Chicken Run/Yard Fencing

[luke2]

Hello All,
I am new to here and chickens. I moved back to my hometown in pa on 2 acres and the previous owners already had chicken coop. Its about 8x 4 and only needs a little work. My issue is they let the chickens completely free range and apparently the hawks got all of them.

Im going to get 6 rhode island reds as pullets. I want to let them roam my yard, fenced in probably, but what can i do to prevent the hawks. I think putting a net above half my yard would look terrible. Should I create a small fenced in run instead, 10 by 10 or so, and let them free range only when im home? What have other people done to prevent hawks? I will be getting 2 pilgrim geese in may but they wont be able to be outside until june or july, not sure if they will deter them or not.

 

[SueT]

Welcome to BYC!!!!!!!
I have a big run with netting over it, but I let my chickens out to range almost every afternoon. Hawks have recently gone after the chickens when I am home, but none have yet been hurt by hawks partially due to a vigilant rooster. One way I deal w predators is to raise replacements each year. I didn't lose any last year, but lost some to coyotes in previous years. I like those pasture raised eggs, so I take the chances.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

I have heard many people say they let the chickens out when they can be out with them. On a podcast I heard you are better off letting them out in the afternoon rather than the morning. As you read around this website, you’ll find lots of suggestions, such as a scarecrow (move it around often), hanging CDs so the swing in the breeze, hanging shiny ribbon, etc. Seems there’s no perfect answer.

Some folks go to a chicken tractor so the birds can use different parts of the land every time it is moved.

Welcome to BYC!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC!
Because you are going to have cold winters and snow, I would suggest you build a covered, completely secured run attached to the coop. Install a 2' predator apron around the entire perimeter. You will be thankful for this space for when you cannot let your flock out and in the winter when that space is all they will have. You will be able to cover the sides of the run with tarps or plastic to block the wind and that is where they will spend most of their day during the winter.
As for the hawks, even if you are out with your birds hawks can attack. I've read countless stories of hawk attacks right under the nose of owners. Roosters can help sound an alarm but nothing is fool proof other than a secure covered run.
All that being said, I let mine out. They absolutely love it and I'd rather they be happy. I hope they aren't attacked by a hawk but I am willing to take the risk for them to lead a happier existence.
Good luck with your new flock.

 

[fldiver97]

Welcome! Personally I use a coop with a run, both walk in. The run is covered in 1/2” hardware cloth and has a full roof for predator protection as well as weather. I have a good sized backyard that is fenced and I let the chickens have the run of the yard when someone is home. I usually wait till an hour or so after sunrise, live next to a stretch of conservancy and all sorts of predators. During summer and early fall the chickens can find shade and shelter from owls and hawks in the tall prairie plants and bushes. When we have deep snow the girls spend a lot more time in the run. So I find having a good sized run with roof/cover essential but still like to have to chickens out in the yard as much as possible....

 

[aart]

Lots of hawks here......so I built a mesh covered run.
When winter snows come(well and during the summer scorchings too),
I wish I had built something with a solid roof on it...but...for hawks...
This works:

This will not(pic from interwebs)

 

[jreardon1918]

We have hawks every day. So far no losses. Most days I let the hens out in a fenced area. It may be that they can't easily fly straight in. So the hens have been able to hide when the hawks approach. One day I found a hawk standing on the grass just outside the fenced area. Lately they have been in the covered secure run. Due to a recent lurking fox. They don't care for the snow, so they tend to stay under anyway. We have been lucky so far. Good luck.

 

[HarmonyHomestead]

I’ve been weighing predator safety too. First year we got 4 chicks and a coop-run combo kit from tractor supply (beefed it up with some stronger wire and added wheels) but this year we got 6 chicks and I don’t think the 6’x8’ or whatever is enough room for 10. Rather than entirely free range them, we were going to take 3’ wide chicken wire and a few stakes and add a “yard” to it. I know they could theoretically fly over, but read that if you add twine to the top so there isn’t a stable perching surface, it will probably deter. Is this a good compromise so they don’t have to run far for cover? Will being under a large pine tree for cover provide some protection from hawks?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Will being under a large pine tree for cover provide some protection from hawks?

If the run is open on top there's always some level of risk. Trees don't really provide hawk protection (they can easily perch in them or swoop between branches). I have a willow tree overhanging my run and had hoped that would be enough but a hawk finally took out one of my hens.

My run (20x25) is now fully netted over.