Hawks

[LizzzyJo]

Your best bet is a covering, the next is a dog. If you’ll use a decoy then be sure to move it nearly daily. Hawks are super smart.

 

[Penelope59]

There’s really nothing that can completely stop a hawk from getting chickens while free ranging. That’s why I chose not to free range. At my old place a red tailed hawk swooped to try and get a chicken with me and my bigger dog right next to them. I decided to just build my chickens a large predator proof run to keep them in as they are pets to me and I don’t want to lose any. Free ranging comes with risk and it’s just a matter of when something will happen. Many people free range and accept the loss, others only free range supervised and even then things happen.

Exactly what my husband said with free ranging. A hawk will swoop down for prey even with humans near by. Guess I will not let them free range any longer. I can’t stand the thoughts of losing any. Their run is large and protected with plenty of room to move around.
I did enjoy seeing them forage for worms, bugs, etc….and they loved it, too.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

All my owl decoy did yrs ago was attract a murder of crows and crows too will go after chicks.

 

[David61]

Jail bound with a fine

Freedom to protect yourself has a price sometimes. I sleep good at night.