Red Tailed Hawk

[Barnyard Dawg]

I had a hawk swoop down on my chickens the other day. I was filling their water bowl at the time and the hawk didn't see me, when I heard the comotion I stood up and was able to get a shot off with the water sprayer. It landed on an electrical pole then flew off I haven't seen it since.

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

Well this is not going anywhere. While you are at the computer typing war and peace. There are hawks checking out your chicken yard. You need to protect your animals the way you see fit, and under no circumstance do I advocate breaking any laws.
Keep them under cover, lock them in at night, and watch them as closely as you wish. Oh, and buy more chickens, and dont get so attached to them that your world crashes when one gets eaten by whatever! Its gonna happen from time to time. Its part of the big picture.


I'm getting cynical in my old age. Think I will avoid these threads in the future. They are always reruns anyway. Same old stuff rehashed everytime. So check the search feature when your chicken gets eaten. The players are different sometimes but the rhetoric is always the same. See even an old dog can learn.


Randy

BTW no one offended me but no one enlightened me either

 

[KrisRose]

All the threads are rehashed at some time or another. Just have to wade throught to what you find interesting.

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

Or maybe take a break if your getting tired of all the repeated threads, these are not reruns for everyone, but I agree let nature take it's course if it happens just keep moving on.

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

Quote:
I realize that it isn't a rerun for you by your responses. Those were however reruns for me. Not tired of the repeated threads its the repeated rhetoric thats boring.
And I said how I was gonna handle it!
Randy

 

[cindydj]

Opps sorry for causing a problem.....I was just voicing an amusing or I thought , story about my silly DH just watching.....I understand farm life and the predators and the cycles of animal very well....I have lost some chickens and we do lock them up at night....I will always have some free rangers to take care of he bugs and grasshoppers and spread the manure in the barn naturally....so I know we will loose a few along the way....

I have to say I have always liked this forum due to the fact everyone here gets along a lot better than most I have been on.....

Thanks and again, sorry for the problem....

 

[suburbanhomesteader]

Probably less than a month ago I posted about a RTH killing the only hen I had who was laying eggs, and I've seen a couple of other RTH posts since then.

I have to admit that I was mostly wanting some sympathy; I didn't think my post would enlighten anyone! (although I wasn't sure everyone knew that juvenile RTH are known to hunt from the ground)

I do have to throw in an observation, though; locking chickens up at night isn't going to do squat for a RTH problem. Now, if you had an OWL problem....

One sidebar, which happens to be on topic.

I have felt some guilt (yes, I feel guilty about my chickens!) that I haven't let the girls out as much since the hawk attack. Today was a GORGEOUS day, clear and sunny with a high in the mid 60's, and as I drove home for lunch, I thought, "well, maybe I could let them out for the afternoon. I haven't seen that hawk since the attack." I had ALmost convinced myself to let them out as I pulled into the driveway. Sitting in the bare tree over the coop? Yup. Mr RTH. He must have just arrived, because the crows had not yet showed up to bother him. They showed up by the time I got to the back door to let the dogs (not chihuahuas!) out. Chickens stayed in.

I'll let them free range, but I'll keep an eye out for the hawk, and I'll take Randy's comment to heart about not getting so attached , and keeping an extra few around. I am attached to Bo; after this, though, I'm getting all Production Reds, so that I can't tell them apart. Losing the Red to a neighborhood dog early in the spring, and losing one recently to the hawk, were not nearly as painful because they were not named, and they were just part of the "generic red chicken" backup singers to sweet Bo.

That's my 4 cents (I'm feeling quite loquacious this evening!)

 

[paganfish]

Quote:
Thank you! I agree.

Some of us are new to how this forum works let alone raising chickens. We come here to get answers on proper ways of handling situations that may arise. I have been many a time routed to a thread, posted prior, about that very thing I have questions on. I don't mind this!

That said, I have been in training situations for work many times and have learned that I have to give new people the benefit of the doubt. If I don't have the answer, I try to find it for them and lead them on their merry way. If however, I'm not able to deal with it or won't, I let those that can...do. That's just how I am in life though...

I suppose us new people should, could, would do better by using the "search" option but it is unfair to assume we ought to know this. There are folks that may not be as savvy about how this whole thing works as you (speaking in general terms) are...and that is OK too!

I hope that when I'm no longer as new and I get questions, repeatedly answered before, from new people...I will be as gracious as you were with this thread.

Let us remember that there was a time we too had questions. Some of us looked them up. Some of us asked. We were all there...at one point.

Thanks again B-Dawg!

Peace=

Pedro~:-V

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

Well I hope no one missunderstands my point. its not the questions that bore me or put me off its the spouting of the rhetoric, and the the ridiculous get a permit stuff.(that aint gonna happen for an individual). There is a sticky about the raptor laws at the beginning of the predator and pest section that states the law. Most of us have read that.
It happens all the time when someone asks for help with a predator problem. Someone just states the law like a politician, or rants about the poor predator just trying to make a living. and how valueable it is to the environment.
I have no problem with someone that needs info and asks. I've been there recently. IF you feel the need to help. The hawks and owls and the rest of the predators dont need it. Its the poor little people that just lost their hobby or just lost their chickens that they have been feeding for months, at great expense that, need some ideas. In my humble opinion if all you have to say is what they cant do then leave them alone. Questions and answers are what this site is all about, but if you cant help me just dont help the bear !
Randy

Oh yea I forgot;

Free-roaming farmyard chickens, ducks, and pigeons attract hawks and owls and are highly susceptible to predation. Many problems can be eliminated by simply housing poultry at night

. or just squirt them with your water hose. Thats a new one.​

 

[unionwirewoman]

great minds think alike !!!! re (if you can't feed me , don't feed the bear ) I love it !!!!