Am I crazy for wanting to sell my whole flock

[McChooky]

Here is a map of where these birds live and hunt in the US.
Theres also a link to download a free raptor ID for other birds of prey https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Peregrine_Falcon/maps-range

 

[GreenHaven]

Thank you. I have had some hawk issues - hard to decide what to do. My birds are used to roaming.

 

[McChooky]

Thank you. I have had some hawk issues - hard to decide what to do. My birds are used to roaming.

I would be devastated if something killed one of my chickens so I protect them the best I can.Having a secure run is necessary if you want to keep them out if danger until a predators gone. If you have hawks present keep your chickens locked up until they're gone

 

[GreenHaven]

I will tolerate some losses if I feel the quality of life for my flock is better, which I do. But I am also trying to minimize them.

 

[BDutch]

Thank you. I have had some hawk issues - hard to decide what to do. My birds are used to roaming.

I know people who used camouflage netting over a more open part of their garden. Adding lots of bushes (not trees) gives chickens natural hiding places and helps a lot too.

Over a large run you can add cat netting or other strong netting with extra poles to keep flying predators out.

 

[Strawberry74]

I saw your reply on this post that is older - I would love more info on using the paracord or rope for hawk deterrence. How close do the strands need to be for this to be effective?

Good morning, I have rope crossed all over their outdoor pen area in a random pattern for when they are locked in the extremly large pen if I am not home. I have also used just a few strands of rope in a larger free range area and never had an issue with flying predators. The area I do not have ropes strung across is where I've lost a bird every great once in a while.

The idea of the ropes is to deter their natural swooping down hunting style in an open area. The hawks fly over and see the rope and move onto easier hunting in more open areas. I see them all the time. I am not saying it's 100% effective and will work for everyone all the time, but so far its worked here and gives me a little piece of mind and keeps my flock happy and able to free range when I am home.

 

[GreenHaven]

I know people who used camouflage netting over a more open part of their garden. Adding lots of bushes (not trees) gives chickens natural hiding places and helps a lot too.

Over a large run you can add cat netting or other strong netting with extra poles to keep flying predators out.

Thank you! I have added bushes in groups - now I need them to get bigger! I was looking into bird netting - the type used for fruit trees. I have never heard of cat netting - I'll have to look that up. Getting poles up to hold the netting high enough to walk under will be the challenge. But I could attach to the wood fence posts I think.

 

[Strawberry74]

Thank you! I have added bushes in groups - now I need them to get bigger! I was looking into bird netting - the type used for fruit trees. I have never heard of cat netting - I'll have to look that up. Getting poles up to hold the netting high enough to walk under will be the challenge. But I could attach to the wood fence po

Keep an eye on the condition of your netting if you decide to use it. It's a huge pain in the butt to put up and there will be curse words and it doesn't last very long unless you get something that's super thick and expensive. I learned a hard lesson a week ago when an owl tore right through my net over my duck pen and killed a duck. The net is no match for their talons or hawks I would assume even in the best of conditions. Just sharing my experience with netting.

 

[BDutch]

The fruit tree netting the shops sell here is awful thin and breaks easily.

I bought Trixie reinforced cat netting, about 6 years ago when I build my second attached run.
Its sold for balconies to keep cats in. I love it. Its even better than the netting for birds of pray cages. I used that on the first run. Rats had no problem to chew the thick net to pieces.

The cat netting has a 3cm maze, is darkish green and has a very thin iron thread inside the threads/netting.

 

[GreenHaven]

Good morning, I have rope crossed all over their outdoor pen area in a random pattern for when they are locked in the extremly large pen if I am not home. I have also used just a few strands of rope in a larger free range area and never had an issue with flying predators. The area I do not have ropes strung across is where I've lost a bird every great once in a while.

The idea of the ropes is to deter their natural swooping down hunting style in an open area. The hawks fly over and see the rope and move onto easier hunting in more open areas. I see them all the time. I am not saying it's 100% effective and will work for everyone all the time, but so far its worked here and gives me a little piece of mind and keeps my flock happy and able to free range when I am home.

My fence posts are about 5 feet high or so. I will have to extend them somehow. I think I might use this and some netting. My next chicken project! I have already added 6 hoop structures for them to hide under - some with sand boxes, and about a dozen bushes over the summer. I will probably add some evergreens in the spring - they love to hang out under them when I let them free range. All should help I hope. Thank you for sharing your technique!