Red tail hawks are toying with me and terrorizing my flock!

[AsaDotJava]

I dont think you have ever met very poor mountain folk, they do not share your opinion.

Shoot, did I miss the "Monthly Meeting of the Very Poor Mountain Folk" where they decided everyone was going to share the same opinion? You don't know me. You don't know my community. I have no need to falsify our way of living out here. Just because I have the novelty of a phone (that was gifted to me) with internet access doesn't negate the fact that we a) are very poor, b) live in the mountains, and c) have a very close relationship with nature.

 

[DaWookie]

Shoot, did I miss the "Monthly Meeting of the Very Poor Mountain Folk" where they decided everyone was going to share the same opinion? You don't know me. You don't know my community. I have no need to falsify our way of living out here. Just because I have the novelty of a phone (that was gifted to me) with internet access doesn't negate the fact that we a) are very poor, b) live in the mountains, and c) have a very close relationship with nature.

would you be willing to post pictures of your half dozen enclosures so we can learn from you techniques?

 

[Aunt Angus]

Lake County is pretty nice, depending on where you live. Do you like it out there? I'm in the Sac area, and I'm looking for something more rural, tbh. Lake County isn't mountains compared to some, but it is certainly higher than the valley here. In addition to hawks, what predators do you deal with out there?

 

[AsaDotJava]

would you be willing to post pictures of your half dozen enclosures so we can learn from you techniques?
.

Of course I would post photos if someone wanted to see our enclosures. Maybe you are envisioning some Poultry Palaces in the Hills, but I can assure you... wooden pallets and chicken wire are really not glamorous. I'm not sure why saying I have a half dozen enclosures set you off... maybe if you see photos, you'll understand what I was meaning.

But in summary... we hunt, we fish, we garden, and we raise livestock for meat eggs, and milk. We defend our livestock, first and foremost with secure enclosures and dogs. And we handle predators as needed. In our world, a hawk sitting in a tree or on the corner of an enclosure is not "as needed."

Lake County is pretty nice, depending on where you live. Do you like it out there? I'm in the Sac area, and I'm looking for something more rural, tbh. Lake County isn't mountains compared to some, but it is certainly higher than the valley here. In addition to hawks, what predators do you deal with out there?

We used to live in the Sierra Nevadas. We don't get above 5,000 feet elevation here in Lake county, so yeah, that is merely "foothills" compared to some other areas. But if you want to get lost, there is plenty of space to do so.

We also have fox, bobcat, bear, coyote, cougar, and raccoon. We have a darling little fox that lives on the property, and I saw a juvenile bobcat just the other day

 

[SarahGfa]

wooden pallets and chicken wire are really not glamorous.

We also have fox, bobcat, bear, coyote, cougar, and raccoon. We have a darling little fox that lives on the property, and I saw a juvenile bobcat just the other day

You will need something stronger than wood pallets and chicken wire for sure. Raccoons rip through chicken wire and my neighbor found out they can pull boards off of pallets too.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Of course I would post photos if someone wanted to see our enclosures. Maybe you are envisioning some Poultry Palaces in the Hills, but I can assure you... wooden pallets and chicken wire are really not glamorous. I'm not sure why saying I have a half dozen enclosures set you off... maybe if you see photos, you'll understand what I was meaning.

You have, for some reason, targeted me in this thread. This post isn't about me. I have responded to your assumptions in a private message. But in summary... we hunt, we fish, we garden, and we raise livestock for meat eggs, and milk. We defend our livestock, first and foremost with secure enclosures and dogs. And we handle predators as needed. In our world, a hawk sitting in a tree or on the corner of an enclosure is not "as needed."



We used to live in the Sierra Nevadas. We don't get above 5,000 feet elevation here in Lake county, so yeah, that is merely "foothills" compared to some other areas. But if you want to get lost, there is plenty of space to do so.

We also have fox, bobcat, bear, coyote, cougar, and raccoon. We have a darling little fox that lives on the property, and I saw a juvenile bobcat just the other day

I would love to see your set up then! It sounds awesome.

 

[GodofPecking]

I never knew hawks respected permits, actually come to think of it I never knew they could read, but then it makes sense because they're on coins and legal seals and things, they look rather academic.

 

[GodofPecking]

This whole thread is socially awkward for me, cause I want to be compassionate and root for Michelle, but the way she describes those hawks I know they've got her and I'm next so if I do anything to upset them now, I know I'll pay for it later, so it's hard to know what to say you see ? New overlords are watching.

 

[centrarchid]

@MichelleKing, the hawks are migrating through and will be gone shortly.

If chickens are stressed while confined, then break line of sight between where chickens can hang out and where hawks are perching. I do similar with Great-horned Owls that will do more than harass. By breaking line of sight, I mean place something like a tarp or even some cut plants in location(s) that chickens can hide under when hawk(s) are perched overhead.

The free-ranging 3 times daily seems odd for a variety of reasons and I consider you stop until the hawks move through which will likely be only a few days. If you indicate in the permit request that you are releasing the chickens for free-range time when they are already protected by a run, then the permit people are going to reject your request very early in process.

To this day I do not know of anyone awarded a permit for killing raptors taking poultry. Those that appeared justified in that effort make a living off the poultry, yet they found other options are more cost effective. Backyard scale poultry keepers are not likely to be deemed suitable for the permits.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That was unwarranted.

You will need something stronger than wood pallets and chicken wire for sure. Raccoons rip through chicken wire and my neighbor found out they can pull boards off of pallets too.

To date raccoons have pulled the siding off of a building and chewed through 2 coop doors. All my doors are metal now.