Rare occasion My hiney...

[The Wolf Queen]

Whats a Kelso?

 

[willheveland]

Quote:
My guess is a breed of game rooster. Will

 

[hcammack]

Hawks have gone after my birds on several occasions and gotten two while they were free ranging. I have found my dog and getting a big rooster have been the best preventatives. Most of the time my birds are in a covered movable run through so not to much danger there and they always stay fairly close to shelter so when they see or hear a hawk coming they scatter and freeze. My birds are just pretty hawk savy I guess. The bust solution would be protect them and provide a place for them to hide. Cause if they are in an open feild they are hawk food.

Good Luck,
Henry

 

[newchickengirl]

Quote:
It is a type of game rooster

 

[newchickengirl]

Well after reading many, many posts here I will be going to the store to purchase some fake owls and some cd's and pie pans. The kelso that the HUGE hawk ate was running free before My brother in law gave Me another. They would fight naturally so I had to tether them both.

One thing I learned here is that hawks tend to come back for their meal if they did not finish it. I did not remember this but after the hawk got spike (kelso) I put My two other game roosters up and unteatherd his dead body and left him there thinking in would come back. It never did. ~sighs~ I dont know what I would of done if it did I just know I was devestated. Its been exactly two weeks today.

I love all of My chickens but he was special. Something about him and I was dumb cause I thought he or the other game birds could not get killed by a hawk...

Before today I was feeling somewhat comfortable and was about to let the other two birds out before the sighting but now I know it is still not safe. When this happened I also put up the only two game hens I have. They look so darn sad sitting in their coop all day. The girls loved to free range all day. The boys tho are used to not haveing a big area to rome.

Oh and I also was skeptical on what type of hawks Ive been seeing. Its deffinately a red tailed one. Another thing that bothers Me...Hawks are birds of prey and are oppurtunitty hunters and not scavengers like buzzards so Im thinking the one I saw eating the dead chickens must have been really hungry.

I wish I had a run to put them into temporarily but dont and I think they would go mad in the coop all day.

All the other girls and boys are still seeing terror rain from the sky but have gotten pretty good at making the call and rounding everyone up to cover. Mommy will make it better soon ^^

Thanks again all for the replies. You all have been too kind and very understanding. All My friends think Im crazy cause I love My chickens but you all dont.

 

[newchickengirl]

Quote:
I had a black lab but he ran away...Never found him and a friend of Mine wants to give Me an,,,,~thinks~ A great pyraniese but I havent been over there to see it yet. I still have a dog but hes an indoor chihuahua and when he goes outside hes never interested in nothing else but marking up everything but I think with all the cover and the things I am gonna buy that maybe next time migrating/mating season comes in I wont loose as many. Hopefully none at all

 

[kartking22]

There is a law that gives property owners the right to dispose of predators that are killing thier livestock on thier own property. You can contact your state Department of Natural Resources or Department of Fish and Game to find out what your options are for certain predators killing your animals. There was alot of debate here a few years ago over reintroduced wolves that attacked and mauled three horses. One of the horses had to be put down due to her injuries. Even though these wolves are extremely protected in our area, the property owners were granted permission to dispose of them if they ever threatened thier horses again.
This really isn't a remote problem. A few years ago, I was in my front yard and noticed a german sheppard dog eyeing up my chickens in the yard. I yelled at it to go home and it took off. The next day, I realized that none of the neighbors had a german sheppard and the "dog" was actually a wolf. I could have been attacked and killed in my own front yard.
According to WI DNR, there are no cougars in WI either. LOL they were reintroduced also but the DNR flat out refuses to admit it. They call pics of them as hoaxes. Personal sightings and evidence is all blamed on bobcats.
In my opinon, we have enough predators. Why reintroduce ones that can possibly kill us or our children? The chickens might lure them in but who's to say what prey they are after. A chicken can run faster than a small child and predators usually target slow or weak prey. Who do you think that the wolf will catch first?

 

[TomKat]

KartKing22 obviously you have a dislike for wolves and everyone has a right to their own preferences; however, the chances you being attacked or even killed by a wolf is slim to next to none. This is even proven by your encounter. There is not one documented or confirmed instance of a wolf killing a human being in North America, ever. Not even a child. Now if you happen to be livestock, you look just like a wolf's typical prey. Just setting the record straight.

 

[Shiningfeather]

Quote:
You may want to make time to go get the dog your friend wants to give you.....they are suppose to be great animal protectors. You may have to do some training but it should be worth it in the future.

Sorry for your losses and good luck.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
OK, are you showing the posts with the ties on them, that scares the hawks away . . .I probably sound like a dummy but I am not quite sure of your set up.

We staggered the posts. (kinda hard to see in the pics though) Then we tied scare tape to the top. The hawks don't like metallic light. (I read somewhere they think it's fire and will not go near)

Our theory is that a hawk CAN come straight down. But it CANNOT go straight up. It needs a glide path for lift, especially with prey. (like how an airplane takes off) So we blocked it's flight path.

Since putting the scare tape and t posts in, we have not had any more attacks. I have started free ranging, but only supervised with myself and my dog, because of the hawks.