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

[Soon2BChixMom]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/indiana-bycers-here.730582/
I thought I posted it.

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

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I had to give up free ranging for 2 years. It forced me to build a large run which was covered with bird netting in the summer months. I had to take the netting down every fall. The first fall, I saw a huge hawk fly down into a section of the run which I had blocked off so the snow sliding off the coop roof would not bury the chickens. So, we then covered that section with 2 x 4 welded fencing. It's been an expensive undertaking. The run is not predator proof. But, what it does do is keep hawks from attacking the flock during the day. They only get out to range when I am around to protect them.

Does the 2x4" welded wire sag at all? How far apart are the supports? I have about 40' leftover from the chicken run and was saving it for a garden, but I was wondering how it would do over the run.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I'm outside with the chickens. They're free ranging, but I keep them from straying from the coop area. A bunch of birds just flew by, chirping loudly, and they all ran toward the fencing for the run and a few went toward the coop. This is their instinct.

I have a few shrubs around the coop, but I'm going to build some low structures for them to stand under for protection from hawks. I might make small gabled roof shelters and place them in several places around their foraging areas.

One of the shrubs protected a hen from a hawk attack a few weeks ago. The hawk tried to grab her between the side of the coop and the toyon shrub, failed because it couldn't get down low enough (by my estimation; but I may have helped scare it off), and flew up to a nearby tree.

 

[lazy gardener]

Does the 2x4" welded wire sag at all? How far apart are the supports? I have about 40' leftover from the chicken run and was saving it for a garden, but I was wondering how it would do over the run.

Yes, it does sag. My run is made up of 5 bays that are each about 10 - 12' x 10 - 12'. There are 2 x 4's that make up the top sides and and framing between each bay, along with 2 x 6 around the outside perimeter on the bottom. Conduit was used in the section we covered to span the distance between one top rail and the next top rail that runs parallel. the only area covered so far is the sun room bay, so there is not as long a span to cover. So far, the conduit is working well. One piece every 5'.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Well if you like longtail or heritage breeds those sumatra's from Meyers in Polk, OH have been awesome for us. We see at least one raptor attempt daily and not a single success yet this winter. There is plenty of cover for my birds, but today a raptor even zoomed under the carport/deck to make an attempt. I am not saying it will never happen to me but I do feel the raptors have been wasting their time/energy with this breed that is flighty, can fly well when spooked, and is hyper vigilant. I doubt there are many chicken keepers in the US that experience the raptor presence we do here in deep south Texas over winter.

Also I wanted to clarify one point. My dogs are not free range one likes to spend 50% of the day outside, but all are indoor/outdoor as desired. The birds are on their own for the majority of their day but incredibly self sufficient. The dogs all alert on chicken distress calls so then it isn't optional as I have to let them out or they annoy me with the barking inside. Same goes for 2am coyote yapping they force me out of bed for that too.

 

[AllenK RGV]

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.

One other source for hens, craigslist works well where I live were I to need general purpose chicken in a hurry, and I am in a pretty rural region. I would just suggest you research "Integrating and Isolating".