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What predator is likely to attack young lambs? How can I stop this happening?

  • 31-03-2011 10:10AM
    #1
    kemen
    Closed Accounts Posts: 195 ✭✭


    I was out checking the sheep yesterday to notice 1 of my day old lambs was missing, so walked all round the feild to find the lamb beheaded as if it was cut with a knife. it defo wasnt a fox.. on the way back about 100 yards away from the body up got a buzzard from beside a small planted area. it does be seen about regularly.

    would it be possible this could be the work of a buzzard? and if so how can it be stopped??


«1

Comments

  • #2
    Half-cocked
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,319 ✭✭✭Half-cocked


    No way a buzzard would attack something as big as a lamb. Buzzards mostly feed on small rodents, rabbits, insects and worms, occasionaly pheasants and ducks. He would have been scavenging from the lamb carcass.


  • #3
    tomcat220t
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,220 ✭✭✭tomcat220t


    kemen wrote: »
    I was out checking the sheep yesterday to notice 1 of my day old lambs was missing, so walked all round the feild to find the lamb beheaded as if it was cut with a knife. it defo wasnt a fox.. on the way back about 100 yards away from the body up got a buzzard from beside a small planted area. it does be seen about regularly.

    would it be possible this could be the work of a buzzard? and if so how can it be stopped??
    I owned a buzzard or two and never knew them to have any interest in lamb size pray .Buzzards were not to blame ,imo!


  • #4
    Glensman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭Glensman


    A buzzard would/could easily go after new born lambs.
    We are infested with them in our area, especially with the fact they aren't allowed to be shot (I really do mean infested).

    I've seen buzzards take full-grown rabbits, smallish hares and attack full-grown pheasants.

    I've also had farmers complain to me of buzzard attacks, they are rare on lambs, but do happen...


  • #5
    kemen
    Closed Accounts Posts: 195 ✭✭kemen


    well if not a buzzard what else could it be?? these are only hoggets which the lambs are small!!

    Is there anyway of getting rid of them from around the area?


  • #6
    Glensman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭Glensman


    kemen wrote: »
    well if not a buzzard what else could it be?? these are only hoggets which the lambs are small!!

    Is there anyway of getting rid of them from around the area?


    No legal method that I am aware of... It might be different in the 26, but they are protected up here.
    Beautiful bird to see, but they are a nuisance when there are too many in one area.


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  • #7
    kemen
    Closed Accounts Posts: 195 ✭✭kemen


    Glensman wrote: »
    No legal method that I am aware of... It might be different in the 26, but they are protected up here.
    Beautiful bird to see, but they are a nuisance when there are too many in one area.
    their protected here aswell!! had 1 in another farm of ours and he done a great job keeping crows away round bales!! but taking lambs is to far!!
    At our shooting ground there was 3 hovering about 50 yards away from us over a plantin...


  • #8
    Glensman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭Glensman


    kemen wrote: »
    their protected here aswell!! had 1 in another farm of ours and he done a great job keeping crows away round bales!! but taking lambs is to far!!
    At our shooting ground there was 3 hovering about 50 yards away from us over a plantin...


    Lambs are def too far although you can't be 100% it was a buzzard. If you are a shooter though; they will do a lot of damage to game and ground game.

    It's a shame the birds don't seem to fan out accross the countryside- they often focus in one area more than others...


  • #9
    Dusty87
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,920 ✭✭✭Dusty87


    A buzzard wouldn take the head off a lamb like a knife. Probably scavenging on the carcus


  • #10
    landkeeper
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,181 ✭✭✭landkeeper


    that's clap trap speaking as a sheep farmer and game rearer buzzards won't harm your lambs or game birds for that matter something killed your lamb or it died and then something eat the head
    i reared pheasants for years with no trouble from buzzards in fact one year they nested in a big oak in one of the release pens
    anyone who shoots buzzards thinking they are doing harm to game birds deserves to loose their licsence and get a massive fine
    sparrowhawks will and do kill poults buzzards no in fact they do a good job on any shoot where you are feeding birds as they will mop up any rats on feed rides under feeders etc


  • #11
    tomcat220t
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,220 ✭✭✭tomcat220t


    landkeeper wrote: »
    that's clap trap speaking as a sheep farmer and game rearer buzzards won't harm your lambs or game birds for that matter something killed your lamb or it died and then something eat the head
    i reared pheasants for years with no trouble from buzzards in fact one year they nested in a big oak in one of the release pens
    anyone who shoots buzzards thinking they are doing harm to game birds deserves to loose their licsence and get a massive fine
    sparrowhawks will and do kill poults buzzards no in fact they do a good job on any shoot where you are feeding birds as they will mop up any rats on feed rides under feeders etc
    100% above!


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  • #12
    Glensman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭Glensman


    From another forum:

    "I have seen a buzzard take pheasant poults from a ride adjacent to a release pen on 3 consecutive days. One also killed a woodie in my garden as I was leaving the house.
    One buzzard or 2 regularly take rabbits from a field adjacent to the house. Finally, I shot a couple of pigeons one evening and placed them on a top hat feeder to collect on my way home. When I went to collect them, there was a buzzard feeding on the corpses. Buzzards like live prey despite what is said about their diet."


  • #13
    Cass
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 28,861 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cass


    Moved to Farming & Forestry.
    Forum Charter - Useful Information - Photo thread: Hardware - Ranges by County - Hunting Laws/Important threads - Upcoming Events - RFDs by County

    If you see a problem post use the report post function. Click on the three dots on the post, select "FLAG" & let a Moderator deal with it.

    Moderators - Cass otmmyboy2 , CatMod - Shamboc , Admins - Beasty , mickeroo



  • #14
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,116 ✭✭✭✭Birdnuts


    kemen wrote: »
    .

    would it be possible this could be the work of a buzzard? and if so how can it be stopped??

    Buzzards are not capable of killing a healthy lamb and no recorded cases have come to light in countries with much higher buzzard densities than us such as the UK. It is much more likely is was killed by some other predator(possibly mink)


  • #15
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,116 ✭✭✭✭Birdnuts


    Glensman wrote: »
    A buzzard would/could easily go after new born lambs.
    We are infested with them in our area, especially with the fact they aren't allowed to be shot (I really do mean infested).

    I've seen buzzards take full-grown rabbits, smallish hares and attack full-grown pheasants.

    I've also had farmers complain to me of buzzard attacks, they are rare on lambs, but do happen...

    There is no evidence to back up your rather wild claims:rolleyes:


  • #16
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,116 ✭✭✭✭Birdnuts


    Glensman wrote: »
    From another forum:

    "I have seen a buzzard take pheasant poults from a ride adjacent to a release pen on 3 consecutive days. One also killed a woodie in my garden as I was leaving the house.
    One buzzard or 2 regularly take rabbits from a field adjacent to the house. Finally, I shot a couple of pigeons one evening and placed them on a top hat feeder to collect on my way home. When I went to collect them, there was a buzzard feeding on the corpses. Buzzards like live prey despite what is said about their diet."

    Idle internet speculation is not fact:mad:


  • #17
    reilig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,401 ✭✭✭reilig


    Birdnuts wrote: »
    Buzzards are not capable of killing a healthy lamb and no recorded cases have come to light in countries with much higher buzzard densities than us such as the UK. It is much more likely is was killed by some other predator(possibly mink)

    A mink won't remove the head.
    But a buzzard wouldn't either. Its possible that the buzzard was just around to feast on the leftovers after what killed the lamb had its fill.

    To be honest, its likely to be a fox that got the lamb. They are hungry these days!!


  • #18
    Glensman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭Glensman


    Birdnuts wrote: »
    There is no evidence to back up your rather wild claims:rolleyes:


    Well this is a forum so I don't think my experiences/opinions need to be backed up with evidence...

    But I have seen myself, rabbits, hares and pheasants being taken by buzzards. It's not that much of a stretch for one to have taken a lamb. If you read back I said that there would be doubt whether a buzzard was the culprit in this case- I'm just saying it's possible.

    I have also seen grey crows kill rabbits and hares, a grey crow is a lot smaller than a buzzard.
    On the other side of the coin I once watched a buzzard to battle with 2 crows for a good half hour, the crows looked to have the upper-hand through most of the exchange...

    My 'claims' are not at all 'wild' I spend a great deal of my time in the outdoors in an area that has a Lot of buzzards.


  • #19
    Glensman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭Glensman


    Birdnuts wrote: »
    Idle internet speculation is not fact:mad:


    The OP asked if it was possible for a day old hoggot to be killed by a buzzard.
    Noone at anytime said that a buzzard did do it as fact, I am only saying that from my experience it would be possible.

    A couple of posts came up saying that buzzards wouldn't even take game; I said that I have seen this and also copied in text from another forum that I happened to be reading at the same time where someone else had said they had seen similar.

    A buzzard is a bird of prey; in areas where they are prevelant (like North Antrim) they are thought of by game shooters and rearers as a threat- much like foxes. I shoot for sheep farmers who hate them, as well as sheep farmers who adore them as they love looking at them...


  • #20
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,116 ✭✭✭✭Birdnuts


    Glensman wrote: »
    . If you are a shooter though; they will do a lot of damage to game and ground game.

    ..

    Theres no evidence for that eitheir - buzzards main food is carrion and mammals up to the seize of a rabbit. Rogue Sparrowhawks occaisionally cause problems but losses rarly exceed 5% compared to much larger losses from disease, bad weather, mink, fox etc.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=68323487&postcount=32

    This has been discussed before and the above is taken from the British Association of Shooters and Conservationests


  • #21
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,116 ✭✭✭✭Birdnuts


    kemen wrote: »
    well if not a buzzard what else could it be?? these are only hoggets which the lambs are small!!

    Is there anyway of getting rid of them from around the area?

    There not a threat to your lambs so whats your problem:confused:

    PS: Indeed buzzards are the farmers friends given the number of rats, rabbits and corvids they go through in the averge year!!


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  • #22
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,116 ✭✭✭✭Birdnuts


    Glensman wrote: »
    Well this is a forum so I don't think my experiences/opinions need to be backed up with evidence...

    .

    Says it all:rolleyes:


  • #23
    Glensman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭Glensman


    Birdnuts wrote: »
    Says it all:rolleyes:

    And what is it that you think it says?

    I think you have missed the point somewhere along the line of what a discussion forum actually is...


  • #24
    rambo87
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 112 ✭✭rambo87


    I saw a Buzzard fighting with a cock pheasant during the snow/ shooting ban.
    Unbelievable sight... the cock won because the buzzard flew off... im not sure if he was trying to eat the pheasant but it definitely was an attack.
    Foxes often chew the heads of rabbits/ hares first before eating the rest... ive found decapitated hares... go lamping and see what eyes you get.. (ive seen the buzzards in the lamp aswell) and youll be able to tell whats doing the damage. Use a caller


  • #25
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,116 ✭✭✭✭Birdnuts


    Glensman wrote: »
    deal of my time in the outdoors in an area that has a Lot of buzzards.

    So do I, plus I shoot and have helped people rearing gamebirds in the past and still know a number of gamekeepers - little or nothing in my 20 years experience of such things backs up anything you've said in this thread. Indeed wild pheasants appear to have had a bumper breeding season last year in these parts and the buzzard population equally has never been higher!!


  • #26
    The_Conductor
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 32,286 Mod ✭✭✭✭The_Conductor


    Guys, I am 'this' close to closing the thread.
    Constructive posts please, of relevance to the OP.


  • #27
    kemen
    Closed Accounts Posts: 195 ✭✭kemen


    Birdnuts wrote: »
    There not a threat to your lambs so whats your problem:confused:

    PS: Indeed buzzards are the farmers friends given the number of rats, rabbits and corvids they go through in the averge year!!
    i just dont want them around my land in the off chance that they will take a new born!! is there any way to scare them away??
    @rambo mr.fox shouldnt be a problem he's been well taken care off in the last few months!! :D

    any other suggestions on what it could of been?


  • #28
    The_Conductor
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 32,286 Mod ✭✭✭✭The_Conductor


    Kemen- to be perfectly honest- even magpies are more likely to attack lambs, than buzzards- however I very much doubt either would be involved in beheading a lamb.......

    In the event of finding a lamb beheaded- unless I had serious annecdotal evidence that a predator (be it animal or bird) was involved- I'd suspect human intervention.

    Google- 'predator beheading lamb'- and this thread is in second place of the search results. This shows you just how unlikely an occurrence this is......... Beheading of a lamb is incredibly uncommon in practice.


  • #29
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,116 ✭✭✭✭Birdnuts


    kemen wrote: »
    i just dont want them around my land in the off chance that they will take a new born!! ?

    Are you worried about UFO's swiping them too:rolleyes: - you just sounding ridicolous now given what has already been discussed in this thread. Indeed I suspect you have a hidden agenda against this protected and harmless species:mad:


  • #30
    johngalway
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,271 ✭✭✭✭johngalway


    I reckon it's a fox. Just because lads are controlling them doesn't mean that they're not around.


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  • #31
    kemen
    Closed Accounts Posts: 195 ✭✭kemen


    Birdnuts wrote: »
    Are you worried about UFO's swiping them too:rolleyes: - you just sounding ridicolous now given what has already been discusses in this forum. Indeed I suspect you have a hidden agenda against this protected and harmless species:mad:
    yeah i think scotty has it in for me!! i just asked a simple question if the bird was possible of doing such a thing, which is no in alot of posters veiws and wanted to know what else it could be so i can prevent it happening again....


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