Hawks - Anyway to Make Them Go Away?

[sunflower-n-ks]

I know they are protected and all of that, even though there are more of them around than ticks on a dog. LOL

I have been dealing with predators(s). Four footed and winged. At this point, the poultry are shut up in a pen at night, so far, so good. I had started letting the geese and ducks out into the 2 acre pasture during the day. They really need to be out there for the food they can forage and some exercise. I had figured that it was an owl or some four footed night creature that was doing the damage. Then noticed a duck was missing. A big muscovy cross drake. Back to being extra watchful.

Just let them out yesterday morning and a big red tailed hawk landed on the power lines over the pasture. Somehow I actually managed to get them all back into the pen. The hawk was back several times through the day. There are literally hundreds of miles of fields and pastures around here, he doesn't need to hunt my 2 acres. Neither can I put a "top" on that much area. Just want him to move down the road a ways where I have seen him hunting this winter.

[JohnL751]

It takes YOUR birds awhile to learn to hide from hawks. Then there has to be things nearby for them to hide under. Cars, trailers, boats, bushes, all work well.

[halfpint]

We solved our hawk problem with a great Pyrenees, and she has worked well for us.
Dawn

[EDDIE BUCK]

When the hawk starts killing chickens or ducks,my opinion, his protection just went out the window.I'll trap him with a trap on a pole or shoot him whichever happens first.Now I'm not saying shoot every hawk you see,just those that are watching your ducks or chickens with dinner on his mind.

[BamaSuzy]

My adult son will run out and shoot off a bunch of firecrackers when hawks are around....

I also put a "scarecrow" sitting in a plastic lawn chair out in the chicken pen and move it around every few days. It just stuff some of my old jeans and a shirt, (which I pin or sew roughly together) and make a rounded head out of an old tee shirt, paint on eyes and a mouth, and put an old baseball cap on it...seems to help some...

Our roosters help by alerting the chickenswhen they are free ranging and they hide under an oak tree that has low branches that I purposedly leave low just so they have a good hiding place.

best wishes!

[canecutter]

Guineas make good alarms, chickens soon forget the hawk is there and become dinner.

[InvalidID]

My turkeys seem to have done a pretty good job of scaring off the hawks. They tend not to want to swoop in on a bird that's larger than they are.

[airotciv]

My County Poultry Agent told me to keep my poutlry lock in the barn for 5-7 days. The hawk/s think the food supply is gone and go on to greener pastures. This has worked for me over the years, it's just a real pain to do.

[ksfarmer]

Not to say it can't happen, but, I've never seen a hawk go after anything as large as a muscovy drake. Young ducks, chickens and smaller poultry , yes. And Eddie Buck is right, if a protected bird is preying on your flock, his protected status is revoked.

[sunflower-n-ks]

I am going to check with the state wildlife agent to see what Kansas law is. I think I have heard that if a protected bird is killing livestock you have the right to eliminate them. I wonder about the big duck though. But then there are so many predators around here that it is hard to sort out. Could have even been a dog passing through the yard. I also found a owl eating a big goose one day.

I am working on fencing for the four legged critters, but when they start coming in from the sky also it makes it hard.

I have not let the birds out yet today and when I was out I did not see anything of the hawk. Maybe if the birds and I survive their being shut up for a few days that plan will work. The geese are NOT happy about being shut up during the day.

I also know there are some golden eagles in the area. If one of those have come here that will be another problem.

[airotciv]

That is what is so hard, when I have to lock up the birds. They are pretty much ----ed off at me, but it is for thier own good. Still a pain for me and them. But it works.

[fishhead]

Build a bottle rocket gun. It's just a piece of small diameter pipe to direct the rocket. I used a pipe to shoot bottle rockets at the mergansers that were eating my fish. Cut the pipe about 3' long, set the rocket inside with the fuse hanging over the edge, light the fuse, point it at the bird and let it scream towards them.

[MaggieJ]

We have plenty of hawks here, but the crows keep the hawks in check. They congregate and harass them until they move on. Since 2003 I have lost only one, possibly two, birds to hawks.

[tinknal]

Get a turkey or two, heritage breed is best. They are sky watchers and will sound the alert on any winged predators. The chickens will soon learn to heed the alarm and hunt a hole when the turkeys go off.

[tinknal]

BTW, I agree that it is unlikely that a red tail took on a large drake scovie.

[wingnut64]

Originally Posted by fishhead

Build a bottle rocket gun. It's just a piece of small diameter pipe to direct the rocket. I used a pipe to shoot bottle rockets at the mergansers that were eating my fish. Cut the pipe about 3' long, set the rocket inside with the fuse hanging over the edge, light the fuse, point it at the bird and let it scream towards them.

That's a good idea. With a little practice, you can get pretty accurate with one, too.

[oregon woodsmok]

I don't mind the hawks. They keep the sage rats under control. They also do at least a small amount to try to control the plague of sparrows.

[farmmom]

Attract crows. Crows will bully the hawks until they leave. My folks had a terrible time with the hawks catching their chickens and guineas until the crows moved in. They stopped loosing birds then.

[sunflower-n-ks]

The bottle rocket sounds interesting and even fun. But if there is any spark that could land on the ground, that would be totally out at this time. No rain, so dry here. The pasture is really crunchy, but there is green grass underneath.

I have never seen any crows around here. ???

I agree about the hawks keeping the rodents under control, but not at the expense of my poultry when there is a mega feast of rodents around. The red tails only winter here so they should be moving on before to long. Hopefully.

It worked today, kept them all penned until late afternoon. Let them out to romp and swim, called them back to the pen fixed with fresh water and grain and they almost stampeded into it. ALRIGHT!!! Now, if they would do the same in the morning, they would have two outings a day. I didn't see the hawk today, but was not out so much either. I saw one on a post along the highway about a mile away. Plus a bunch all along the highway into town.

[Pops2]

i know a falconer that regularly takes canadas w/ his wild caught male peregrine & his female gyrXperegrine. a strong & aggressive raptor that scores a good kill on a bigger bird will get comfortable w/ it.