would there be any point?

[dinahmoe]

i am really start to get an interest in pigeons.we have 70 acres of land-1/2 woods,1/2 pasture.my concern is the hawks.i have had to keep the chickens penned up now and the hawks are increasing.a hawk took a cardinal flying over my head.i was watching the cardinals and thinking "how pretty" and out of nowhere it is snatched up right overhead.
i really like the rollers but i would never get to see them roll or tumble.i would hate to keep them penned up forever.
i don't think it would be fair to have them-any thoughts?

 

[cameron]

Sadly, it happens. I lost 2 in one day last week. I'm keeping them in for the rest of the winter, which is when the majority of my attacks occur. I hate to see it happen, but I love flying them and flying in competitons. I just chalk it up to a loss to nature and keep putting birds up.

 

[dinahmoe]

thanks,
i guess no one would have them if everyone was overly worried like me.just think there are too many hawks in my area.

 

[sourland]

If you fly your birds, there will be losses to the hawks. I was able to fly my birds from May to September with minimal losses. If I were to try flying them now I would be guaranteed losses. I have Cooper's hawks on top of my lofts and hanging on my aviaries.

 

[dinahmoe]

so why what is the difference in the time of year?do the hawks have plenty of other food that time of year?

 

[Tippler]

Rollers are Hawk magnets. They appear weak and sick. I would suggest some Tipplers or High flyers.
Hawks will migrate and many will probably move a little lower to you. There is also less food.

How many do you plan on keeping?
Plan on breeding ect?

 

[sourland]

My biggest problem is with Cooper's hawks. Our resident redtails catch maybe a half dozen or so young birds each year. They are actually good 'educators' of the birds in hawk evasion. Right now I do not have any resident Cooper's hawks. They winter here (NJ) but then migrate North to breed. When I insisted on flying birds year round, the hawks stayed year round. I would raise perhaps 100 rollers a season and have 20 or so left by spring.

 

[Lofty Dreams]

I've heard that crows may help in keeping hawks away.

 

[franciscreek]

I have a pair of red tails that protect my tumblers. We live in a big canyon and the redtails have been breeding here for years. They nest in a big snag at the top of the bluff. They wont let any other hawks in the canyon. You can always tell when there is a intruder. You hear the redtails calling and the next thing you see is them chasing the intruder out. They dont bother the tumblers or the chickens. They are only after fur.

 

[Night_Wolf_Lofts]

Sadly, when raising and flying any kind of pigeon, I don't know anyone who doesn't take losses in some form. No matter how small...it seems that hawks find the way..and other BOP's for that matter. It is just the way of life I guess. We have several nesting sites of Coopers not far from here and boy will they go through the birds. They have raised some nice young on my birds. But I have found that if you're gonna have them, you're gonna lose them from time to time no matter what.

As a general rule.....I try to get some larger hawks like the redtails in here as they are usually too slow to catch the pigeons. I also have a few great horned owls that reside int eh neighbor's big pine tree. These larger birds of prey are very territorial and actually drive the smaller guys out as franciscreek pointed out. It doesn't always work the way you want it, but it helps. Crows are also another good suggestion that was made.

I guess the bottom line really is that no matter what....they will still find a way and you will have some losses, but that is osmething that one must come to live with. I usually just chalk it down as natural selection and hope that the bands on the birds hurts coming back out.

Justin
Aquatic Wilds
Night Wolf Lofts