sparrowhawk threat??

[kev01293]

hi,i am a novice and within the last 3 days have seen a sparrowhawk taking small birds fom my next door neighbours bird table,this is the first time i have seen a sparrowhawk near my loft and ive kept my pigeons confined to the the loft since then,any advice regarding when i should let my pigeons out would be appreciated as im assuming the hawk will return(probably when birds are excercising) any tips that may help prevent hawk attacks would also be appreciated

                          thanks

                          kevin

ps i have treated my birds with ivermectin as ive read this helps-how often should i treat them?

[jimmy white]

kev ,,youll maybe get some info on the hawk posts the ivermectin is poison to the hawks, but its not your fault if a hawk eats one and  poisons itself ,, youve treated in the beleive that the ivermectin cures parasites ,both inside the bird and outside the bird, with the best of faith,, good luck to you and hope things go quiet

[Diamond dave]

Hi Kev,

I believe that the birds will become wise to the sparrow hawks - I have about 4 -5

attacks a day on little birds in and around my garden. - At least one a day while my birds are out.

I think sparrowhawks get thier prey with suprise attacks, they wont catch a pigeon in the air.  I have made my garden bird friendly cos I believe that if you encourage the wild birds, they are all extra "eyes" for your pigeons. Your neighbours bird table could be a distraction ffor the hawk. The old birds should wise up to the hawks - its young uns you need to worry about. One thing is very important - always leave the the younb bird trap open - dont shut them out, they need to always have the shed as a sanctuary when the sparrowhawks strike.

This is just my experience Kev - it suits my garden and shed and I have never had a bird taken in the 10 years I have been here. Also dont overfeed your youngsters, cos they will need to be agile and alert at all times.

- Wish you good luck mate.

 

D.D.

[Diamond dave]

Hi Kev,

I believe that the birds will become wise to the sparrow hawks - I have about 4 -5

attacks a day on little birds in and around my garden. - At least one a day while my birds are out.

I think sparrowhawks get thier prey with suprise attacks, they wont catch a pigeon in the air.  I have made my garden bird friendly cos I believe that if you encourage the wild birds, they are all extra "eyes" for your pigeons. Your neighbours bird table could be a distraction ffor the hawk. The old birds should wise up to the hawks - its young uns you need to worry about. One thing is very important - always leave the the younb bird trap open - dont shut them out, they need to always have the shed as a sanctuary when the sparrowhawks strike.

This is just my experience Kev - it suits my garden and shed and I have never had a bird taken in the 10 years I have been here. Also dont overfeed your youngsters, cos they will need to be agile and alert at all times.

- Wish you good luck mate.

 

D.D.

[Diamond dave]

OOOOOOPPPPPS !!!!

Thats doubled the advice!!!!!

[peterpau]

Sparrowhawks regularly come along the hedge behind our pen. However we aint had a strike yet, in six years of living here. Also I always leave the pen open while the birds exercise. Can't guarantee you'll be ok but touch wood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest TAMMY_1]

CONTACT JOE MURPHY WHO WRITES IN THE BHW HE HAS A CD THAT HAS AN EAGLE OWL SOUNDS ON IT AND I AM PLAGUED WITH HAWKS AND PEREGRINES AND SINCE I PLAYED THIS WHEN MY BIRDS WERE OUT HAVE TO ADMIT NEVER SEEN ANY I PUT IT ON ABOUT HALF HOUR BEFORE I PUT BIRDS OUT AND STAYS ON TILL THEY ARE IN DOES NOT HAVE TO BE TOO LOUD TO WORK BETTER AND CHEAPER THAN ALL THE OTHER THINGS ADVERTISED AS HE ONLY TAKES A SMALL DONATION THAT IS SENT TO THE UPKEEP OF OWL

[westy]

if it is after small birds it will not go after the pigeons as it is a male but if you see big ones then you have something to worry about as they are female.

[REDCHEQHEN]

I had a sparrowhawk attack on Thursday in my garden, though it only slightly injured one of the birds - this morning there are 4 sparrowhawks circling over the are. Now that Joe Murphy and I are on first AND second name terms - I might give him a call !! LOL  

;) ;D ;D ;D :B :B

[Guest TAMMY_1]

I had a sparrowhawk attack on Thursday in my garden, though it only slightly injured one of the birds - this morning there are 4 sparrowhawks circling over the are. Now that Joe Murphy and I are on first AND second name terms - I might give him a call !! LOL  

;) ;D ;D ;D :B :B

 

THIS DISC IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS YOU WILL EVER GET [ UNLESS YOU SPEND A NIGHT WITH ME ]

[jimmy white]

 

THIS DISC IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS YOU WILL EVER GET [ UNLESS YOU SPEND A NIGHT WITH ME ]

 

give him a slipped one thatll knock the nonsense out his head ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D couldnt resist tammy ;D ;D ;D

[Guest]

Agree with most of what has been said in the other posts, except Ivermectin which isn't a deterrant and won't stop your birds being taken. Interested to hear that the eagle owl calls are working as a deterrant, and worth a try by you and your neighbour. Neither of you want a sparrowhawk treating your gardens as a larder..

 

 

Sparrowhawk seems always to attack from cover so make sure there's no trees or stuff in your own garden where it can hide and launch a surpise attack on your birds while they are on the ground. Fanciers here have also used reflective discs on their loft which have turned daily attacks into no attacks at all for 2 years+ ....

 

 

 

[ALF]

I've been trying to break a couple of 10 week old youngsters so have been letting them out every day this week along with the 8 old cocks(Big mistake).Came home from work last night and the youngsters were gone but i did'nt think much of it until this morning on checking the old birds and finding there was 1 missing(A yearling i timed from Maidstone :'( > >) So started to look around the place and then i found a pile of feathers and half eaten mealy cock > > Got 1 of the youngsters back at lunch time but god knows if the others have stopped flying yet after getting the lifes scared out of them : :

[kev01293]

thanx 4 everyones replies,sorry 2 hear some of u r also having hawk problems, im letting the birds out now 4 the first time since i saw the hawk in next doors garden and im hoping everything will b ok,i think i will try the cd,s and see how things go,once again thanx 4 all the help/advice

                                 kev

[Peckedhen]

Some folks in the States have a large plastic model of an owl on their lofts and it seems effective as a deterrent.  

[Roland]

http://www.themodernapprentice.com/diseases.htm

 

not any Ivermectin does the trick. And whilst I'll agree it isn't a deterrent it stops them coming back normaly. There are very many ways of stopping Hawks coming back... but that is one of the most pleasant as you don't have to do any more.

[Guest]

http://www.themodernapprentice.com/diseases.htm

 

not any Ivermectin does the trick. And whilst I'll agree it isn't a deterrent it stops them coming back normaly. There are very many ways of stopping Hawks coming back... but that is one of the most pleasant as you don't have to do any more.

 

 

Skimmed through your link Roland and you seem to have missed the real sting in the tail in that there link:

 

Falconers recommend Ivermectin be given to their own hawks, so bang goes that 'dose pigeons to kill hawks' theory. As Ivermectin is poisonous and builds up in the birds body, and a skin irritant, sincerely hopes they keep adosin' them hawks... saves us a bit of bovver.

[Roland]

That's why I posted it Bruno. It's not the Strong Rig etc. type of Ivermectin, And Of course the Hawk guys propoganda that.

If you care to dab one drop of IVOMEC POUR-ON (nothing else will do) on to the flesh on the back of your pigeon's neck, That is why I posted the above Bruno.

Can only do good.

[bewted]

whats the differance and effectiveness between IVOMECTIN and NOROMECTIN PLZ,,,,,,TED

[jimmy white]

ROLAND IF YOU READ BRONOS POST ON IVERMECTIN ON "HEALTH POSTS"" UNDER LICE" IT MAY HELP , AS I SAID B4 IT WONT STOP THEM ATTACKING THE BIRDS BUT THEY WONT DO IT FOR LONG, IF IT KILLS PIGEONS TREATED WITH THIS , IT WILL SOON POISON ITSELF

[Roland]

Hi Jimmy, will do by night fal - have to get ready for work -

If one just asks a few grom Glamorgan their troubles are a lot lot less and far far better. bUT IT must BE IVOMEC POUR-ON.

[Guest]

Had also posted elsewhere on the other interesting bitty in Rolands link, on frounce, and especially the pic in there showing the damage it did to the hawks hyoid bone [think its the equivalent to the top of our voicebox].

 

Frounce is their term for the disease we know as canker.  Hawks get it from eating pigeons carrying canker.

 

With respect, Ivermectin is a slow build-up over time in the body kinda thing. Might take years to do the job on one hawk.

 

Canker [or frounce] is immediate and by the cut of the pic, pretty devastating for  poor wee hawky, and poor wee baby hawkies too.

 

So in my book a canker-resistant pigeon that carries a reservoir of trich that can do it no harm but can rip the throat from a hawk is a much more effective weapon ... much more lethal than a gun or poison.

 

And its use is absolutely legal ... absolutely no comeback from any quarter.

 

 

[Dave A]

ive heard that a bread crate with 1"thick glass on the top with a pigeon inside gets rid of them but i would never try it as its illegal and i dont have a hawk problem as yet

[jimmy white]

its not a slow build up if its done" properly" i think maybe roland gets the drift????

[Roland]

I do Jimmy ... and a a great fancier,sadly no longer with us namely Bob Flemmings, was a passionate believer in Canker as a a hazard to say the least, to hawks. But we treat for thrush / canker regularly - well I don't,  and ferals are carriers of canker, but they don't get caught often" Are they to street wise, or does percy know and leaves them be! Best thing for any loft is a couple of street wise Ferals. Enticed and made at home when chance occurs, treated like your own, and left with the birds. they see percy so much quicker and dart in to saftey, than ours seem to.

But will post a full post from a great, well respected man of the highest reputation tomorrow on his views. In the mean time Bruno, Wales is at last making headway with the 4 in one!