Oh dear! What a tough situation. You property is as wide open as it gets!
Well, you have a few options available to you, though they probably aren't going to be what you want. There is always risk whenever you free range, even if you take measures to reduce it. You CAN reduce the risk, but you really have to be okay with the thought that you still can lose a bird or two now and then.
Here are a few things that can help reduce the chances of a hawk taking one of your birds:
- Learn what species of hawk you are dealing with. Different species sometimes have different hunting tactics. Being armed with this knowledge can help you prepare.
- Consider planting bushes and shrubs. Find species that grow low and are fairly thick. Having a place to 'dive into' can increase a chicken's chances of evading a hawk. Just be aware that hawks-- especially some species-- are not too concerned about rough and tumble and may well chase a chicken into a bush. Some will not.
- Some people have had success with creating man-made hides and shelters. This can be a series of palettes set up on bricks, or old dog houses, etc. Just areas that a chicken can escape under. Note, again, though... some hawks will chase birds right into tight quarters!
- You can try a scarecrow, and move it around often so that the hawk feels insecure in the presence of a "human". This loses effectiveness over time, and some hawks frankly don't care if there are people around. In such cases, a scarecrow will do you little to no good.
- Consider a rooster. A good rooster will not only alert the hens (which on their own are alert but sometimes easily distracted) to danger, but he will tangle with a hawk head on to save a hen. Sometimes roosters come out of such encounters unscathed, sometimes they lose their life to protect the girls. Look for fast roos-- game roos are often very good protective roosters.
- Some people swear by having other large birds around, such as geese, turkeys, or peacocks. This is something you should only consider if you want those birds anyhow-- and please know that a very determined (or desperate) hawk can still take even these large birds out. The key to having success with larger birds is to get more than one that will tangle with the hawk to protect flockmates. Sort of how a rooster would! This is a risky solution at best. It works for some people, and not for others.
- Consider a livestock guardian dog. This is obviously a pretty big step so it is something to really carefully think over! It involves training the dog to protect the chickens (instead of becoming a predator!) and to be alert for danger not only from the ground but from the sky. Some breeds tend to be better at this than others. If you search for livestock guardian dog on the forum you will get a whole lot of threads!! It is a big commitment and a lot of work but a good livestock guardian dog is about the best protection a free ranging flock can have. A hawk simply won't risk its life to take a chicken if there is a large ground predator that would attack it! Hawks are not large enough to carry away a full grown large fowl chicken, and must eat their catch on the ground. That's too risky if a dog is near.
- Keeping your birds in a large run or a chicken tractor with a fenced or netted top is the only real foolproof way to keep hawks off of them. I know this is a bummer because free ranging chickens is great-- but it is a decision only you can make.
