Falcons

MWB | 09:46 Sun 11th May 2008 | Animals & Nature

13 Answers

A neighbour of mine has free range chickens which go into their hutch at night. There has been a falcon swooping down onto them for the last few days but so far hasn't got any. Another neighbour said they are missing one of their chickens tho!
This falcon is getting bolder and is actually sometimes sitting on the hutches trying to get at the younger chickens.
How can they stop this falcon from coming each day swooping at thier chickens?

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shylock73

If they are free to run around, then thats the chance you take. You can`t stop Falcons from doing what they do, other than closing the birds in under a large wire netting.

raysparx1

They can never stop it trying, birds of prey always go for the easiest target first, as shylock says all they can do is put wire mesh frame over top of run, if run is very large then some sort of plastic mesh that lets in the light but will stop anything from getting in.

Cetti

Are you in the UK, MWB?

MWB

Question Author

I'm in New Zealand Cetti. The falcon is a protected species & rightly so. But if anyone can come up with a solution - scarecrow maybe?
I agree with shylock & raysparx - it's the chance you take & being a bird of prey it does what it does.
Beautiful creatures & wonderful to watch.

Cetti

Now it makes sense. I was curious to know which UK falcon would actually be interested in chickens, let alone try to attack one.

Just had a look ,MWB and found there is only one NZ falcon and that is the Karearea. What a gorgeous looking bird! I do envy you being able to watch it.

It looks as though the female, weighing in in at 500 lb might be the culprit. A very large lady! This website does mention their preferred foods, but also mentions poultry :

http://www.hawk-conservancy.org/priors/nzfalco n.shtml

burnhal

blimey, Cetti!! I hope thats a typo or thats one helluva big falcon!!

Cetti

lol!!

Do you know burnhal, when I wrote that I thought this bird is a whopper, but I do think you're right and the typo is on this website :

http://english.unitecnology.ac.nz/resources/un its/endangered/DANIEL/karearea.htm

Cetti

Yes, it should be 500g, not pounds!