunting, and I believe nesting in our neighborhood. My smaller yard is covered with fishing line and has kept them safe ever since I put it up. However, they love ranging in the larger yard and that is where he/she strikes. I hung a large orange globe with an owls face painted on four sides. That seemed to help, but snow had recently brought it down and I hadn't gotten it back up. It may or may not have been working...not sure it was up long enough to really tell. I did notice less birds in the yard overall though....
I'm now wondering about geese and turkeys as protectors. We get attached to our birds and feel horrible when something like this happens. I want to be a responsible owner and keep them safe.
Help! I'm open to suggestions. Stringing fishing line over the entire backyard is not an option.

 

[Lbrad7]

The only way you can protect your chickens from birds of prey is to keep them in a coop that has a covered run. When birds of prey are a problem; you can let them free range but only when out with them. I am really surprised about your having problems with a Peregrine falcon, they seem too small to take on full grown large breed chickens. I have had horrible problems with Red Tail hawks in past years, but the falcons seem to mind their own business. (except for raids on my bird feeder!)

Good luck to you...hope you can work it out. Once a bird of prey starts feeding on your flock, they normally don't stop until the last bird is gone.

 

[aprophet]

lots of things you can do legally to harass BOP acorrding to USFWS I will post a link later with the allowable things when I get back

 

[Mother Bird]

Yes, all except my Polish Top Hat, the other two ( Silkie and Bantam Suffolk) they have been smaller. It kills and eats on site. We often do stay out with them but I'd gone back in for laundry, etc and when I looked out, I saw "Dottie" on her side. Falcon in tree above her, but I think it heard the door open as I had just tossed something out to recycle bin.
Anyways...thanks for the reply. I have an idea to scare him/her off...but wish I could just relocate it to the Game Lands.

 

[aprophet]

http://www.fws.gov/forms/3-200-13.pdf

read the instructions pay attn to number 5 HTH you will need to document (paper trail) attempts to harras and frighten off ( methods how often etc) before the permit will be issued to relocate

 

[animals1981]

feed ravens

 

[Mother Bird]

How do I and why would I, encorage Ravens to hang around? Do they scare off birds of prey like the Falcon? Will they leave my chickens alone? Is there a down side?

 

[Oregon Blues]

Of all the birds of prey, the very last one you want to harass is the Peregrine. You'd end up hanging by your heels in federal prison as well as tens of thousands of dollars in fines.

Keep your birds in a covered run and you won't have any problem from the falcon

 

[tom e]

They do scare off the hawks. I am lucky to have mobs of them in the trees around here. It seems like whenever I do see a red tail, he's got 2-3 ravens chasing him and screaming bloody murder. Ours like these really big trees that the orchards have for windbreaks though, don't know if you can keep them around without something really high to nest in.

 

[Mother Bird]

I'm in Pa., but I believe we do have a few Ravens in this area. Pleanty of crows! We have some huge Ash trees nearby as well as a few pretty large pines....which I think is where the Falcon nests. Is there something I can do to draw Ravens to my area? We are over populated with Redtail Hawks too. I was surprised and initially pleased to learn of what a strong comeback the Falcon has made in this area. But now...not so much. I don't understand why they dont go for all the squirrels...I have tons of them raiding my feeder and quite comfortable in my yard.