This just got serious! D:<

[Kusanar]

Another possibility is to contact any local falconry club and tell them you have a raptor that is giving you problems, they might be able to legally catch it and keep it.

 

[tacothechicken]

Ok thanks for the great ideas guys! @sawilliams The birds have pleanty of hiding spots as we have dozen of trees on and around our house and they do sometimes take to hiding in the trees as such @New2Chicks97 the birds hit the side of the loft flight area how would one go about putting up electric fencing and not harming the pigeond? @Kusanar ....that IS A PERFECT IDEA! Pretty sure there's no overly near falconry clubs but a lot of them do come here to take up redtails etc we are a raptor smorgas board in our town :/

 

[laughingdog]

I've heard firing fire works bevbef releasing birds, especially aimed at/where Hawks are or hang out good. Pepper round paint ball guns shot at tail and wing feathers works. Ect things. Trees ect actually attract and provide forest type Hawks ambush places.. as sadly I cam attest personally now to. Low overhang landing boards, that pigeons can just land on not even enough room to hold heads up but just shoulder room, seems to keep most Hawks off (I'd use clear cover on with bird repellent spikes so if the Hawks want to dive at and skewer selves then even better. Best or luck!

 

[tacothechicken]

So many great ideas! This helps so much! I actually set up a metal Arbor around the entry gate to the aviary (the Coopers wingspan is to wide) which is why the hawk missed and ended up whith a face full of chain link plus it gives my birds some extra time to get going before theyre out in the open the over hang landing board also sounds like a good plan fireworks may be a last resort though as I do have six dogs...they can handle actual gunshots for some reason but fireworks are a no go -_- I do know someone who can lone me a paintball gun though imma have to make a list of all this lol.

 

[tacothechicken]

Off topic a little but the new enclosed nesting boxes I made have successfully converted my pair from their strange cat bed tendencies! Then I got caught snooping and was kicked out lol. They still picked the smallest space possible but it's an

improvement!!!

 

[biophiliac]

Off topic a little but the new enclosed nesting boxes I made have successfully converted my pair from their strange cat bed tendencies! Then I got caught snooping and was kicked out lol. They still picked the smallest space possible but it's an View attachment 1518365 View attachment 1518364 improvement!!!

Lol! That fierce/cute face! They do take themselves very seriously...

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Raptors are smart birds and this one has demonstrated that it knows your schedule. Lock your birds down for a full week. That means keeping them in their loft/aviary. After a week it should be ok to go back to flying your birds, but as an ongoing deterrent to the raptor you should fly your birds at different times daily and it wouldn’t hurt to lock them up for a day or two here and there.

 

[tacothechicken]

@Brahma Chicken5000 I've altered flighttimes by a few hours & late evening seems to work best although if the hawk comes by then I know at least 2 birds who will automatically sleep in the trees rather than come back -_- they've been locked up the last 2 days now and will continue to be for a bit as I've got new birds arriving tommorrow. And of course in another 2 weeks I'll be gone for 5 days so the birds will just have to adjust to living in the moment in reference to flying XD

 

[tacothechicken]

Also kinda off topic but what age do you're birds usually start laying? Mine obviously aren't on any super diet and FJ&coffee have been paired for around 2 months and are both now 7&6 months old they don't show any nest building tendencies other than claiming a nest box for territory but should I expect eggs soon? They've been breeding atleast once a day (coffees very insistent) in the last week from what I've seen so I'm a little unsure what I should expect as they are so young

 

[biophiliac]

Also kinda off topic but what age do you're birds usually start laying? Mine obviously aren't on any super diet and FJ&coffee have been paired for around 2 months and are both now 7&6 months old they don't show any nest building tendencies other than claiming a nest box for territory but should I expect eggs soon? They've been breeding atleast once a day (coffees very insistent) in the last week from what I've seen so I'm a little unsure what I should expect as they are so young

They certainly could become parents soon. I think the age for first eggs can vary somewhat between individuals. Do you have a nest bowl for them?

and back to topic ...