Is it legal in the US to shoot a hawk that is killing your flock?

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Scooter&Suzie

Scooter&Suzie

Songster
9 Years
Jun 23, 2011
2,512
61
241
Pennsylvania
I have two runs for each coop - A small covered run, and a large uncovered run. A bit ago while the hens were in the uncovered run a hawk killed one. I did not let them back into the big uncovered. Today the hawk came back and scared my poor hens, in the covered runs, almost to death. I ran out, then the hawk flew away. I've seen him around since he got my first hen, and I am assuming it is the same one coming back for another "easy" meal.

I am afraid this hawk is going to sometime hurt my chickens again, or even me. The first time he came down he was eating my hen. I ran out very angry about to attack the hawk. I was within 5 feet when I stopped, realizing the hawk wasn't scared, or scared enough, of me to run away. Then I saw the beak... Owch. I rethought my strategy. My family came out, and after brick and stone throwing he moved away to a close tree and looked on. Sometimes my chickens are in the yard while I clean out their coops. I saw the hawk coming the other day while cleaning, and was able to quickly get everyone back into the coop. But what if next time the hawk comes down while I am still trying to get the chickens in the coop? And what if he tries to get a chicken that I am holding, or picking up? He is very bold, and I doubt he even think twice about fighting me for the chicken. Then, wouldn't I be protecting myself in self defence?

I would doubt that it is legal just to shoot a hawk, a red tail I am guessing. I wasn't really looking at his tail though... Where does the law run into this? I have a hen out in a cage with big spacing - Next time he comes he could reach through and pull of her head! He might even find a way into the coops. After all, you can kill a person in self defence, and a hawk would be no where at all close to taking a human life... Forgive me, steam is right now coming out of my ears in fusteration... grrrr.....


I found this: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100325130130AAsbrzi More steam is coming out of my ears...
 
I just lost my favorite and most sweet hen to a hawk yesterday. It had another bantam pinned to the ground, 6 inches from our house on our covered patio. Bold move. That one survived when my friend ran out the door hollering at it. Cadbury hasn't been seen since so we assume it took her first and came back. She was an OEGB.

This one has been hanging around our yard a lot lately, but this is the first time it grabbed one of them. The roosters protect them well...what the H happened yesterday, I am not sure. Typically, when the hawk is near, I can recognize the warning calls and will run outside. Our 2 male Cayuga ducks give away that danger is near with their frantic quacking as they come to the patio door-sometimes even pecking it to further get my attention. We have 5 roosters to the (was) 13 hens.
 
No. In fact it is illegal for an American citizen to pick up and look at a naturally shed hawk feather even if they find it laying on the ground. It'll get you 6 months to 2 years in a Federal prison. But as an old Moon shiner I knew once said, "Ketching comes fore hanging!"

Unfortunately there is an army of humans out there (The word people is way too kind) who have nothing better to do in their insignificant and boring little lives than to report you to the authorities so as to atone for their own pitiful self loathing selves.
 
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chickengeorgeto said:
No. In fact it is illegal for an American citizen to pick up and look at a naturally shed hawk feather even if they find it laying on the ground. It'll get you 6 months to 2 years in a Federal prison. But as an old Moon shiner I knew once said, "Ketching comes fore hanging!"

Unfortunately there is an army of humans out there (The word people is way too kind) who have nothing better to do in their insignificant and boring little lives than to report you to the authorities so as to atone for their own pitiful self loathing selves.
Click to expand...

Hmm... Did I say we were throwing stones at it? I meant to say we were consitering it, but then he flew away
hide.gif
 
The hawk attacking my flock has gotten 3 chicks in 2 days, has flown right past me (within 3 feet) to attack the birds, has gone under a yard chair, and has flown into a small coop right to the door of the nest box. I am royally pi**ed. <SSS>
 
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Anyone with the money, time, really good evidence of persistent attack(s) and who enjoys jumping through hoops can apply for an FWS Depredation Permit.

http://www.fws.gov/forms/3-200-13.pdf

One of the questions should tell one all one needs to know about the means (non-lethal) one needs to take prior to the FWS penning anything final:

5. Describe the nonlethal measures you have taken to control or eliminate the problem, including how long (e.g., a week, month, year(s)) and how often they have been conducted. List the techniques you have tried, such as harassment (e.g., horns, pyrotechnics, propane cannons), habitat management (e.g., vegetative barriers, longer grass management, fencing), cultural
practices (e.g., crop selection and placement, management of pets and feeding schedules), or no feeding policies.
Click to expand...

Don't think harassing them with volleys of bottle rockets,while they're nesting, is acceptable, but short of that?

/turkey hens and CD/DVD's (shiny side up) have worked here (in the woods, however).
 

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