Free Range

[Sowerandtheseed]

We have chickens in our back yard, utilizing an old summer home for a coop. We have a fenced in run for them but they have learned to escape it and love forage in our landscaping. We dont really have an issue with this but recently we have had a coopers hawk decapitating several of our fowl. Does anyone have any ideas on how to prevent this predator from attacking our flock? (besides securing the run.)

Thanks for your Ideas

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Put a scare crow outside,a rooster will also help the situation.Roosters,will warn hens of hawks,and may even take them to safety.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! When you have a hawk attack, it's time to lock your flock in their predator proof coop and covered run, for two or three weeks, until the hawk moves on elsewhere. That's the best solution, and will happen sometimes when you have free ranging birds. Lots or trees and shrubs or other cover for the chickens helps too, and the survivors will be a lot more careful. Rooster(s) help too, but that covered run is essential for your birds. Mary