The Poultry Keeper

nigel · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 12:14 pm Post subject: raptors, should I be worried

As I mentioned in the breeds thread I've started to move my lot outside.

We have Red Kites and Sparrowhawks which I don't think are a problem but we also have Buzzards and Montagu's Harriers.

Does anyone know if I should be worried about these?

CP · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 12:27 pm Post subject:

Buzzards are carrion feeders so they shouldn't be a problem. Same with Red Kites.
Sparrowhawks usually only take in flight.

The only problems you'll have will probably be with the Harriers. Marsh harriers will eat small birds, & mammals so I'd assume Montague's would be roughly the same. Wink

mojo · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 5:47 pm Post subject:

nigel..........kids plastic windmills that whirr in bright colours or old cd hung on foot long cords from trees etc help deter raptors without damage..........if you get really desperate the green cord that hums in the wind works but is a expensive and awkward option.............having said that......i cut up adayglo orange motorway vest in long strips and hang about the place.................we have lots of raptores here and both buzzards and sparrowhawk take live prey on the ground so take care..........regards to the rest of the swedish gang

NannyP · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 5:53 pm Post subject:

And there was me thinking you were just messy Very Happy

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3452 Location: Monmouthshire

Buzzards are a menace if you have small birds. Both my nankins and the friesians have to be confined - the larger bantams are OK, though one year they picked on my adult Cream Legbars, but were unable to carry them off, so I had to deal with massacres. We can have up to 6 circling aloft, and I suspect they may take the occasional unwary bantam, but usually they race off to any available cover. It's interesting to watch - for ground predators they go upwards, for ariel predators, under. For the runs with less cover, old CDs are effective deterrents.