It sounds like she has no plans to plant anything to provide more cover but she could easily provide more cover by providing clutter. That would be easy and likely cheaper than a dozen new chicks lol
It really does sound like her set up isn’t suited for free range as is. I hope she’s able to modify it.
I'm just too old to put all the time, energy and money into chickens and then see them killed by predators. It's just not my way. But to each his/her own way. I have no interest in trying to change anybody else, either.
I just don't understand why a person would rather continue to buy chickens and not protect them. I guess she is truly a free range or bust person, and she is not worried about getting busted. Losing 7 of 9 chicks in a few weeks due to hawk attacks is not a sustainable strategy, IMHO.
I guess she thinks nature will eventually conform to her ideals. I, on the other hand, assume I had better adapt to nature and not try to fight it. But I have been raising small animals for over 50 years. I have seen my share of predator attacks and learned lessons from them. She is just a young woman with first time flocks. I hope she eventually learns some way to protect her birds while still being able to enjoy them the way she wants.
Problem is, she’s not letting those attacks be instructive. The hawk will absolutely not go away as long as there are chickens. Why would it? She could probably make free ranging work if she changed how she did it, like making sure the chickens had plenty of places to go for cover. But if she’s not wanting to change absolutely anything, I don’t see how it’s going to work for her.From what I understand, she is not going to change anything on her property to prevent the hawk attacks. She believes the hawk will eventually go away. I agree. Once there are no more free chicken dinners, the hawk will indeed probably more on to a better location.
