Best Defenses Against Hawks and Coyotes?

[Peppercorngal]

We live in an area with coyotes and hawks. We have an egg sales business that specifies that the chickens free range, and I know that they are happiest when doing so. We were having problems with coyotes sneaking in from the "timber" side of the property, grabbing a chicken and running back to the timber. Also a couple of stray dogs attempted the same. To control this, husband and I put a 4 foot farm fence up to enclose the free range area. The area is almost the size of a football field so chickens have plenty of room to range and daytime coyotes can't "run in, run out" anymore. Hawks have been after my hummingbirds, not my chickens! My rooster "alerts" for any larger bird he sees, crows, turkey vultures, anything! and the hens listen and run to their run or freeze. Yes, the fence was an expensive fix for the coyote problem, but we have had not one issue now in two years!
This photo is just a part of the free range area.
Good luck!

 

[The Moonshiner]

OP did not qualify 'Best Defense' with 'Best Legal Defense'.

It should be a given that when someone is asking about a solution that they're looking for one that won't be costing them a hefty fine and/or jail time.
If you want to give that type of advice maybe include in your post that they need to check the legality.

 

[Fairview01]

It should be a given that when someone is asking about a solution that they're looking for one that won't be costing them a hefty fine and/or jail time.
If you want to give that type of advice maybe include in your post that they need to check the legality.

0nly people who are dumb enough to actually believe its legal to shoot a bird of prey would get caught.

A wet towel probably has a better sense of humor.

 

[Aquatic_blue]

Thank you for your responses and advice, everyone!

I am within city limits so discharging a firearm isn't an option for chicken protection. We have a tall fence with a locked gate and recently repaired any gaps or weak areas. We also made sure predators could not crawl under our home from the front yard and get in. Hopefully coyote is the least of our worries.

I have heard so many great things about having a good rooster to warn the flock. Sadly, city ordinance will not allow roosters, probably because they crow. Otherwise, we would have gotten one.

We will probably stick with short supervised free ranging sessions and see how it goes when they are adults. If need be then we will do a bigger enclosed run. =)