Coastal Northern California . . . to free range or not?

[bkbkbk]

I am thinking of netting the area. So if anybody knows of a good how-to tutorial or video . . .

A note on redtails: Unfortunately, ours in this area are Coopers or Sharp-shinned (or both). Both of which will crash through the underbrush going after their prey. Even though my smalles hen (blue andalusian) is bigger than a Coopers (which is bigger than a sharp-shinned) I am of the understanding that both will kill and eat in place, w/o having to carry off their prey. Can anyone confirm?

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

Quote:
Yes, both a Coopers and a Sharp-shinned will kill and eat in place. Coopers Hawks are also known as Chicken Hawks for that very reason.

 

[christineavatar]

I have also read on this forum that hanging CD's from a string will act as a deterrent to hawks. We have so much shelter and wide open spaces that hawks are unsuccessful going after my chickens. I also live on the Northern Coast of California, in Marin County - that's the one that points down at San Francisco.

 

[Godiva]

I have had hawks swoop down just a few feet away from me while I was overseeing the flock the one afternoon and it was only because I ran at it shouting and waving a stick that it decided to wait for another more opportune time to take one of my really big cochins for dinner!!! That was enough to make me realise that hawks will go for even a really big bird. We only let our birds free range when we are around to supervise - just too many critters have chicken on the top of their menu! We covered our whole run with netting and never had a hawk casualty - though not for lack of trying on the hawks part! We watched hawks fly through our dense hardwood forest to swoop down on birds on the ground near the bird feeder! THey were partially 'covered' by an overhanging tree and still got chomped! We choose to only freerange when we can supervise. Many people choose to freerange all day and often get away with no casualties, but once the hawk has had a meal they will be back forever to check if there is anyone else available for dinner. We would rather not lose birds to predators...