I'm all done....(remaining) chickens for sale...

[hsm5grls]

I am thinking that even if you moved it you would still probably want to keep it covered. Those hawks are smart. I am so glad to hear you sounding more optimistic. You are a good chicken owner for sure and you deserve to keep your birds. Don't let the hawks win. Good luck with the run and keep us posted on how things are going.

 

[GAhen]

My rooster stopped a hawk attack this week-end.
I heard it and by the time I got there Duke my roo was strutting around and making some loud noises....I saw the hawk fly away. When I went to check my birds they had retreated to the woods. I found one in the barn scared and minus a few feathers but ok.
I was so proud of Duke...he did his job.
So.....maybe a rooster, as speckled hen suggested, would help.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[JoeOxfordCT]

My last remaining Buff is a rooster......If I can keep him alive until he matures he'll be fine....I got him (and his 3 now deceased sisters) specifically to keep an eye on the RIRs I have.


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[Buff Hooligans]

We're glad that you're going to find a way to outwit the hawks! I think deernetting is a great idea, and you've already got the strings up to keep it from sagging too much.

Regarding your BO young roo, I've read that lighter colored birds make an easier-to-see target for predators. Just thought I'd mention that... Don't know why, it's rather not very encouraging, is it?

 

[KrisRose]

Joe-don't give up!! I use the netting from Cutler's on my run and it works great. It is more expensive then the deer/bird netting at Home Depot which will also work fine.
Even if you moved the coop I would still cover it with netting. The lines and CD's did'nt work for us.
Whatever you decide-Good luck.

 

[JoeOxfordCT]

I'm not counting on the string to hold anything up. I'm going to have to pick up some wood and run some supports to drape the netting from........hopefully it'll stop raining so I can get out to do the work.....


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[tiffanyh]

I dont know Joe--I think the string would hold up the netting great. I have mine over a 6x10 area with no support and it stays quite taunt. My girlfriend and her husbanc have theirs over a 12x12 area with no extra support and it is doing well.

You have enough posts within the run that you could probably make a smaller run using those and cover that. Then you could use the rest of the run for free ranging. That would have the added benefit or allow the grass to regrow so they could get some extra scratching when they finally free range.

My 8 birds are in 60sqft. They free range maybe every other night. They are quite comfortable. They can also scoot under the coop. I would think somewhere between 10x10 would be good, up to 10x15 or so. Ecspecially with such a large coop. That woudl be easier to cover with netting.

We have lots of hawks. No a single one has gotten through the netting.

Another idea--add some guinea hens. they are good alarms I hear.

Also, you may need to leave them in for a bit. My guess is that the same hawk is visiting----break his visits for a while. Leave then hens in and throw your dog in the runs for a few days in a row. Maybe he'll give you a break for a while.

 

[Salemchickenmama]

Hi

I just read this conversation and I was glad to see that you changed your mind and decided to hang in there, especially after I saw the pictures of your coop. You've obviously worked really hard!

We have hawks regularly and we have hung a cd above the run (believe it or not just one cd, right in the middle)... I swear that it works. I've looked out and observed a hawk sitting in the tree above the coop, or on the fence and then fly away. It really looks like the reflection throws off their perception and they are afraid to try to fly near it. I got the idea here on BYC of course..

It may seem like a small thing to do, but we haven't lost a chicken yet (knock on wood)...

Hope the hawks stay away!

Salemchickenmama, formerly Chickenmama

btw/ this isn't really my first post... I changed e-mail addys awhile ago and I couldn't log in and didn't have time to figure it out so I finally just re-registered. I've read on the site every day for over a year, lol...

 

[KrisRose]

The netting is very light. Even wire with turnbuckles will be more then enough to hold it if you just want a quick and cheap fix.
I build a wood support for my netting in the middle of my 10x32 foot run which then turned into a roost and then it turned into a two tier deck!

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
PurpleChicken (Don) is the guy I got the original 4 Buffs from.....and I agree with you...

I'm tearing up here. My gesture was purely selfish. I just like having a BYC chicken
buddy living one town away. Plus I have too many roos. I saw a way to get rid of
some.

You know it was funny. Last night when I red this I heard a horrible noise out my window.
It sounded like something had grabbed one of my chickens and was ripping it apart
in the wood. I ran outside in my boxers and slippers. Luckily it was just a racoon
fight (I think).

Glad to hear your feeling better about this Joe. It's really amazing how attached we
get to these darn chickens.