We Are At War!!!!!!!!

[muddyhorse]

I'm an hour south of st.louis just off of 55. my neighbor tried to "just scare" the hawk by shooting at it. He didn't notice his tractor behind the hawk.

 

[centrarchid]

The bird netting sounds really good for some of my applications although the stuff used to protect fruit trees and like might be a little light duty for hawks that might dive into it making a hole for chickens to get out later. I gonna look into the heavier duty stuff to see if tent like structures can be set that are cheaper than wood and wire coops / pens.

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
Near Perryville?

In my experience, scaring the hawk requires it knowing who the the boogeyman is. They seem slow witted about figuring things out unless you are right in their face when educating them which makes it hard to do. In my opinion hawks are not even as smart as the chickens they catch. They are simply very good at catching chickens owing to their superior physical abilities and shear guts.

 

[Barred Rocks forever]

a good lgd will end this problem to

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
I am gonna do the live stock guarding dog for certain next spring. I just do not want Coopers and Sharpshinned hawks picking of young chicks without even landing. LGD may not be able to defend against those in my setting. Chicks I stand to loose will be free ranged at 3 weeks and will not have momma to protect them or even indicate somebody bad is about. Net pens would keep out light weight predators. Dog could patrol between pens and pastures for the guys that can get through netting if given time. Coons, foxes and coyotes are the persistant guys I am worried about.


What kind of lgd do you use. I have been considering great Pyrenese and Anitoleans. Former we have a work guarding ship and goats but I am not inclined to say they are good. Anitoleans I have seen so far cost to much and according to what I read are more prone to harm livestock them selves when dog is young.

 

[Barred Rocks forever]

kuvask and marrenaas are very good at there job i can send u a link on lgds gaurding poultry if u want ? just remeber some roos can really drive dogs crazy

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
Thanks Barred Rocks forever, I would like to see the links.

My roosters (American Game and American Dominiques) pretty good around hunting dogs (black and tans) so no problems expected there.

 

[centrarchid]

Juvenile male Coopers Hawk just visited tree my hammock sits under. We had a 5 minute stairing contest before he shot over coops and went after flock of sparrows on other side. Chicks of cohort (started this thread) which lost one to adult male of same species now to large for male Coopers Hawk to take and they move under escort of Amrican game stag that will make short work of such a small hawk if decides to go into cover after one. Even a female Coopers hawk will not likely try now. The hawk does worry bluejays and eastern bluebirds.

 

[BlackBart]

I put up one of those plastic Horned Owls and move it around.

For one persistant Hawk I also fired a bear banger flare near his direction. It freaked him out and everybody else too. Haven't seen him since.

 

[centrarchid]

Most of the Coopers and sharp-shinned hawks I am seeing are non-resident and at this point not a major risk to my flock. They are now simply entertainment. In my experience owl thing does not work very well and it is great horned owls that are now my only arial concern. I thwart owls using covered coops at night.