Chickens in nature

[No Coop No Problem]

I'm very envious. The hawk kills most of our chickens and chicks.

Perhaps you could attract crows or something comparable in that family. The most common bird I hear about attacking hawks are crows. I'm sure people have successfully attracted or integrated them before

 

[Appalachickens]

Nope, they're just as free as all the others. One of the Orpingtons even caught a mouse the other day (and then a bunch of hens regularly chased and stole it from one another)

Having a dog really makes free-ranging easy mode. The only things that ignore the presence of the dog is birds of prey, however fortunately my land has a ton of blue jays that run those off

Ah, that makes sense.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Perhaps you could attract crows or something comparable in that family. The most common bird I hear about attacking hawks are crows. I'm sure people have successfully attracted or integrated them before

I put my coop smack in the middle of the existing crow territory and it is definitely helpful—more helpful when they have chicks in spring and summer—but that hasn’t stopped a red tail and her mate from stalking my chickens. Having a rooster that fights back has helped though

 

[McChooky]

My brother sweeps up any seed his bird spills on the floor and feeds it to the crows.They find a little corn spilled on the ground here and there from where he feeds all his goats and ponies too.They get a lot of fruit and treats too(worth their weight in gold if you free range)Don't mistake them with Ravens.They eat chickens!

 

[Hablo]

I put my coop smack in the middle of the existing crow territory and it is definitely helpful—more helpful when they have chicks in spring and summer—but that hasn’t stopped a red tail and her mate from stalking my chickens. Having a rooster that fights back has helped though

When I watched my turkey hen twice attacking and beating a hawk in spring, there was no successful hawk attack for more than 2 months after that...