My chickens love to free range around the pastures and I never really worried about them until a hawk got one of my favorite hens. Hawks are beautiful creatures but boy do they anger me. I'm one of those people who completely see chickens as pets. I love to bond with every one of my girls so it pains me when I lose one. I really want my hens to be happy and not stuck in a covered run all day so the hawks are making me distressed. If the chickens are free ranging, I'm constantly worrying about their safety. But if the chickens only have their run, I'm worrying about their happiness. I just wish hawks didn't eat poultry hahaha! Well I just thought like venting..... Thanks for reading
I agree. I always thought hawks were beautiful creatures too until I got chickens! today i was at tractor supply and some lady was buying one of those fake hawks. she thought it would scare away the real ones. ha. good luck with that. the hawks are rampant this year or maybe i just notice their presence more because of my chickens.
Mine love to free range, but they are up under our big trees and shrubs the second they see a shadow. Maybe plant some bushes for shelter? The hawks around here seem much more interested in the squirrels. They have been around for ages, all I did was introduce a new food source. I've only lost one, and that was in the run, came through the netting. Good luck.
Isn't it ironic how the balance between a chicken's freedom and safety mimics the struggle in our country? The problem is you can never have total freedom and total safety, so you have to find a balance.
