redtails driving me nuts

[backdoorchicken]

if i can grab a hawk with my bare hands then i am killing it.

 

[NateinFL]

Quote:
You'll have a different opinion if you ever get a hawk that relentlessly attacks your birds. Are you sure that wasnt a red-shouldered hawk that was eating the mole crickets? I've never heard of red-tails eating mole crickets.

 

[Ladyhawke1]

What we consider as sacrifices... is just nature doing her balancing act. Life cannot proceed without it.

 

[backdoorchicken]

the hawk that goes after my chickens is close to the same size as my hens. my chickens don't free range though so the hawk really has nothing to worry about in my yard.

 

[ErieSpurs]

<begin ramble>

The hawk may have been scouting for mice around your yard and coop. I understand that some people have problems with hawks but their are many ways to deter them without killing them. They mostly eat pest species (rodents), chickens tend to be a difficult meal. Predators nearly always choose the "prey of least resistance." In other words, they choose the easiest meal ticket, because the wasted energy trying to kill a large healthy meal (aka a chicken) could mean starvation if it is a failed attempt.

Hanging cds around your yard is favored by many people. You could also add a turkey to your flock. Search the forums, their are many stories of turkeys flying to attack hawks. Some hawks aren't afraid of dogs most likely because it is an older more experienced hawk that knows the dog cannot reach him. A 20 pound turkey flying towards them will definitely make them think twice. If you go this route go for a smaller heritage turkey such as a Bourbon Red or blue Slate. They are large enough to handle themselves but still capable of flight. Some people attract crows to their property, because crows chase off hawks as do most song birds. They gang up on hawks to drive them out of the area. A paintball gun is also effective to startle the hawk away form your birds. Good Luck.

</end ramble>

 

[scooter147]

Quote:
I agree.

The tone of the one e-mail in response to my original post I took exception to. I do not put my hens in front of hawks (whatever that means) they are in a covered run 99% of the time. The point of my original post was I could not believe the boldness of this one hawk (I suspect a juvenile and desperate, although in 40+ years of raising poultry I have never seen anything like it).
The one comment was is that I was in the hawks territory and I not in his. I REALLY beg to differ on that point. Until I see that hawk writing the mortgage check each month he is IN my territory.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

The CDs I hang around my pens seem to be an effective deterrant for the hawks. I hear them in the air & see them in the trees nearby counting the individual feathers on each chicken. But they don't swoop down into the pens or in the yard while the chickens are enjoying recess. For variety I'll also hang shiny wind catchers found at the dollar store. I also fastened 18" lengths of 1/2" PVC upright on the corner posts of the runs. In these I place shiny pinwheels. The wind makes them spin around and having them loose in the PVC allows them to turn with the wind like a weathervane.

A neighbor who keeps pigeons says he places mirrors on top of his coops and that helps discourage the hawks around his place.

I think it also helps to have roosters to sound the alarm, and lots of places for the chickens to run under & take shelter. My roosters have a bird-word they say when anything flies over, and a particularly bad bird-word they scream if the flying thing is a hawk.

 

[scooter147]

My rooster is a great early warning system. When I hear that "bad bird" call you can bet there is hawk somewhere in sight, it usually takes me a while to spot it.

What amazes me is that they seem to be able to detect what is a threat and what is not for example mine don't flinch at the sight of a turkey vulture or say a crane flying over.

 

[LoreenH]

Quote:
I guess I won't have a problem with hawks when I get my ducks, since I was adopted several years ago by a crow and his family. If I don't feed them at least once a week he swoops over my head (close enough I can feel the wind from his wings).

 

[koifarm]

Quote:
I agree with you. You are correct with your information.

However, I also seen many humans who let their children free range. These critters run over lawns throw rocks, play knock down the fence with the soccer ball, scream their heads off when there is nothing wrong. Some people do not understand “penning” in or taking proactive care of their own livestock. Then they get upset if these creatures somehow get hurt or are run over or kidnapped.

Too funny Ladyhawke1....we have a problem here with free range redneck kids...they have been known to rifle through the mailboxes and break glass in the middle of the roads and all kinds of stuff. Although they are federally protected, we have found that animal control will pick them up but only if you duct tape their hands and feet together and put a dog collar on them. The local "no kill" shelter used to charge $100 to bail them out but had to lower the fee to $2.50 since they were running out of room for the little rascals.....
It has also been found that the best way to trap them was to put a jacked up high wheel old pickup truck with a dog box in the back and a hunting platform on top of the dog box, it also helps to camoflauge the truck by throwing several cases of empty Budweiser cans around the truck. Once they get in and try and steal the truck, the automatic door locks keep them in till Animal Control can get to them...
You have to do what you have to do....
In fun,
Koifarm