Integrating a cockerel into a flock of mature hens

[lazy gardener]

I am so glad it's working out for you. As an aside, My little Jack Russell terrier mix is learning that the chickens are MINE! We've had several heart to heart conversations, which have sometimes included the garden hose on Jet spray. She's catching on! I can't trust her yet, but can let her out on her E-collar and take my eyes off her. Wouldn't leave her out with them alone yet, but we're making progress.

 

[Sylvester017]

After not seeing it for a couple of days, the hawk was back today. My daughter and I heard the chickens screeching and she asked if she could go out to check on them. As soon as she opened the door, I saw the hawk fly off. Instead of perching in the trees by the water's edge, it was perched right above the coop and run. Much too close for my comfort and thankfully it's covered but something tells me I'll have to do more than just use bird netting which won't last through the winter anyway. The chickens were all huddled by the root ball that's in a corner of the run but as soon as they saw us, they came rushing towards us.

These are very pleasing displays of Ichabod's temperament.

Try a large doghouse in the pen so that when the hawk shows up the chickens have a place to hide and feel secure while waiting for him to fly off again. With 5 large doghouses scattered around our yard (also canopy, lean-to's, lawn furniture, plants, compost bin, etc etc.) we haven't lost a hen to that tiresome Cooper's Hawk family yet in 5 yrs.

 

[Sylvester017]

I am so glad it's working out for you. As an aside, My little Jack Russell terrier mix is learning that the chickens are MINE! We've had several heart to heart conversations, which have sometimes included the garden hose on Jet spray. She's catching on! I can't trust her yet, but can let her out on her E-collar and take my eyes off her. Wouldn't leave her out with them alone yet, but we're making progress.

Our friends sadly lost 3 of 5 hens to their excitable female Jack Russell. Russells were bred to catch small animals and are still used to catch rats in some countries today -- Russells catch prey amazingly fast and shake to death biting the back of the neck. They are bred to love the chase and not to eat their catch but to kill quickly and move on to the next kill. It's not the Russell's fault that this is what they were originally bred to do. Sounds like you have a LOT of work ahead of you. Personally, as much as I loved my Rotts who were command-trained herding dogs, I still would never trust them as bird guardians. There are specific guardian breed dogs specially-trained to be good poultry guardians. Unfortunately the more trusted guardian breeds are mostly long or thick-haired breeds and weigh 100+ lbs needing lots of exercise - neither trait is suitable for our hot climate or tiny suburban backyard.

 

[islandgirl82]

Quote:

Thank you for your suggestion. With Maine winters and water winds, I was planning on covering the whole run this fall anyway so they still have a dry, snow/sleet/freezing rain etc. place to be outside during the winters and any inclement weather really. With the hawk getting more and more bold, my timeframe just seems to be rapidly getting shorter.

 

[aart]

Thank you for your suggestion. With Maine winters and water winds, I was planning on covering the whole run this fall anyway so they still have a dry, snow/sleet/freezing rain etc. place to be outside during the winters and any inclement weather really. With the hawk getting more and more bold, my timeframe just seems to be rapidly getting shorter.

It's sneaking up on us, isn't it?
Had some much chillier weather last week, tho now are suffering thru another heat wave.
Keep in mind snow load/removal when you plan your run roof.

 

[islandgirl82]

Quote:

Thank you for your suggestion. With Maine winters and water winds, I was planning on covering the whole run this fall anyway so they still have a dry, snow/sleet/freezing rain etc. place to be outside during the winters and any inclement weather really. With the hawk getting more and more bold, my timeframe just seems to be rapidly getting shorter.

It's sneaking up on us, isn't it?
Had some much chillier weather last week, tho now are suffering thru another heat wave.
Keep in mind snow load/removal when you plan your run roof.

Yes. Yes it is.
The cover will have to be non-permanent and pitched. I'll also be covering at least the North and East sides, half of the west is the coop wall and the other half is the gate to the run. That side is pretty well sheltered by several tall evergreens anyway and when the snow drifts, it doesn't tend to block that side.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

I find that my chickens love to hide in a nice big cactus. You could plant some of them around the run. Chickens don't get hurt by it and hawks can't get them. Just be careful you don't touch it!

 

[islandgirl82]

Thank you. Unfortunately cacti don't grow in my climate but they when the flock is out free ranging they do take cover under the shrubs I have around (hydrangeas, dappled willows, mock orange, lilacs, etc.) and big/drooping plants (daylilies, irises, hostas, etc.) Some of those would survive quite well if I planted some directly in the run provided the roots have time to get established without interference from my overly enthusiastic garden helpers. I may transplant some of my garden thinnings in there and barricade them off to give the roots a chance to take. I'm also planning on planting annual climbers around the outside of the run for added cover (the run has to remain temporary).

Amelia was ambushed while on her way back to the house. The hawk was waiting in a pine with low growing branches and she was walking underneath it to stay covered...she never saw the hawk or had a chance against it but she did put up quite a fight...there was quite a trail of feathers around that whole area.

 

[aart]

Quote:

Thank you for your suggestion. With Maine winters and water winds, I was planning on covering the whole run this fall anyway so they still have a dry, snow/sleet/freezing rain etc. place to be outside during the winters and any inclement weather really. With the hawk getting more and more bold, my timeframe just seems to be rapidly getting shorter.

It's sneaking up on us, isn't it?
Had some much chillier weather last week, tho now are suffering thru another heat wave.
Keep in mind snow load/removal when you plan your run roof.

Yes. Yes it is.
The cover will have to be non-permanent and pitched. I'll also be covering at least the North and East sides, half of the west is the coop wall and the other half is the gate to the run. That side is pretty well sheltered by several tall evergreens anyway and when the snow drifts, it doesn't tend to block that side.
Hopefully the evergreens are not close enough to drop their loads on your cover.
Keep an eagle eye (haha!) on the snow accumulation and a plan in place to get it off if it starts to stick.
Almost crushed my mesh(2x4) run roof and a metal shed a couple years ago...hind sight was 20/20, should saw the shed roof getting close and coulda saved it..
Now I have a DIY roof rake and some sticks of 2x2 to prop run mesh in susceptible places if we're going to get a heavy overnight snowfall.

 

[islandgirl82]

Quote:

Thank you for your suggestion. With Maine winters and water winds, I was planning on covering the whole run this fall anyway so they still have a dry, snow/sleet/freezing rain etc. place to be outside during the winters and any inclement weather really. With the hawk getting more and more bold, my timeframe just seems to be rapidly getting shorter.

It's sneaking up on us, isn't it?
Had some much chillier weather last week, tho now are suffering thru another heat wave.
Keep in mind snow load/removal when you plan your run roof.

Yes. Yes it is.
The cover will have to be non-permanent and pitched. I'll also be covering at least the North and East sides, half of the west is the coop wall and the other half is the gate to the run. That side is pretty well sheltered by several tall evergreens anyway and when the snow drifts, it doesn't tend to block that side.
Hopefully the evergreens are not close enough to drop their loads on your cover.
Keep an eagle eye (haha!) on the snow accumulation and a plan in place to get it off if it starts to stick.
Almost crushed my mesh(2x4) run roof and a metal shed a couple years ago...hind sight was 20/20, should saw the shed roof getting close and coulda saved it..
Now I have a DIY roof rake and some sticks of 2x2 to prop run mesh in susceptible places if we're going to get a heavy overnight snowfall.

Do you have a photo of your diy roof rake?

My coop was a craigslist find. It had been an ice fishing shack until I converted it to a hen house. It has an insulated metal roof that has enough of a slant that the snow doesn't stick. It's not the most esthetically pleasing structure nor is it the most functional as far as coops go but it was built to last through rough winter weather and it'll do until I get the new one finished.

As for covering the run, I'm undecided on framing. I could go with 2x4 and cover it with clear solid roofing but that makes it more permanent or I could go with cattle panels with center supports and cover it with a clear tarp which makes it far more transportable.