Solving a Hawk Problem

[jed1154]

Im more than willing to throw a blanket over it while freeing it.

It just seemed there are some that go well beyond what i would, which is fine, i just don't like being chastised for it. I was reading another thread here about a chicken that was injured, badly, but still breathing. They were going to try to save it. If that were me, i would have probably shot the chicken as soon as i found it, especially not knowing the extent of its injuries...but thats just the way i would handle it. There is nothing wrong with fixing it, or going to great lengths, but everyone has a different stopping point.

 

[hoosierhen]

Hey, you guys need to lighten up a little! I have had several close calls this year with hawks- they're everywhere! I put up deer netting because one nearly flew into my coop. That being said- to each his own. It is not like rainman or jed1154 are out hunting hawks, or trying to sell their eggs, feathers, or meat. They are trying to protect what is theirs. If ANYTHING threatens the things I care about then I will protect them.

 

[sdshoars]

i am not trying to ignite some heated discussion, i am trying to say that netting or dogs, or a rooster should be your means of protection, not shotguns, bb guns, baseball bats. and yes jed, i understand where you are coming from, if the thing had broken bones, and severe trauma, i would just cover the guy up and let him go peacefully instead of trying to dig him out of your net. some things are not worth saving.

but when you say you will shoot one, thats a different story

Quote:
that IS illegal! makes no difference if you were "hunting" them or not, if you shot it, you could go to jail.

 

[Tricia's Triple Z]

Ok Everyone who has jumped on this one I was not trying to open up a can of worms. But those who stand on their soap box and start judging others for their thoughts and beliefs. I NEVER said that I was going to shoot it, nor hit it with a bat. This hawk is so bold that my 3 yr old daughter was standing as close or closer to the chicken that the hawk had it sights on then I was. It even WAS in my coop, it could have hurt me as I was walking in. Don't even question what would happen if it had hurt one of us. I live on 13 acres and grew up on 135 acres, I am a farmer and YES, the hawks take care of rodents, pests etc, but when it comes to killing my livestock I am concerned.

 

[mamato3]

we both had hawk attacks just i did not need to ask what to do got the ideas here thanks

 

[T M C]

I'm standing on my soapbox all the time and judge everyone. Everyone does also or else we would all go to church together at the same place, but and therefore if I judge somebody goodly "oh thats nice" but if bad " oh you're evil" come on! I judged you right away Tricia and I like what I hear. Go gett'm girl. LOL

 

[Stimpy]

I'll tell you of my experience with the authorities. Years ago, I had an owl that developed a taste for bantam cochins. I called the US Fish and Wildlife officer for our area to get his advice. He said if it was killing my poultry, kill it and be quiet. In other words ... SSS.

He didn't seem to want to be bothered about a single owl causing problems. Truthfully, I don't blame him. It's not like they are endangered. If they are killing livestock, they deserve whatever happens to them. Much like a bear or mountain lion or alligator and any other protected predator.

-Stimp-

 

[winekntrychicks]

Tricia's Triple Z :

Ok Everyone who has jumped on this one I was not trying to open up a can of worms. But those who stand on their soap box and start judging others for their thoughts and beliefs. I NEVER said that I was going to shoot it, nor hit it with a bat. This hawk is so bold that my 3 yr old daughter was standing as close or closer to the chicken that the hawk had it sights on then I was. It even WAS in my coop, it could have hurt me as I was walking in. Don't even question what would happen if it had hurt one of us. I live on 13 acres and grew up on 135 acres, I am a farmer and YES, the hawks take care of rodents, pests etc, but when it comes to killing my livestock I am concerned.

keep the door shut on the coop. Problem solved.​

 

[chicknmania]

Look it's not a question of judging anyone. (Edited by staff to remove judgmental and insulting comment) The world is in enough trouble as it is, why make it worse.. All I'm saying is that laws are in place for a reason. If hawks and other raptors were as common as, let's say, mourning doves, then there would be a revision in the laws. Yes, they are bold. They're hungry. They're not thinking to themselves..."duh, let's see..I don't like Joe Blow. I'm going to go kill HIS chickens". They're saying...look, there's some food. Easy. So, don't make it easy for them. Everyone who posts on here, in defense of hawks or not, has the same problem. We have had chickens over three years and have had some painful losses not only to hawks but other wildlife as well. If it was a person killing them, yeah, I might think about getting out the gun. As it is, though, we have found there are lots of ways to play the game...and our chickens have done pretty well as a result, despite an occasional loss. If you don't have time to figure out how to protect your livestock fairly, then you don't have any business having them at all.

 

[scooter147]

I wasn't going to post any more...but.....
I use to live on over 30 acres and use to raise chickens for show, my own meat, to sell eggs and mainly because I liked it.
Because I lived on so much property and to cut down on feed cost I let my laying hens free range. I had around 100 at a time.
I had many ground and air predators. I quickly learned the RIR, BR, BO were no match for predators and I quickly had to confine them.
So, I went to the more flighty and alert type breeds. The brown and red leghorn, minorca, lakenvelder etc. These breeds did quite well in evading predators with the help of several watchful roosters and at the time my dalmation. I honestly would only lose 5 or 6 birds in any given year.