FlyingNunFarm, FYI a large Redtailed Hawk ripped through nylon netting covering our run today. Killed one barred rock, then couldn't get back out. We've replaced it with chicken wire hoping it can't break through that. It seems like the hawks are really getting after chickens this year
Sorry to hear about your chicken. I'm on 30 acres and surrounded by 100+ more acres of uncut land. I think our problem started when weekly people came by the property to train bird dogs. They used 4 wheelers to get around and homing pigeons to train the dogs. I really think the hawks learned that the sound of 4 wheelers was the dinner bell for easy prey. Once the weather got to cold to train dogs and no 4 wheelers were out the hawks have not been around.