Hawk Problems

Now that's a viable option for us. We had a pair of geese until a bobcat systematically killed them......one in the driveway in broad daylight, the other got hooked through a chain link fence he was sleeping too close to at night.

I'm fairly sure that Hawks are federally protected and that would include all 50 states. We can shoot coyotes, coons and lots of other predators but not HAWKS. Our chickens have enclosed yards with chicken wire on top. The Scovies don't.
I think some of ducklings that disappeared were grabbed by hawks. Last fall I had a good sized Muscovy drake killed by a hawk. I talked to the DNR. They gave me a number for the WI dept of Agriculture. He said the Feds have turned down his last several requests for permits to shoot or trap hawks for us that are stupid enough to freerange fowl. He sent info on a company that sells "Bird Bangers" and other bottle rocket type things that you can shoot toward the hawks to scare them away. With both types a special gun is required. That makes the initial investment $100 or more. He also said a pyrotechnics permit was required. I went looking for the permit. County sheriff thought I was nuts and had no permit. The town clerk had no permits and suggested the fire chief. Fire chief had no permits and said go ahead but tell your neighbors before you shoot any off. I don't know where else to look for the permit.

This is our hawk deterrent system. Not a single bird lost since installing it, whereas before we were losing one every couple of weeks.

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I sell fertile chicken eggs for hatching from our heavy-breed flock. Details are here.

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Hawks hate a hot LZ as much as anybody


Those are pretty common bird deterrent devices at our local airport.

The sparrow hawk is no concern of yours, as the purple martins are food it is entitled to. Wildlife DOES feed on other wildlife.

The red-tails are protected. Provide your chickens with cover - poultry netting is probably adequate.

Killing or otherwise harming raptors is highly illegal.

Thank you. I'm not trying to kill the raptors, I only asked for suggestions to deter them.

Now, I am wondering just what kind of hawks these living in my neighborhood realy are? I would guess their weight at about 26 oz. and 32 oz.

Surly I can find a pic somewhere on the internet and then I'll know.

Add: Found several good pictures and I belive we have Red-Shouldered Hawks eating our Starlings.