Rant! Second hawk attack and insensitive people!

[chickenbuddy]

Stupid people.

 

[DarkWingDuck]

It does kind of stink that they would just stand around like that. I once saw a video on youtube called something like "a hawk killing my pet duck." The hawk fought with the duck a long time before finally killing it (it was a scary, slow death the for duck). I find it sick that someone would record their pet duck being killed and not intervene. BTW, a BB gun wouldn't come close to killing a hawk.

 

[Big C]

We have Louisiana Kites that yearly migrate thru our area. I don't shoot them but there is nothing better to scare them away when we first see them than a few shotgun blasts well away from the coops and runs. We live in the country and can legally shoot a gun on our property. Also, the neighbors know what I'm doing, after the first time they asked.
Our neighbor has hunting bird dogs he lets run down our back road for excersize. The first time they crossed over our property line and started trying to get thru the wire I took pictures, then calmly walked across the street with my shotgun, showed him the pics and informed him that if I lost any of my flock his dogs would never hunt again. We have come to an agreement. They watch the dogs and call me when they let them roam.

 

[kees]

Aside from an overhead protection for the chickens, is there anything that I can use to scare away hawks? I can't discharge any weapons where I live. I do have one of those marshmallow shooter guns but I don't think that it would scare any hawk! Are there any hawk predators?

Suzy

 

[Bettacreek]

Insensitive isn't even the word. Not only were they being rude to you, but, how could you LAUGH when a living, feeling creature is being killed/hurt? What a bunch of worthless neighbors.

I could have understood them not doing anything, say if two dogs were fighting, simply because of the danger to themselves, but, to stand by and laugh/watch as a hawk killed and ate chickies?

 

[ruby]

Not only do I live out in the country, we have a raptor rehabilitation center. My chickens have had a covered run for years. They still get to run the yard in the afternoon. And I have had a eagle show up. I don't know who was more surprised. The eagle rolled one of my girls the other chickens took cover. I just stared at it, then is flew off! Chickens can release their feathers when threatened or attacked.

 

[New adventure]

I'm so sorry you have such jerks as neighbors.

I'm wondering (and please offer suggestions) if it's a good idea to put some hiding places in the run. I'm thinking maybe a 4 x 4 piece of plywood on 10" or so posts so chickies can go under when threatened.

Does anyone do this?

 

[chickenzoo]

I would have told them what jerks they were being. Some people are too stupid to understand that they should have done something to stop it. They might not have known that the hawk could actually kill your chickens, yes some people are that ignorant. I would have made them feel bad about not helping and what bad neighbors they were. Perhaps then they would understand how upsetting it was to you. I'd say if their dog got hit in front of your house, would they want you to laugh and do nothing... Some people,,,

 

[SarahBeth9394]

The laughing and smart-alek remarks were over the top and rude. I am not one to enter someone else's property and I don't want anyone to enter mine either. So I don't fault them for not intervening. So other than hollering at you to alert you of the situation what could they do? If you can't shoot neither can they. They could throw a rock but they were further away than you. Sounds like they were making a vocal ruckus (tho it was the wrong kind) and that didnt' deter the hawk. I understand you being irritated at the laughing and stupidity but it doesn't sound like they could do anything more than you did.

 

[goosedragon]

You want to be very carefull about how you install that mesh, you want a good tight seal so that nothing can get between the mesh and your other barriers. I didn't and I came home from work one day to find a Sharps hawk badly entangled where the net draped over the fencing. I cut out the net around the bird and rushed the whole mess to the local Raptor Rescule (which I donated to) they read me the riot act (no more donations from me) and siced the game warden on me. When he inspected he pointed out where I had made my mistake and cleared me of the charge of trapping the hawk. Just thought I would pass it along since you seem to respect the hawks even if they are varmits.
PS the hawk never flew again and was too mean to be taken on school trips to educate kids about hawks. He just sits in his cage and tries to attack his caregivers.