Is it even worth it?

[sevenfatcows]

Electric poultry net stopped our losses from ground based predators. Hawks are often about but no losses to them so far on my place. I credit my very watchful roosters for that along with the abundant squirrel population.I highly recommend the 48" net from Premier 1. Very sorry for your loss; one encounter with the net by a stray with a wet nose and it will never come back. This I have witnessed with my own eyes.

 

[lazy gardener]

I loved my electronet. Unfortunately, the birds would fly over it, then the hawks would swoop in and kill them. They never killed inside the net, but it was only a matter of time before they were brazen enough to do that also. I may revisit the electronet, and string some bird netting across the top this year. Will make a lot of extra work, but may also be well worth it. My net is the 160' length, so that would require a lot of bird netting. I wonder if I could down size the electronet by cutting it and pig tailing the cut ends.

 

[careeka22]

Electric poultry net stopped our losses from ground based predators. Hawks are often about but no losses to them so far on my place. I credit my very watchful roosters for that along with the abundant squirrel population.I highly recommend the 48" net from Premier 1. Very sorry for your loss; one encounter with the net by a stray with a wet nose and it will never come back. This I have witnessed with my own eyes.

Thank you, I will look that up! I'm more afraid of hawks on them when they are smaller but always a threat. We also have bald eagles in the area. I'm going to figure out something to keep them safe! The netting is definitely a start and if I put it around the coop they can go back in or under it for safety.

 

[AllenK RGV]

My Sumatra are very hawk savvy even without their roos that we rehomed. Lakenvelders I have read are good at free ranging and predator avoidance. I am sure there are many other breeds you can look for that are good at predator avoidance. I only have my personal experience with the Sumatra breed my 5 gals at only 7 months of age are only taking up about 2ft of their 8 foot long roost bar.----edit--- Both breeds mentioned stay small at around 4-5 pounds.

My wife was really worried today when she saw a hawk swoop in and was on the ground, but I counted 5/5.

Does anyone else have breed based suggestions if our OP decides to continue with free ranging and add to her flocks numbers?
-----edit-----
Also, you mentioned your dogs aren't chicken friendly. 2/3 of my dogs were not initially, but with some training we worked that out. My dogs are well trained to voice commands when we walk em off the leash at the Arroyo or at the beach but one is very head strong and was hard to get her head around the concept. All three are rescues and the ones that we suspect were abused absolutely melt at the "No!" command.

I wouldn't recommend trying this when they are together as a pack, but 1 on 1 as a pack animates each other.

 

[CCUK]

Sorry about your hens. It's always tough when you lose one for whatever reason. You have had some great advice here and there are articles on coop building and predator proofing. Don't lose heart. When I got my hens it made me so much happier. And the kids love them! I know it's hard but count your losses, learn and improve what you have. They are worth it!

 

[sevenfatcows]

I loved my electronet. Unfortunately, the birds would fly over it, then the hawks would swoop in and kill them. They never killed inside the net, but it was only a matter of time before they were brazen enough to do that also. I may revisit the electronet, and string some bird netting across the top this year. Will make a lot of extra work, but may also be well worth it. My net is the 160' length, so that would require a lot of bird netting. I wonder if I could down size the electronet by cutting it and pig tailing the cut ends.

The 48 " might stop your birds from flying over. I got it a couple of years ago after watching a feral cat sail over the 36 inch net. Feral cats are a problem for me because my nearest neighbor, an elderly widow, feeds them. Then she leaves for a two week cruise several times a year, and the cats get hungry. I lost two hens to those cats before I put up the taller net. I have never had a hen fly over it. And back to cats, a neighbor's housecat got caught and entangled itself in the net. We found it early one morning, crying, naturally, since the fence pulses kept zinging it. We had to cut the fence to get it out but it has never been seen over here since. Hawks have dived into my area within the netting but have never taken anything yet. Sometimes they come down very close to me but always flee away at the sight of the chicken woman!

 

[careeka22]

My Sumatra are very hawk savvy even without their roos that we rehomed. Lakenvelders I have read are good at free ranging and predator avoidance. I am sure there are many other breeds you can look for that are good at predator avoidance. I only have my personal experience with the Sumatra breed my 5 gals at only 7 months of age are only taking up about 2ft of their 8 foot long roost bar.----edit--- Both breeds mentioned stay small at around 4-5 pounds.

My wife was really worried today when she saw a hawk swoop in and was on the ground, but I counted 5/5.

Does anyone else have breed based suggestions if our OP decides to continue with free ranging and add to her flocks numbers?
-----edit-----
Also, you mentioned your dogs aren't chicken friendly. 2/3 of my dogs were not initially, but with some training we worked that out. My dogs are well trained to voice commands when we walk em off the leash at the Arroyo or at the beach but one is very head strong and was hard to get her head around the concept. All three are rescues and the ones that we suspect were abused absolutely melt at the "No!" command.

I wouldn't recommend trying this when they are together as a pack, but 1 on 1 as a pack animates each other.

Thank you! Well 2 are pitbulls and one is a Catahoula Leopard mix who is scared of his own shadow. He was abused and doesn't even come to us or walk on leash. My female is almost deaf but I don't see her trying to harm them at all, she cares less about anything. It's my male that's as stubborn as a rock and won't listen that concerns me. I guess I can try to work with him but he just a bully. The problem I have too is my 3 dogs ALL came before my 4 kids and the chickens before my twins lol. Since they came it's been a zoo! But I love my chickens and not sure I'm ready to throw in the towel.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Thank you! Well 2 are pitbulls and one is a Catahoula Leopard mix who is scared of his own shadow. He was abused and doesn't even come to us or walk on leash. My female is almost deaf but I don't see her trying to harm them at all, she cares less about anything. It's my male that's as stubborn as a rock and won't listen that concerns me. I guess I can try to work with him but he just a bully. The problem I have too is my 3 dogs ALL came before my 4 kids and the chickens before my twins lol. Since they came it's been a zoo! But I love my chickens and not sure I'm ready to throw in the towel.

They are so much fun to watch I agree, of course I don't appreciate in when they come in hop up on things and try to make a bed out of our doilies!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Sorry about how your chicken experience has gone so far. I know many others have already said it but free ranging comes with higher risks and it's up to you and your family to decide how much risk and how much loss you can deal with.

I'm on 4 acres but my chickens stay in their run most of the time. They get some free range time in the morning while I work outside, and a little in the afternoon, if weather permits. I think there's some misconception about birds in runs being sad creatures pining for blue skies, but I don't think that's true as long as there's things for them to do inside the run as well. Mine do enjoy their time out of the run, but as they're comfortable inside it as well and I usually find that they will pen themselves up after making their rounds on the lawn.

 

[lazy gardener]

The 48 " might stop your birds from flying over. I got it a couple of years ago after watching a feral cat sail over the 36 inch net. Feral cats are a problem for me because my nearest neighbor, an elderly widow, feeds them. Then she leaves for a two week cruise several times a year, and the cats get hungry. I lost two hens to those cats before I put up the taller net. I have never had a hen fly over it. And back to cats, a neighbor's housecat got caught and entangled itself in the net. We found it early one morning, crying, naturally, since the fence pulses kept zinging it. We had to cut the fence to get it out but it has never been seen over here since. Hawks have dived into my area within the netting but have never taken anything yet. Sometimes they come down very close to me but always flee away at the sight of the chicken woman!

I have the taller electronet. They would take a running leap and go sailing over it.