[chook mother]

Yesterday lunchtime a Harris Hark swooped down into my chicken run fortunately it got caught up in the electric fencing which unfortunately was turn off as husband was changing water etc one of the chickens sustained injury to her comb so had to keep her in the kitchen over night she seems ok today but they are very scared to go out in their run, they are ok in the garden as there is lots of cover for them to hide in, the owner of the bird came round to see how the chickens were today and I have told him to take his bird elsewhere, this is just a warning to you all if you have birds of prey enthusiasts in your area, I guess my egg production will be down for a while.

[spud]

Sorry to hear about the incident ... I know you are annoyed at the man, but I hope your tone was mellower than I felt from your post, as he did do his best to make amends by calling around to enquire about your hens.
I don't keep hawkes but really admire them and they do what comes natural to them ... hopefully he will be more responcible where he flys the hawk in future.

Cheers

 

[Helenaj]

We have a mating pair of wild Goshawks near us and a friend who keeps chickens quite close to where they nest has had over 40 of his hens taken by them over the last year. The Goshawk doesn't even bother to fly away with the chicken now and just eats it in the pen. He's tried everything to scare them away and feels that the only option open to him is Mr Rifle. Illegal, I know, but what else can you do?

[mumofstig]

what else can you do?
you can cover the pen, if it's not too large.

[bantam novice]

I agree with Mumofstig here,  you can use garden netting over the run.

[Helenaj]

They free range in fields as he keeps a huge flock (1000+). Believe me he's tried all things to keep them away. He gets more trouble from these two hawks than he ever did with a fox.

[Kenilworth]

Instead of netting cant you just run a suspended grid of wire (not sure if i have described that too well) making it difficult for the bird to swoop down? I'm sure i  have seen this done before. Of course this depends on the size of field.

[chook mother]

The thing which annoyed me was the fact that even though we are surrounded by countryside  he let his bird fly right next to our village  when he could have walked a few hundred yards and have the fields to himself, it really has spooked my chickens, I just dont think he was being very responsible and it was a huge bird especially its feet  and talons much bigger than a buzzard and we have lots of them around us, it isnt as though its a native species they are from South America I believe.

[ex-cavator]

We have a mating pair of wild Goshawks near us and a friend who keeps chickens quite close to where they nest has had over 40 of his hens taken by them over the last year. The Goshawk doesn't even bother to fly away with the chicken now and just eats it in the pen. He's tried everything to scare them away and feels that the only option open to him is Mr Rifle. Illegal, I know, but what else can you do?

With Goshawks being one of our rarest and most impressive raptors with probably no more than 400 UK breeding pairs, a Schedule 1 species afforded the highest level of protection under the Wildlife & Countryside Act, I would not recommend shooting them. The RSPB is currently offering rewards of £1000 for information leading to convictions for killing these magnificent birds.

If your friend has such problems, why don't you suggest he approaches the RSPB for help - they may well be prepared to offer assistance / compensation in order to protect the birds welfare and to ensure they are free to carry on doing what comes naturally to them.

Failing that, what's your friend's name? I'll look forward to collecting the cash when I read about the bird's death on my Birdwatch report 

[freebirdy]

So glad of your post ex-cavator! I was appalled when I read the mention of "Mr Shotgun!"  These birds are beautifull and having been persecuted and almost hunted to extinction and having been so much hard work done by conservation groups to re-populate and protect these birds it's beyond contempt that anyone would even consided shooting them! Let them be. Sorry for the loss of the chickens, however with a flock over over 1000+ birds it would take the gosshawks years to do any serious damage. We have red kites here so I live with the threat of losing birds all the time and I've only got 7!! And I contend with foxes, badgers and mink too! Don't jest about shooting these marvelous birds. You never know when that glib comment may come back to haunt you if they go missing.

[Helenaj]

Don't jest about shooting these marvelous birds. You never know when that glib comment may come back to haunt you if they go missing.

I was merely quoting what a friend said to me - in no way do I condone what he threatened to do.

[Beano]

I'm so glad that we don't have any goshawks around her. We have red kites and buzzards a plenty but they would not take fully grown chickens. Goshawks on the other hand are a totally different matter. They are very effective hunters and will take a chicken easily. I'm a member of the RSPB and will never condone shooting them. BUT I would be horrified if they kept picking off my chickens. I sympathize with your friend Helenaj and fully understand his/her frustration. Hopefully the RSPB or some other organisation will be able to help.

[freebirdy]

I have bantams and believe you me a red kite would take one if given the opportunity. Carrion crows have been known to take bantams!    They would be hard pressed to take a LF but bants are easy picking to a hungry hawk!