Help!! Redtailed hawks decimated four of my five hens in 90 days

[Soon2BChixMom]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/indiana-bycers-here.730582/

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I still expect my three guard dogs to make me aware of issues as they protect the chooks as their own. And unless a mature Jaguar crosses the border they can deal with it.

That's probably why you don't have issues with predators.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Please help.... We saw the redtailed hawk on the carcass of the second one. After that.... we put bird netting over the entire 25' x 100' enclosure. There was a of 1-2 foot gap where we had to go around the pine tree but the gap had pine branches in it. We came home to two red tailed hawks IN the pen!! Only one hen survived .

Like it or not the only sure way to prevent hen loses to red tail hawks is to prevent red tail hawks. I have a list of things that you shouldn't do in this regard so it is super duper easy. More on this later as my time permits.

 

[Beer can]

I never confine mine nor do I mess with closing the coop door. The do whatever they like whenever they like. The hawks fail miserably over and over they waste their time trying to poach my flock. The coyotes and other predators also have yet to get us probably because we have our chain link hurricane fence nailed down so they can't get under it.

I honestly think it might be about the breeds kept at this point. In my case most US raptors overwinter where I live we have Sumatras and they have done great!

I don't have any problem with predators with a free range dog and do the same as you most the yr with no fence, always open door. Dogs ain't much help with hawks though. When I have 30-40 birds in the summer loosing a couple is sometimes a blessing lol, but come fall/winter I cut down to a couple breeding trios or to maybe one of the groups to a cock and six hens sometimes since I've started hatching my own. Mostly to save on feed and I always have too many eggs.
If I loose a couple at this point that's many hatching eggs/many chicks come spring that just wont be there. When they're plentiful I'd give them away, come small groups, I value them at a thousand $$ apiece

 

[Beer can]

One of the best articles I've read on free ranging and predators on BYC, a lot of good points here;
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/bees-key-points-to-successful-and-safe-free-ranging.65895/

 

[AllenK RGV]

One of the best articles I've read on free ranging and predators on BYC, a lot of good points here;
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/bees-key-points-to-successful-and-safe-free-ranging.65895/

Nice article. Bee does write some good ones. I like this part and it states why the hawks suck at picking mine off.
"Breeds that are naturally good at free ranging are most of the heritage lines of birds such as Black Australorps, New Hampshires, Plymouth Rocks of all variations, Rhode Island Reds, Buckeyes, Delawares, Wellies, Doms, Leghorns, etc. These old timey breeds make good free range breeds, even when derived from hatchery sources. There are many breeds out there that still have good foraging and free range tendencies."

 

[hoosierhens101]

I am so sorry for your loss. Did you have any roosters or just hens?
My roos do an incredible job protecting and alerting their gals to danger. I don't have enough experience to say it is the breed vs just roosters in general, but my guys are the bomb!

I did not have a rooster because I only had 5 hens and was under the impression that you need about 10 hens per rooster

 

[centrarchid]

I did not have a rooster because I only had 5 hens and was under the impression that you need about 10 hens per rooster

I am going to say that sex ratio is not appropriate outside commercial hatching egg production settings.

In my opinion, a rooster would not be effective with your current setup against Red-tailed Hawks. Even mine that are more capable than most would not fair well.

 

[hoosierhens101]

One of the best articles I've read on free ranging and predators on BYC, a lot of good points here;
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/bees-key-points-to-successful-and-safe-free-ranging.65895/

Great article thank you

 

[hoosierhens101]

As far as netting and wires over a run, you also have to think about snow load. If the netting gets bogged down by the snow, it will allow the hawks to get in especially if there is already a gap.
Also, @hoosierhen101 if you are looking for a buddy for the 1 hen, there might be someone on the Indiana thread that would be able to help with that.

Thanks. How do I find the Indiana thread?? My poor hen definitely needs a buddy. She is afraid to come out of the house into the secure pen. She was very skittish to start with which is probably why she is the sole survivor.