How do I prevent hawks while free ranging?

[Marie2020]

I have clay soils too.

The French Mulberry/American Beautyberry (picture from my property) is fast growing and does well in the clays. The birds like to dig hollows under it in the heat, and seasonally, it provides entertainment as they jump and flap and pluck the berries.

There are a lote of plants that do well in clay soils, zone 8 - sadly, most tend towards thin and spindly (Salvia, cone flowers, black eyed susans, etc). You might also try Hostas, Bee Balm, and Sedum - I haven't, though I've heard good things.

Thank you so much
I'm writing this all down in my note pad

 

[newshound]

I scream at and threaten the hawks. I put my arms in the air. I take metal can lids and bang them. Neighbors must think I'm crazy but it gets the hawks away so I can put my birds away. There is an alarm sound the head chicken or rooster will make if they see danger. I can make that sound and they go back in the coop. I have open field and two areas of trees they will hide under. They know the hawks now and usually hang out under the trees or near them. If they cross the field they will run!! If I see the squirrels out and the blue jays and crows make noise it's safe from hawk time. Sunny quiet days are usually hawk time. Cloudy windy days not so much. Be observant...keep an eye out, look for patterns. Have your birds trained to run in the coop, it's not hard, use treats but one time there was sudden danger they listened to me without treats. They see you look up. You make the alarm call. It works.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Chickens will hide if hawks are over head. Adding bushes or other things for chickens to quickly get under can help them protect themselves.

SUCCESSFUL chickens will hide if hawks are overhead.

FIFY.

Part of why I am "allowing" natural predation in my efforts to build a landrace suitable for free ranging in my area. If the bird doesn't have "its head on a swivel" and look up at the sky on occasion, its behavior of no value to me as an improvement over the hatchery standard.

 

[Chicken Heel]

Would love to free range my chickens (mostly bantams) but far too many hawks in Southside VA. They are as plentiful as sparrows in this area. But when I started raising chickens in the late 1960's in western NC, I hardly ever saw any birds of prey (most likely due to the widespread use of DDT) so it is nice that their populations have rebounded. Every creature serves a purpose although I find it hard to see what good a coyote does.

 

[cmom]

I agree that Free Ranging and Hawks as well as other predators such as fox means accepting the risk of predation. I have nice large covered pens for my birds and there are ways to entertain the birds even in pens. I got tired of loosing birds to predators. Many lessons learned the hard way. This is what one BYC member did to protect her birds. Good luck...

 

[catballou]

My backyard is 2 acres and I would like to free range my chickens. Right now my chickens live in an enclosed run. They spend a lot of time in their coop and don’t seem mentally stimulated enough (digging and foraging). I’ve let them out before but once a hawk came and almost took my favorite chicken, I had to run and grab her while the hawk kept coming lower and lower. Thankfully the other chickens were in the coop already. Recently I’ve gotten roosters but could I fully trust them to protect my hens? I’ve also heard about guard dogs and fences over top but that is not is not really an option for me right now so I’m not sure what to do. I’m not sure maybe I’m being too dramatic and overprotective and I should just let them out and see how it’s goes again. Hawks have been stalking ever since that day sometimes even multiple at a time. Any tips as to how I can solve the problem and if not how I can keep them more entertained in their run?

My suggestion is to let them out about 1 to 2 hours before sunset. Hawks usually - usually - stop flying around by then. Not always as some do fly low to the ground. I started doing that plus feeding the crows at the end of my driveway. They chase hawks away.
I have had pretty good luck with that. And throw feed or treats in their run. I throw out a cup of scratch in the morning for them
And they like something to hide under or climb on out there in the run.
I have lots of trees and shrubs in my yard and they stay pretty close to them while out.

 

[catballou]

Would love to free range my chickens (mostly bantams) but far too many hawks in Southside VA. They are as plentiful as sparrows in this area. But when I started raising chickens in the late 1960's in western NC, I hardly ever saw any birds of prey (most likely due to the widespread use of DDT) so it is nice that their populations have rebounded. Every creature serves a purpose although I find it hard to see what good a coyote does.

They eat tons of mice!

 

[catballou]

Would you have any idea's of bushes that would easily survive in clay soil? I live in the UK

Check with your neighborhood nursery.

 

[McChooky]

SUCCESSFUL chickens will hide if hawks are overhead.

FIFY.

Part of why I am "allowing" natural predation in my efforts to build a landrace suitable for free ranging in my area. If the bird doesn't have "its head on a swivel" and look up at the sky on occasion, its behavior of no value to me as an improvement over the hatchery standard.

I hate the idea of having to kill anything so I keep my chickens up.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I hate the idea of having to kill anything so I keep my chickens up.

I hate the idea of keeping anything imprisoned, and thus let my creatures, cat, dogs, chickens, ducks, rabbits, and soon, bunnies *risk* life. No Guarantees.

Different Strokes, Different Folks.

I suppose the electric fencing around the 5 acres I've set aside for them could be called a prison of sorts, but as they can easily defeat it (the birds often do) yet voluntarily remain, the cage is at least a gilded one.