Eagles and other predators

[HeartoftheMatterFarm]

So I have lost a couple chickens to a fox. That fox is dead. There are more foxes around. So far I have not seen them. I have an eagle that has taken a duck. And I know there are some hawks around too. I think a fox took one of my other ducks. So what can I do to keep them safe. They are all free range birds. I do have feed and water for them in the coop.

 

[SueT]

Build a secure run, and stop free ranging for a while. I have found that after a predator attack or sighting, if I keep my birds confined in the run for a few weeks, that I can again let them out. Good luck!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Electric poultry fencing can stop most ground predators so long as the birds don't hop the fence.

For aerial...... That's harder if free ranging.

Honestly the way I would go is a chicken tractor. Yeah....not likely what folks want to hear.

People report having some success providing lots of hiding spots for birds in the free range areas.

Ducks are however kinda slow on the ground so are easy targets.
It would be tough for them to get to cover in time in my opinion.

I would seriously look at cattle panel hoop tractors.

I have seen posts where stringing fish line or twine in a criss cross pattern above the ranging area. It would really depend on spacing and how it's supported to make it work.

Deer netting? Again support and snow load and untangling birds caught in it???

Hawks are incredibly agile for chasing prey in the woods. Lots of videos out there on that.

 

[HeartoftheMatterFarm]

Thank you. What is funny both ducks was taken on a Saturday morning. One was take one week and then the other the next week. And I think the only reason the ducks was taken was they were sleeping out in the middle of the feild in a puddle. But now that is is frozen they hang around the goat barn. And are starting to go in the coop at night again.

 

[Bryant Redhawk]

For birds of prey We like to give our chooks several areas they can run for cover, we have two closely planted cedar trees (red junipers) several low roofed hideouts and their coop. We have two families of Redtailed Hawks, Owls and the occasional Eagle. So far the rooster has done a great job at getting his girls under cover when there is an overhead threat. I also have an area run that has red colored 60 lb. test fishing line criss-crossed over the whole space, the holes are under 13 inches so the raptors can't swoop without endangering their wings. Over the last two years we haven't had any problems from any of the raptors because of the way we have prepped the area the chooks use.