A breeding pair of Red-shouldered Hawks live on our farm. For them -- the poultry yard is a buffet. To be honest -- most farmers would just shoot them, but that's not my idea of a solution.

 

For one, that's probably not legal and can land you in hot water with the feds.

 

Secondly -- it's a very temporary solution because in all likelihood another raptor would move in.

 

Third -- their main prey is rodents. Why would I kill a bird whose main job is eating rodents?! You wanna raise baby birds that also eat rodents??? C'mon in!!

 

It's a much better solution to find a way to work with the raptors and deter them from the poultry yard.

 

Insert one very large, white dog who loves chickens.

 

Yes, she's a dog but she's not a pet -- she's a working dog. She "goes to work" every morning and stays with the chickens until they go to roost at night. Just her presence in the poultry-yard has kept the hawks away. She gets breaks and playtime away from her "workday". Her instincts tell her to protect the animals I care about.

 

It's a win/win!