The Hawk from Hell

[speedy2020]

You could try a Bang snaps or toy cap gun. It may be loud enough to scare the hawk away.

 

[pasuit]

I've had chickens for nearly 3 full years now, and Im still learning. What's the newest bit of knowledge you ask? Well I've now learned over the course of the last week that I hate hawks. Never had a problem with them over the last few years, all of a sudden TWO damn things have decided to stalk the area paying close attention to my flock. They are coming by multiple times every day for a week now. I have a pen and its got a wire roof with a tarp on for the winter, but because my flock grew due to chicken math... I don't like to keep them in the pen that was made for a flock size of 6, when its now a flock of 15.
I have to admit that I do appreciate the hawk alarm the chickens sound so I can bolt out, grab my long stick and act like a crazy rabid chicken person to attempt to scare the suckers off for a few minutes. Yes my chickens have figured out to find cover, and yes there is a lot of shelters around for them, but the hawks continuous, and nearly punctual visits have me worried that they are more skilled that I give them credit for.
So my question for all of you is this... In your chicken keeping experience, If I continue to act like a crazy stick wielding maniac out there when the "alarm" goes off, and the two fail to gain any dinner, will the high flying stinkers eventually give up and start looking elsewhere? Or do I begin construction on yet another pen that will contain the flock all the days of their lives????
If you cant tell I'm hoping for the first situation...

 

[lazy gardener]

https://www.fws.gov/forms/3-200-13.pdf
3. What activities can I do without a depredation permit? You do not need a federal depredation permit to harass or scare birds (except eagles and threatened or endangered species), provided (a) birds are not killed or injured and (b) birds sitting on active nests (nests with eggs or chicks present) are not disturbed to the point that it causes the eggs to not hatch or the chicks to die or become injured.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife.../FINAL_MS Publisher Layout_Hawks and Owls.pdf

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and state wildlife agencies may issue depredation permits allowing for lethal control of problem hawks and owls, but will do so only if nonlethal methods of controlling damage have failed or are impractical and if it is determined that killing the offending birds will alleviate the problem. Permittees may kill hawks or owls listed on the permit using a shotgun not larger than 10-gauge, fired from the shoulder and only within the area described by the permit. Proper firearm safety is of the utmost importance, especially in confined areas or extra-sensitive situations, such as active airfields or in populated areas. Permittees may not use blinds or other means of concealment, or decoys or calls to lure birds within gun range.

 

[Folly's place]

Nonlethal methods will include fencing your birds to protect them. Free ranging is not considered 'protection'; safe runs and coops are necessary. Mary

 

[Molpet]

You could try a Bang snaps or toy cap gun. It may be loud enough to scare the hawk away.

I tried a boat compressed gas air horn.. I jumped more than the hawk.. she just shrugged her shoulders, but I live near a highway and the truck air horns sound similar

 

[centrarchid]

https://www.fws.gov/forms/3-200-13.pdf
3. What activities can I do without a depredation permit? You do not need a federal depredation permit to harass or scare birds (except eagles and threatened or endangered species), provided (a) birds are not killed or injured and (b) birds sitting on active nests (nests with eggs or chicks present) are not disturbed to the point that it causes the eggs to not hatch or the chicks to die or become injured.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/reports/Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series/FINAL_MS Publisher Layout_Hawks and Owls.pdf

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and state wildlife agencies may issue depredation permits allowing for lethal control of problem hawks and owls, but will do so only if nonlethal methods of controlling damage have failed or are impractical and if it is determined that killing the offending birds will alleviate the problem. Permittees may kill hawks or owls listed on the permit using a shotgun not larger than 10-gauge, fired from the shoulder and only within the area described by the permit. Proper firearm safety is of the utmost importance, especially in confined areas or extra-sensitive situations, such as active airfields or in populated areas. Permittees may not use blinds or other means of concealment, or decoys or calls to lure birds within gun range.

You will not get a permit to protect a backyard flock of chickens. Find one exception to that.

 

[Mary's Backyard Chickens]

This is not what you want to hear, but the hawks will eventually figure out you & your big stick are not a threat. I do the same thing here. The hawks used to be scared, now they just stare at me like I'm an idiot.

x2

 

[FishMtFarm]

Paint ball gun is not illegal if you do t injure or hurt the bird. Our local Conservation told us to use it to scare the bird so please don't scare people into thinking you can't do anything to a hawk cause they are protected. You cannot injure or kill but you can discourage and scare.

 

[centrarchid]

A real conservation agent needs to put this to rest. I deal with farmers that actually make a living as farmers. They have raptor issues and they know from speaking with parties very well versed in raptor management what can and cannot be done.

 

[Akrnaf2]

Taking the concept above could get you in a heap of legal trouble.

Calm down and consider possibility hawks are looking after targets other than your chickens. Hawks do not keep coming to a spot unless they are likely to make a kill. Also, what hawk species is involved.

You don't have to use marbles, stone, or metal balls, I use olives from my tree it isn't leatal but it does the work.