Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Tupac on January 19, 2011, 04:11:48 PM
-
We have a hawk that has killed 4 of our chickens, and I was wondering how I could deal with it. I can't get a nuisance permit, and I can't shoot him (Well I could, but I'd like to avoid jail)
Has anyone had a problem with them before, and what is the best way to get rid of him?
-
Texas doesn't have any laws about protecting live stock and/or property?
-
Contact the state Wildlife and game. I am sure they can help you on that.
Texas doesn't have any laws about protecting live stock and/or property?
They do, all state do.
-
From what I recall in KY. If it is not protected and it is destroying your property, crops or livestock, you have the right to kill it. But that is just what I think it is in KY. Haven't checked it in a while, though.
-
I know here you can't kill any raptor, for any reason.
That being said. My gramps use to take pot shots at the redtails for the very same reason.
I don't think he ever killed one of the hawks but he did get two of the chickens. :devil
-
From what I recall in KY. If it is not protected and it is destroying your property, crops or livestock, you have the right to kill it. But that is just what I think it is in KY. Haven't checked it in a while, though.
We have the same thing in AR.
-
Call your local DNR office. Here in GA they will either try to catch it and relocate it, or give you written permission to shoot it. Also, here if they give you permission to shoot it, you must bring the bird to them once you kill it. They take samples and stuff for testing.
-
Before ya shoot it, might as well identify its breed... just incase it's something really endangered (but I doubt it... if it's a redtail, shoot the bugger).
-
Call the Game Warden here for your county...
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/warden/find_warden/county.phtml
It's not called DNR here but TPW or Texas Parks & Wildlife.
If that does not work then go to 3S.
Go here for a little fun reading...
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?nrspan=2010&nrtype=gwfn&nrsearch=
-
Before ya shoot it, might as well identify its breed... just incase it's something really endangered (but I doubt it... if it's a redtail, shoot the bugger).
You can not shot any raptor nor matter what species it is.
-
Before ya shoot it, might as well identify its breed... just incase it's something really endangered (but I doubt it... if it's a redtail, shoot the bugger).
It's a redtail, I'm going to do what rogwar suggested and call the game warden. If possible, I really don't want to kill it
You can not shot any raptor nor matter what species it is.
I live out in the boonies, if I shoot it noone will see nor care.
-
If your luck is anything like mine Tupac then the minute you do that a game warden will either come pulling up or just seem to materialize from nowhere.
-
It's a redtail, I'm going to do what rogwar suggested and call the game warden. If possible, I really don't want to kill it
I live out in the boonies, if I shoot it noone will see nor care.
I did a little looking on the internet. Generally southern state laws allow killing of any animals preying on livestock. Birds of prey are protected at the federal level. It's a bit of a grey area. One game warden response was funny enough the same as mine. The 3Ss: Shoot, Shovel, Shutup.
I also read about keeping the chickens in an enclosed area for a couple of weeks. Right now you have a hawk free pass to the 7-11.
-
We have a hawk that has killed 4 of our chickens, and I was wondering how I could deal with it. I can't get a nuisance permit, and I can't shoot him (Well I could, but I'd like to avoid jail)
Has anyone had a problem with them before, and what is the best way to get rid of him?
can you not trap it? hang a piece of chicken inside a trap then just take the bird up to a game warden, just dont do harm to the bird. trapping isent illegal is it?
-
I'd say just call the Warden if you aren't sure. Trapping is often just as strict as shooting and killing.
-
I live out in the boonies, if I shoot it noone will see nor care.
Not to smart are you. Epically posting that statement on here where somebody going to call the game warden in your area.
-
Bofors 40mm
-
If you do decide to shoot the poor animal, get it done right:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdb_G2qqg7I (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdb_G2qqg7I)
-Penguin
-
Not to smart are you. Epically posting that statement on here where somebody going to call the game warden in your area.
easy Oak..
I've lived out in the boonies where that statement holds true. He's trying to do it right.
-
Not to smart are you. Epically posting that statement on here where somebody going to call the game warden in your area.
Oh I'm sorry, I guess it's just hard to believe that I could be a little peeved because it killed 4 of our pets.
I've already made it clear that I don't want to shoot it, but if I do, no one will know. I asked for other ideas, if i wanted to shoot it i would have already done it.
-
Easy Tup.. :)
-
Oh I'm sorry, I guess it's just hard to believe that I could be a little peeved because it killed 4 of our pets.
I've already made it clear that I don't want to shoot it, but if I do, no one will know. I asked for other ideas, if i wanted to shoot it i would have already done it.
OK, here is a little commend sense for you, "I've already made it clear that I don't want to shoot it, but if I do, no one will know." . If you have not figure this out, a lot of ppl on here see that and somebody can report you in. What will you say to the game warden when they show up at your place with a tip on of a possible illegal raptor shooting and copy of your statement you made oh here. Kind of hard to get out of that and a lot of ppl can used $5,000.00 these now in days.
Like i and a few said call the wildlife and park. We have them for a reason, your problem is one of them. Don't take the matter in your own hands. :salute
-
The best way to get rid of them is to remove the food source. There are a few problem with shooting them, even beyond the legal issues.
For one, it's very common to believe that the hawk you see is the one doing the killing. That's basically how redtails got the misnomer "chicken hawk" in the first place. A coopers hawk hunts by stealth, and sneaks in and kills a chicken. Farmer hears a ruckus, and looks out to see the redtail carving circles in the sky...
If it is actually a redtail doing the killing, is it just one? Or one of a pair? Is just one doing the killing, or are both?
You're in an area that ends up with a lot of birds at this time of year, due to the migration. They're all doing their best to survive, in a tough world (65% of redtails die before they reach one year of age, on average, only 5% make it to 5 years old, and they don't breed until they're 3 years old). To survive, they need food and habitat. Apparently, your yard offers something they need. If it didn't, they wouldn't be interested in it.
If you kill the hawk, what's to stop another one from being attracted to the easy food source?
Trapping and relocating is unlikely to work. I've trapped a LOT of hawks, and even some falcons (I'm licensed). If you don't know what you're doing, you'll probably fail, or injure the bird, or break feathers (which could easily sentence it to death). If you do succeed, and don't wreck the bird, how far away do you intend to move it? What stops it from coming back? Keep in mind, it may just be visiting your area after a flight from as far away as Canada. Moving it a county or two away isn't a big obstacle for it... Especially if the food is good at your place. If it does stay away, we're back to the question of what stops another from moving in?
Dealing with wildlife causing problems with domestic animals is nothing new. Predators have been shot, trapped, poisoned, etc, for a LONG time. It's proven itself to be ineffective until the overall population is reduced, not just the currently-offending individual. I live in the country. I have chickens and ducks, pigeons and hawks. The local hawks have sometimes killed my critters. It's a small price to pay, IMO, to live as I do. I choose to protect my critters from predators, rather than remove the predators.
Locking your chickens up, thereby removing the food source, is really the best long-term option. How many do you have? Do they need to free-range? If so, have you seen the "drag" cages used for producing meat-chickens on non-commercial levels? Basically they're an 8x12ft bottomless cage about 2 feet tall. Keep the chickens in it, and just drag it over a few feet each day, to give them fresh ground. The water dishes can hang from chains inside. The chickens are protected, but still get benefits not offered by keeping them cooped. Letting them run loose is really just an attractive nuisance. What self-respecting predator would pass them up? How could they know they weren't supposed to eat them?
-
Wouldn't it just be easier to put a cover on the chicken pen? Pardon the pun but use chicken wire...
-
I'm gonna buy one of those big plastic owls and set it up. I understand that it is a bird of prey, and it's just doing what god intended it to do, but it needs to stay away from my house. We hatched these chickens and raised them, they all have names and it really hurts to lose them. I had to shoot one yesterday because the hawk tore a big hole in it's side, my mom saw the hawk attack itt and ran out to chase it off and it flew away before it could finish off the chicken. Please understand where I'm coming from. I'm trying to explore all my options. If someone reports me, so be it. I haven't done anything.
-
I'm gonna buy one of those big plastic owls and set it up. I understand that it is a bird of prey, and it's just doing what god intended it to do, but it needs to stay away from my house. We hatched these chickens and raised them, they all have names and it really hurts to lose them. I had to shoot one yesterday because the hawk tore a big hole in it's side, my mom saw the hawk attack itt and ran out to chase it off and it flew away before it could finish off the chicken. Please understand where I'm coming from. I'm trying to explore all my options. If someone reports me, so be it. I haven't done anything.
Was the injury bird that bad that you had to put it down? Or could you taken it to the vet?
-
OK, here is a little commend sense for you, "I've already made it clear that I don't want to shoot it, but if I do, no one will know." . If you have not figure this out, a lot of ppl on here see that and somebody can report you in. What will you say to the game warden when they show up at your place with a tip on of a possible illegal raptor shooting and copy of your statement you made oh here. Kind of hard to get out of that and a lot of ppl can used $5,000.00 these now in days.
Like i and a few said call the wildlife and park. We have them for a reason, your problem is one of them. Don't take the matter in your own hands. :salute
Here's a little COMMON sense for you, he has done nothing illegal. Let the warden show up to his house, without a dead bird and proof that he shot it there's nothing they can do. There is nothing "to get out of". Go ahead and actually call the wardens, let them know that on the intardnet some kid said that if he shot a bird, no one would know. They take a lot of flak, I'm sure a free chuckle would do them good.
-
Was the injury bird that bad that you had to put it down? Or could you taken it to the vet?
We have a family friend that is a vet, and she came over and said the bird needed to be put down. We didn't think it was that bad, but the vet lifted her wing up and her side was cut wide open, you could see all her ribs. It was really sad, but we gave her a good life, and I find comfort in that.
-
Oak
Please chill bro.
-
QUit being a wuss take a shotgun and off the bird and while your at it deal with the oakranger....
Orrr let the chickens that survive continue training to become top fighters in chinatown
-
let the chickens that survive continue training to become top fighters in chinatown
:lol
-
have you thought of scareing it? whenver you see it flying around, dont shoot it but shoot at it. maybe get a dog aswell, something to protect your livestock? we had a HUGE fox problem on my grandfathers farm here in ohio.lost 7 chickens to them till we finally got what i believe was a rott weiler. the problem pretty much stoped after that. just got to make the place look to hostile for the bird to want to risk it.
-
Well Tup could go stand in the yard all day and sing which would pretty much scare any living creature away but a dog might me a better idea ;)
-
Best solution. Arm your chickens.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w63/jager515/armedchickens.jpg[/img]](http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w63/jager515/armedchickens.jpg) (http://[IMG)
Or
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w63/jager515/ed209.jpg[/img]](http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w63/jager515/ed209.jpg) (http://[IMG)
Just sayin. :D
-
We have 4 dogs that are outside pretty much all the time. They don't even intimidate the hawks
-
We have a family friend that is a vet, and she came over and said the bird needed to be put down. We didn't think it was that bad, but the vet lifted her wing up and her side was cut wide open, you could see all her ribs. It was really sad, but we gave her a good life, and I find comfort in that.
Sorry to hear about that. What breeds of chickens do you have?
Here's a little COMMON sense for you, he has done nothing illegal. Let the warden show up to his house, without a dead bird and proof that he shot it there's nothing they can do. There is nothing "to get out of". Go ahead and actually call the wardens, let them know that on the intardnet some kid said that if he shot a bird, no one would know. They take a lot of flak, I'm sure a free chuckle would do them good.
Whether he dose it or not, if the game warden receives any tip of a possible illegal raptor shooting, they take it serious and investigate it. If they do not find anything, great. It dose not matter how they received the tip, they will investigate it.
Would you go around in the public and talk about killing somebody? Even though you have not committed the crime, law enforcement will take it as a threat. Making threats dose not make you above the law. There is common scene for you.
QUit being a wuss take a shotgun and off the bird and while your at it deal with the oakranger....
Orrr let the chickens that survive continue training to become top fighters in chinatown
You have no clue how serious Tupac get get into on a state and federal law if he shot one of these birds. It may be a bird to you, but they are protected.
-
This topic would be a great troll on the PETA forums.
-
This topic would be a great troll on the PETA forums.
:rofl, do they have one?
-
2 australorps 2 barred rock and 3 brahma (had 6, which is strange because they are the biggest) 1 bantam and 9 rhode island red (had 10) but we also have 7 little ones we aren't sure about.
Also, I thought I had made it obvious I don't intend to shoot the bird. I AM NOT SHOOTING THE BIRD!!
That was the whole point of this thread, to find a different avenue of getting rid of him without harming him.
-
People
Eating
Tasty
Animals
My favorite organisation, you could even call me a fundamentalist. :devil
-Penguin
-
I'm gonna buy one of those big plastic owls and set it up. I understand that it is a bird of prey, and it's just doing what god intended it to do, but it needs to stay away from my house. We hatched these chickens and raised them, they all have names and it really hurts to lose them. I had to shoot one yesterday because the hawk tore a big hole in it's side, my mom saw the hawk attack itt and ran out to chase it off and it flew away before it could finish off the chicken. Please understand where I'm coming from. I'm trying to explore all my options. If someone reports me, so be it. I haven't done anything.
Ummm... again. Remove the food source, IE put the chickens away. Predators prey on other animals. If predators can't get at your precious chickens, they move away. Until then, they don't.
This is akin to the "why'd that alligator eat fluffy my poodle that I let run around the canal barking at ducks all day?" problem here in Florida. Then go kill the alligator for doing what it's supposed to do... kill dumb animals.
Why are people so dense?
-
Sorry to hear about that. What breeds of chickens do you have?
Whether he dose it or not, if the game warden receives any tip of a possible illegal raptor shooting, they take it serious and investigate it. If they do not find anything, great. It dose not matter how they received the tip, they will investigate it.
Would you go around in the public and talk about killing somebody? Even though you have not committed the crime, law enforcement will take it as a threat. Making threats dose not make you above the law. There is common scene for you.
You have no clue how serious Tupac get get into on a state and federal law if he shot one of these birds. It may be a bird to you, but they are protected.
I think you just be trolling. I mean we know "they are protected" you have said it a bunch already.
What does redtail hawk taste like :noid
-
Ummm... again. Remove the food source, IE put the chickens away. Predators prey on other animals. If predators can't get at your precious chickens, they move away. Until then, they don't.
This is akin to the "why'd that alligator eat fluffy my poodle that I let run around the canal barking at ducks all day?" problem here in Florida. Then go kill the alligator for doing what it's supposed to do... kill dumb animals.
Why are people so dense?
Here comes moray "animal whisperer" to enlighten us on how animals all deserve to frolic in peace and people are so stupid......blah blah blah hippie blah thats all I hear.
-
2 australorps 2 barred rock and 3 brahma (had 6, which is strange because they are the biggest) 1 bantam and 9 rhode island red (had 10) but we also have 7 little ones we aren't sure about.
Also, I thought I had made it obvious I don't intend to shoot the bird. I AM NOT SHOOTING THE BIRD!!
That was the whole point of this thread, to find a different avenue of getting rid of him without harming him.
I know you are smart enough not to, just watch how you say thing. Nerveless, MtnMann is one person that gave you good advice and you always have the wildlife and parks on your side too. :salute There are some things i take serious, shooting any raptors is one of them.
I like what you have. I try to scout around that area for chickens farmers and collect the feather for fly tying. Saddle Hackle, schlappen, Blood Quill to name a few. The red rhode island (one of my favorite breeds) cape (or neck feathers) are the ideal feather i need. They can run between $40-$100.
I am guessing you do 4H competition and FFA?
-
Here comes moray "animal whisperer" to enlighten us on how animals all deserve to frolic in peace and people are so stupid......blah blah blah hippie blah thats all I hear.
My ankle is a little lower, sir. This isn't an airport terminal.
-
I was never in FFA, but I was in 4H shooting sports for awhile. Never really got into the animal side of 4H, I just enjoy raising animals.
-
People
Eating
Tasty
Animals
My favorite organisation, you could even call me a fundamentalist. :devil
-Penguin
plants arent food.
plants feed food.
:devil
-
IM gonna try to be civil......im glad you dont want to shoot the Hawk...if I was in your position I would grab a camara and take some amazing photos of an absolutly beautifull bird doing its thing, chickins are food not hawks, unless of course its a survival thing, then anything goes...seriously I think like others said remove the food source, chickins for pets....im still tryin to wrap my head around that one.....chickins are food....taste great cooked right, somethings are just ment to be eaten and other things are ment to eat, such as that Hawk, I would take some photos and be happy that I was givin the gift of watching such a magnifacent creature. my .02$
-
I had the same issue but different. Herons stealing the coy out of my fishpond. All i did was build a mesh fence around it. They make the mesh in flouresent orange or black,(better landscape stores should have it or look on line. All you would need is some posts to attach it to I used ( 4x4s), and "cap" the chickens area with it. Just make sure you get a mesh thats small enough to not allow the hawk to get tangled up in.(dont want to hurt the bird) The mesh is dirt cheap,and if you can use a post hole digger and a staple gun,your set. If you have a larger area,its available in some pretty wide widths, or overlap the seams and zip tie them together.(you might need an extra support or two depending onthe size of the area.
I wouldnt think that you would need it on the sides, just the top. Depending on the size of your area,you should be able to do it for about $100 +/-
Worked wonders for my fish pond. And after a month or so, the herons figured out that the free meal was gone,and i was able to break it down easy and put it in the poll barn for future use
-
I love chooks, absolutely love them. But I also love birds of prey. I would be mortified at losing my chooks. But on the other hand if I lived in America I would try to do what Mountain man does.
I would not be the proprietor of the Falcons food source. I would be the proprietor of a Falcon who loves to hunt and loves to soar.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/3899858106_72e5ac3af5.jpg)
They are truly majestic creatures.
This is a film I got of one, I sound like David Attenborough. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFoTTdEbZrQ
-
We have a hawk that has killed 4 of our chickens, and I was wondering how I could deal with it. I can't get a nuisance permit, and I can't shoot him (Well I could, but I'd like to avoid jail)
Has anyone had a problem with them before, and what is the best way to get rid of him?
It's probably from an AH member who is seeking revenge for you closing down the Wednesday Babe threads.
-
Have you thought about a "plug in" scarecrow?
I read an article in pop science a year or so ago that talked about scarecrows that actually moved their arms if anything got within range of a motion sensor. Pretty sure it uses DC but it might have been a heavy duty battery.
-
They make fake Owls for this reason. get a couple fake owls and mount them in a couple different places around the chicken coop. Or try the WhirlyBird.
WhirlyBird:
http://whirlybirdrepeller.com/wordpress/
-
chickins for pets....im still tryin to wrap my head around that one
I worked for a vet that had chickens, geese, and ducks. Greenest grass around and nary a bug (especially ticks) to be found along with fresh eggs every morning. Need a watch dog to keep other dogs out of your yard ... get a couple, 3 geese ... they are bad bellybutton in a group.
-
I was never in FFA, but I was in 4H shooting sports for awhile. Never really got into the animal side of 4H, I just enjoy raising animals.
That is cool. You have any pics of them?
-
That is cool. You have any pics of them?
No, but I'll take some today.
-
killing any bird of prey to protect a chicken is about as oxymoronic as it gets.
Thats like killing a Bengal Tiger to protect a mouse.
-
Are your chickens free roaming? or are they in a enclosed cage/pen ? if there in a enclosed pen and the top is open you can buy 1/4 x 1/4 plastic netting that you can stretch over the top, it will keep the chickens from being attack by hawks or any other predatory bird, my chickens were free roaming till i had a hawk problem, then i built a 25x25 outside pen off of there coop and covered the top with the netting, problem solved, it took sometime for the Hawks to realize there free meals were over, but once they learned they couldnt get in they never came back
-
killing any bird of prey to protect a chicken is about as oxymoronic as it gets.
Thats like killing a Bengal Tiger to protect a mouse.
facepalm.jpg
-
Slap~ now that does sound cool, I like the idea of fresh eggs every day, I figured that was what the chickins were for.......geese are a whole differant thing, there was a house that had a few when I walked to school in 7th grade they were very awesome but would attack ya if ya got to close lol
-
Yeager pretty much summed it up perfectly.
-
Yeager pretty much summed it up perfectly.
Except I don't intend on shooting the bird, infact I've been asking for other ways to get rid of him.
I will not shoot him.
I will not set him on fire.
I will not harm it in any way.
-
Put a netting over the area then.
-
geese are a whole differant thing, there was a house that had a few when I walked to school in 7th grade they were very awesome but would attack ya if ya got to close lol
Yup ... they are pretty intimidating in a group. We called them "Guard Geese". Very protective of his kids and the yard.
Saw a stray dog meander into his yard once ... it didn't work out too well for the dog. When he finally realized that he was getting is arse kicked from all directions, he took off like a bullet with 4 geese in hot pursuit ... heads low to the ground with wings fully extended and honkin' like mad. Never saw that dog again. Utter amazement turned to belly laughter when it was all over.
-
lol thats funny watermelon right there.....
-
killing any bird of prey to protect a chicken is about as oxymoronic as it gets.
Thats like killing a Bengal Tiger to protect a mouse.
Well, look at it this way. If we did not have these laws, every trigger happy fool would shot any raptor to near extinction. The ecosystem is a delicate balance that just one species out of place can throw the whole system into "chaos".
A excellent example: Since the removal of the gray wolf in and around Yellowstone national park, the large herbivore population was not in check. Steams and riparian zones where being over grazed by elk, moose, deer, and bison. This caused a decline population of plants, birds and aquatic species. So, you can see that one specie being remove caused a mass dysfunction in many ways for the last century.
OK, lets look at the present situation. The gray wolf has been reintroduced and expanding their territory. This is good because they are preying on the large herbivores. The results also shows that stream and riparian zones that i talked about being over grazed, are now recovering. Species of birds plants and aquatic population are coming back with the recovery too.
-
Wouldn't it just be easier to put a cover on the chicken pen? Pardon the pun but use chicken wire...
if there in a enclosed pen and the top is open you can buy 1/4 x 1/4 plastic netting that you can stretch over the top, it will keep the chickens from being attack by hawks or any other predatory bird
Put a netting over the area then.
Yea, it is far easier to kill the hawk than actually fix the problem.
-
If I didn't live in the city I'd probabley have a small coop with a few hens and a rooster, I think they're great as a family pet. Geese or a tom turkey are a good idea for some extra protection in the coop... but I also don't want them for that reason, they're nasty tempered big birds and just not fun, lol.
Chickens are very low maintenance, just a bit smelly so you keep them out back in a corner where you can keep an eye on the coop but don't have to smell it. Give em a place to keep warm, dry and safe, give them a little food and water everyday, let them out to wander around your yard and garden to eat all the bugs now and then. And with the right number on a good rotation, fresh eggs every morning (and there is NOTHING like good fresh eggs, if you love eggs then chicken raising might be your fastest track to living fatter and happier). Only downside to them is they are pretty vulnerable birds to many hungry critters, and the other usual supporting a dependent living creature things: like finding some hay to lay down in the coop/pen and shoveling out the old smelly sh!@ a couple times a year, throwing some feed and water in a couple bowls daily, etc..
-
Except I don't intend on shooting the bird, infact I've been asking for other ways to get rid of him.
I will not shoot him.
I will not set him on fire.
I will not harm it in any way.
train a faster stronger hawk and release it to kill the other hawk then you won't have to harm it yourself.
durrrrrp
-
I'd say put some sort of enclosure around the chickens, a net should do it.
-
What does redtail hawk taste like :noid
Kind of like a mix of California Condor and Bald Eagle.
Edited because of stupid fingers.
-
I bought one of those big plastic owls and set it up, and if that doesn't work I'm going to have to build an enclosure for them
-
Tupac~truly glad you are going this route, sux about your birds, I hope this cures it.
-
I bought one of those big plastic owls and set it up, and if that doesn't work I'm going to have to build an enclosure for them
I'd get started on the enclosure, myself... Not all of the critters that would like to nibble on your fowl will be fooled by (or scared of) a real owl, let alone a fake one (many won't even notice it). Make sure you use a tight enough weave on your fencing. Chicken wire won't even slow down a weasel; they go right through the gaps. I had one get in by my pigeons a few years ago. It (or they?) killed a pigeon the first night, then 4 more the second. The third night they killed the last 33. Yup, 33. I'd decided I was going to improve things the next day, but by then I had no more pigeons... They didn't eat any of the pigeons, they just killed them. Some of them had their heads eaten off. Blood and feathers all over in there, even bloody footprints. I also had a chicken wire pen full of baby ducks in it a few years earlier. They got killed the same way. I thought my pigeons were going to be ok... Now, I've weasel-proofed my enclosures... Opossums and raccoons are deadly as well. You can't kill all the predators in your area, and if you did more would just move in. It's better to just protect your critters with good enclosures.
The owl will work best to keep small songbirds out of your garden. In situations where raptors are intent on killing captive birds, it isn't unusual to find several raptors all hanging around waiting for an opportunity, or one to get hungry enough to kill something so the others can steal it. Around here, I've seen as many as eight redtails, plus a few coopers all hanging around a pheasant pen at the same time. I'm confident there were more that I couldn't see. The owl decoy wouldn't bother them much. At first, it may keep them from killing your chickens because they'll be worried the owl will steal it from them. Eventually, they'll figure out it isn't a threat. Raptors are pretty smart, and learn very fast.
-
The solution to the opossum, racoon and weasel problem can be a bottle of something called DEER OFF. It can be difficult to find, but it has a very potent (I mean VERY potent, I didn't even spray it near my face and there was no wind, it smelled and burned worse than pepper spray) formula. I used it when we had rabbits, gophers, chipmunks, racoons and opossum eating our peppers and tomatoes. No more pesky pests. I'm not sure what effect this would have on raptors, though, I heard from a friend a while back that they have little/no receptors of capsaicin, the main ingredient (although not the only ingredient).
The stuff might be worth looking into; non-lethal and may give you time to build the enclosure (once again depends on the effect it has on the birds).
-
Weasels will drink the blood of their kills, and eat very little else if there is an abundance, like a pen full of pigeon's.
I've had weasels so bold that they tried to steal a squirrel out of my game pouch when I was hunting. Felt this funny tug, looked, and there is a Weasel 3" from my right elbow.
The drag enclosure thing looked like the best bet to me. Lets your chickens get fresh ground to work every day, bit of variety, and keeps them safe.
PS, not a good idea to name anything that you may end up eating someday.
Take it from a farm boy who knows, it can make life ...........well, "interesting".
-
I don't know. I have a habit of giving lobsters the name of people I wish I had a real life delete key for.
Makes it that much more satisfying to drop them into to the pot and hear that steam whistle that sounds like a scream :devil
-
lol I had a "pet" caimen...his name was "Goliath" once he tried to eat me, I figured it was game on....so I ate him instead lol
-
lol I had a "pet" caimen...his name was "Goliath" once he tried to eat me, I figured it was game on....so I ate him instead lol
is that a type of croc? i had a mini lop rabbit that was house broken he used the litter box with the cats, well one night me and the misses were laying on the couch ( as will smith would say" getting jiggy with it" lol ) freaking little rabbit jumped up on the couch and took a chunk of flesh off of my kneecap, i mean this little (**&% took a chunk, i'm bleeding like a stuck pig and they only thing on my mind was finding that rabbit and thump him over the head, of course the misses goes " oh your not going to hurt that thing" months later he went AWOL :devil
-
ZOOM~it is a crocadillian, they are from south america, real nasty, way worse then alligators in temperment, right up there with crocodiles, they only reach 8feet, for a big male, "Goliath" was a tad over 4' and nasty as they come, allthough I did have another one that was docile, at another point I had a sweet alligator pit in my living room, and had a awesome gator that I grew to about 4' he was awesome, allthough tried to bite me every chance he got, him I grew from a baby, the day I gave him to a reptile park in Mass he ripped my finger almost off, over 3 years I had him I was always able to avoid his teeth lol till the day I gave him away, I can only get online through my phone or id post up some pics:-(
-
LOL! Zoom that post was priceless.
Tupac, it sucks...but if you're going to have free range chickens you need to expect to lose some to predators. I have a dozen chickens that were hatched last April. This spring I intend to let them roam freely, with complete realization that I will most likely lose some (I live in Maine, a lot of predators). They're great birds, every one leaves me with an egg everyday (and quite often double yokes!) I do care for them and their safety...even referring to them as my "little girls" but in my opinion, being free range and there being the possibility of being killed is better than them being caged their entire life. At least that is what I would prefer. Hopefully you figure it out.
Mtnman - I enjoyed reading you posts. Very informative and interesting. It's obvious you have a passion for birds.
-
You put a yoke on an ox
You put a yolk in an omlet
-Penguin
-
You put a yoke on an ox
You put a yolk in an omlet
-Penguin
thank you Mr Spelling police, but i think we all knew what he was talking about
-
Yes you are correct. I caught that after I had post. Can't edit posts from a crackberry, however. Keep raising that post count! :aok
-
ARMY training !
(http://www.funatico.com/media/pics/killerchicken679.jpg)
-
PS, not a good idea to name anything that you may end up eating someday.
Take it from a farm boy who knows, it can make life ...........well, "interesting".
What if we all name them after our ex wives? That in itself would be very "interesting" and possibley downright entertaining come time to gather around the stump out back behind the smokehouse.
-
lol I had a "pet" caimen...his name was "Goliath" once he tried to eat me, I figured it was game on....so I ate him instead lol
:rofl
-
lol I had a "pet" caimen...his name was "Goliath" once he tried to eat me, I figured it was game on....so I ate him instead lol
Oh, that is just priceless :lol
-Penguin
-
I haven't seen th hawk since I put up te owl, and we haven't lost any chickens.
-
glad to here the owl is working
Zoom and ink, those posts were freaking hilarious!
i say we shoud attack peta's forum again like what was done a few years ago... lol
-
Tupac~glad its been good so far, if I was you id still do some kind of top to protect them...I wish I could get online to post up some pics of my gator pit,I had a neighbor call the cops on me because of the gators,I wassnt home when animal control showed up,I guess he gave my wife a major tude at first, said he needed to see the enclosure, so the wife brings him in the back room,where they were at the time and he flipped out I guess,said it was the best enclosure he ever saw.A couple weeks later I smacked my dogs ass,he was a big whiner and the same neighbor called cops again,he showed up I was home at this time,I answer the door he asks about me beatin my dog,I laughed, then he goes"wait your the one with the gators right?"I say ya,he says"nope you aint beating your dog who ever puts that much time and effort into a gator,you obviously love your animals so no issues from me"the same neighbor diddnt like the fact that I had Pirana's.chick was dumb as a bag of rocks.lol
-
I'm building a 12x24 foot run for them, and I agree, we should post this same topic on the PETA forums
-
it has to end with you giving up and throwing a chicken feast for all your family and friends tho :D
-
This looks a little too thin to be chicken... what is this? A talon? :D
-
Tupac~glad its been good so far, if I was you id still do some kind of top to protect them...I wish I could get online to post up some pics of my gator pit,I had a neighbor call the cops on me because of the gators,I wassnt home when animal control showed up,I guess he gave my wife a major tude at first, said he needed to see the enclosure, so the wife brings him in the back room,where they were at the time and he flipped out I guess,said it was the best enclosure he ever saw.A couple weeks later I smacked my dogs ass,he was a big whiner and the same neighbor called cops again,he showed up I was home at this time,I answer the door he asks about me beatin my dog,I laughed, then he goes"wait your the one with the gators right?"I say ya,he says"nope you aint beating your dog who ever puts that much time and effort into a gator,you obviously love your animals so no issues from me"the same neighbor diddnt like the fact that I had Pirana's.chick was dumb as a bag of rocks.lol
Ink, how do you come up with these great lines?
-Penguin
-
I thought we agreed the survivors would become K1 cage fighters. :rock
-
AHAHAHAA i went to PETA.org and guess who was on the front page?
just click and you can see for yourself... http://www.peta.org/
i deffinately say we do this now? whos with me?
-
I'm with you, sir. :salute
PEOPLE
EATING
TASTY
ANIMALS!
-Penguin
-
AHAHAHAA i went to PETA.org and guess who was on the front page?
just click and you can see for yourself... http://www.peta.org/
i deffinately say we do this now? whos with me?
I'm in. Make a separate thread and pos the link. TONIGHT WE DINE ON MEAT!!
-
Hi guys, i don't think its been mentioned yet but its kinda obvious lolol but have u thought of chicken wire? thanx tell me if that helps!
-
will post it tomarrow
-
guys dont post a link here Skuzzy got all over another thread when the tree hugger forum link and thread was posted here
-
yup, thats why im gonna make a free webs
-
Penguin~hehe how ya doin bud? Good I hope.
-
Tupac~glad its been good so far, if I was you id still do some kind of top to protect them...I wish I could get online to post up some pics of my gator pit,I had a neighbor call the cops on me because of the gators,I wassnt home when animal control showed up,I guess he gave my wife a major tude at first, said he needed to see the enclosure, so the wife brings him in the back room,where they were at the time and he flipped out I guess,said it was the best enclosure he ever saw.A couple weeks later I smacked my dogs ass,he was a big whiner and the same neighbor called cops again,he showed up I was home at this time,I answer the door he asks about me beatin my dog,I laughed, then he goes"wait your the one with the gators right?"I say ya,he says"nope you aint beating your dog who ever puts that much time and effort into a gator,you obviously love your animals so no issues from me"the same neighbor diddnt like the fact that I had Pirana's.chick was dumb as a bag of rocks.lol
The LAST person i would want to make enemies with is someone with a gator pit :lol
-
The LAST person i would want to make enemies with is someone with a gator pit :lol
I'd put them on retainer :cool:
-
haha.......thats good but they were still little got up to 4' before I gave em away, it was a blast watchin them grow up, the pit was huge 91/2' long by 7' wide and 5' deep....lol one time I was changin the water, and went in the back room to smoke had some friends show up, this is when the pit was in my living room, so there I am 2 hours later im like" oh crap im filling the tank" I run out to living room,the tank was over half full of water HOLYHELL i yell, imagine a tank that size, with almost 3' feet of water.....I was lucky it diddnt fall through the floor...that woulda suked bad. I drained it out the window, all good but damn that was close.