Free ranging and hawks - do you accept the losses?

[CassieD]

Very good to know about the raccoon. I wouldn’t have thought they would be out at that time. I appreciate the answer, thank you

 

[Perris]

Big trees are not useful as cover for chickens. They prefer shrubs, the understorey generally, where they can get through the gaps between branches and larger predators can't follow. A mass of tangled foliage, branches and twigs over their heads is much better protection from aerial predators than a high canopy. Think jungle rather than plain or wood.

 

[texsuze]

CD, looks like you'll have almost a blank slate at your East TX property to plan for chickens. For fencing I'd suggest 5' no-climb horse fence (Red Brand, etc). Try to leave some nice understory bushes within the fenced chicken area; you can go back and do some light pruning to make it easy for chickens to get underneath and still have cover from aerial predators, plus shade. Have some space between the outside of your perimeter fence and the nice wooded area you'll be keeping, mainly for walking/ weed wacking/checking your fenceline but also to run hot wire along the top and maybe lower edge of the fencing, on the outside. Also consider adding a mesh apron (2"x4" fencing) from the base of the fence outward about 2'; connect it to the fence a few inches off the ground. Prevents critters from digging under the fence, which they will. Raccoons and skunks can be out during the day, and in East TX you're likely to have your fair share of mongrel dogs both with and without owners. If you have the ability to perimeter fence your entire property (or most of it) in the no-climb, or at least a 4' similar type fence, DO IT.