First loss to Sky Raptor

[Cluckforluck]

So it happened. Our first loss to local bald eagle population. My wife and I knew it would happen eventually. However after a year of free ranging, we did become hopeful. We have approx 1/3 of an acre that we allow them to free range on. We have two welsummer roosters that are pretty much brothers - and will coordinate their supervision of the flock. If the roos sense or see any BOP in the area, we will witness the flock of around 10 fly to the run's overhead net.

The issue.
We had two newbies fresh in the flock. They did not want to go through the hassle of being picked on all the time, so they decided on their own to just being separated from the flock majority of the time. Last Tuesday, apparently our roosters made the call to return to base and while the original flock followed directions, the two newbies chose not to.

Bald Eagle swooped down and taloned our favorite into the retaining wall, then into the fence. By the time the eagle saw a rooster leave the run to start to come and help, the Bald Eagle gave up and took off, leaving our chicken. It looked as though it was killed from talon puncture, neck broken and possibly just heart attack. Prepared for devastated nine year old.

So I had to figure out how to even potentially prevent this in the near future. This flock had been free ranging for a year now. His newbie buddy was traumatized and went back to staying in the coop only for two or three days.

My Attempt to Deter

I went to Walmart and bought a roll of 23lb fishing like that was bright green, as well as a roll of metallic/red metallic reflective flash tape. Then from tree to tree, any other sturdy objects, I strung out tight lines of this fishing line and tied flashing tape to it at intervals. We're def in a windy area, so these things do make noise and flap around. At night with only a little light, it looks as though we have floating xmas lights.

Current situation

After two or three days of seclusion only to the run, we sprung them free for short supervised intervals to let them free range again. There has been no incidents yet - however it took a year the first time.

My problem

I have no idea if my thin wen of fishing line and flash tape will do the trick. I figure I may be able to take it all down around May when raptor mating season is over. Our surviving newbie finally left the coop and is slowly joining the flock, but always keeping roughly 10 feet. I want to know is my string and flashing is worth it. Is there something better I can do? Is there a more proper way to acclimate a new growing hen to the flock?

Newbie does currently consider home our 'Safety Box' which is a large nesting box that I wardened off from the coop with a hole in a transparent acrylic plate that full grown chickens couldn't fit through.

This is only year two for me. Like anything else I am always learning new things. I hope that some folks with experience can offer some insight. Thank you everyone.

 

[Yardfulla poopers]

So sorry for your loss.
I tried flash tape at one point to keep wild birds out of the feeder but it scared my chickens so bad they would not go near the coop. I had to take it down. I have also used it in my garden but it seems the wild birds acclimate to it very quickly. I hope it works better for you against the eagles. I have never tried fishing line except to deter deer and they just got tangled up in it and ate me trees anyway.
Flock dynamics can be difficult for newbies to navigate but in my experience they always figure out eventually that they are safer with the flock.
Best of luck.

 

[townchicks]

The biggest problem with predator deterence is you never know if it is working, until it's not. All you can really do is try it and see. Short of keeping our hens locked up 24/7, there is a risk you have to be willing to take. I used to be in the take no risk camp, but the longer I have chickens, and the better I know them, I feel they need to get out of a barren run and do chickening things. Better a short and happy life than a long unhappy one. Hard to explain to a nine year old though. So sorry.

 

[Cluckforluck]

The biggest problem with predator deterence is you never know if it is working, until it's not. All you can really do is try it and see. Short of keeping our hens locked up 24/7, there is a risk you have to be willing to take. I used to be in the take no risk camp, but the longer I have chickens, and the better I know them, I feel they need to get out of a barren run and do chickening things. Better a short and happy life than a long unhappy one. Hard to explain to a nine year old though. So sorry.

I agree with you if this forum was not available. I suppose I had hoped there were others before me that would leave their own experiences and help me understand what to expect. I also agree that the chickens must be free ranged.

 

[Sic]

I use just monofilament fishing line. It keeps the eagles from coming down into the treeline. Can't protect my fowl when they're out on the beach though, my opinion is that if the nature of the bird is not to follow the flock, they're assuming all the risk. They're going to have a short life, either I cull them because they are a problem or the wildlife does and creates a problem for the whole flock. Some are just dumb as rocks and not suitable for free-range. They're better off in someone's backyard, and sometimes that's where they end up. Roosters, drake, dogs etc all give warnings here. My drake fought off 3 eagles on the beach protecting his flock, forcing the eagles to drop the duck they were fighting over and managed to walk away without a scratch, duck injured but survived. My roosters run the girls into the trees, any not paying heed, well they're on their own. I've not lost a single bird to predators in 15 years, we've had a few scuffles with eagles over that time, it's mainly a winter problem when food is scarce for the eagles, or a young juvenile eagle looking for fast food takeout
I've learned over the years that breed matters, the ability to free range with predator awareness is inherently better than high production, if you intend to free-range your birds.

 

[texsuze]

Lots of folks use light-weight nylon bird netting (</= 1" squares?) to cover their open spaces. Think: circus tent. You're bound to find some examples here on BYC.

My girls free-range in a 3 acre pasture with lots of tree cover, low bushes and some "pallet huts" strategically placed so they can get from Point A to Point B without being out in the open too long. Having said that, I lost Bonita last November to a sharp-shinned hawk; my first avian predator loss in 14 years

 

[KyCoop]

I use string over my chicken yard and if the girls are free ranging in my yard im out there with them. I know that's not practical for most folks but I've waved off more then my fare share of hawks.