I live on 11 acres backed by a row of old trees in which we have resident hawks and, we learned recently, one resident owl. There are a lot of tall weeds and cow pastures nearby. Until recently, I've never had problems with birds of prey, I feel because there are plenty of rats and rabbits around. I did lose 4 new chicks in one day last month, I suspect to a hawk or owl, though I still never see them "stalking" the chickens, perching where they could watch for a chance. Past losses were to fox and coons, particularly fox.
Probably the best thing you can do about hawks is provide cover. Either plant wide low bushes or erect small structures they can escape to. The one chick I have left from the clutch from which I lost 4 hangs around under a 6' tall, wide bush; before the others were lost, they were wandering out in the open a lot. I do feel that my dogs, who are trained to leave the chickens alone, are the reason I can free range without losses since the dogs got trustworthy. They don't actually guard the chickens, but they do go after any foreign critter that approaches.
If you have several roos, you will know which ones are good with the flock, protective and such. No reason they can't run with the flock when it's not their time to reproduce. You might not need quite as many breeding pens this way. too. I've also read that some of the other birds you mentioned are good predator watchdogs, but have none of them and know little about them.
Probably the best thing you can do about hawks is provide cover. Either plant wide low bushes or erect small structures they can escape to. The one chick I have left from the clutch from which I lost 4 hangs around under a 6' tall, wide bush; before the others were lost, they were wandering out in the open a lot. I do feel that my dogs, who are trained to leave the chickens alone, are the reason I can free range without losses since the dogs got trustworthy. They don't actually guard the chickens, but they do go after any foreign critter that approaches.
If you have several roos, you will know which ones are good with the flock, protective and such. No reason they can't run with the flock when it's not their time to reproduce. You might not need quite as many breeding pens this way. too. I've also read that some of the other birds you mentioned are good predator watchdogs, but have none of them and know little about them.
