I'm Losing Chickens...

[Zebra and Yolk]

Hello! I have a good sized flock and we live in New England. I started off with around 37 chickens and now I only have 28. I lost these 9 chickens due to hawks and coyotes, but I am really not sure how to stop my numbers from lowering. Please halp. Thanks.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Hardwire cloth around the coop is a major difference makers. Are they free run or confined to a run?

 

[Zebra and Yolk]

Hardwire cloth around the coop is a major difference makers. Are they free run or confined to a run?

My chickens are free range, except they are kept in a coop at night

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

My chickens are free range, except they are kept in a coop at night

Can’t stop hawks but you can hinder them by giving them places to hide when they free range.

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to BYC.
Can you build a large secure run for them to range in?

 

[Zebra and Yolk]

Thanks! I will look into this. Though, the hawks wait for them to travel to the field and I would build them a nice big run but my property isn't set up for it

 

[Zebra and Yolk]

My property won't fit it. I wish

 

[Zebra and Yolk]

My property won't fit it. I wish

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. A shotgun or rifle and hot wire for the coyote, and a covered pen for the hawks. Other than that they will continue to deplete your flock.

 

[Howard E]

Your property won't fit it?

Perhaps you can share what you have that allows you to free range over 30 birds? How much land area, what type of cover, etc.

Some will argue with me but my take on a true free range flock is losses are almost a given. Not if something will wipe you out.......only when. Predators hunt for survival and are quite good at it. Chickens are helpless prey. So allowing predators a clean shot at them is a recipe for disaster.

A better plan is to "yard" them during the day. Confine them within a zone of protection that allows them to run around a bit, yet keeps the worst predators out. I use an electric fence.....going on 3 years and I've never lost a bird to a predator yet. Just saying......