One reason I can't let my birds free range...

[GravityWaves]

The Blue Jays started screaming their heads off earlier when I was outside so I looked around the corner and saw that this Cooper's Hawk had captured a Dove in the driveway. It hauled it up in a pine tree in the yard and ate it.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Cool photo! Hawks are beautiful. Beautiful chicken eating jerks lol. We have one that patrols our neighborhood and almost got one of my hens. I opened the door and scared him off. A second later and she would have been dead! He perched on the fence and stared at me for a while to see if id leave so he could try again.

 

[Mvan42]

To bad there isn't a way we can get those big meany heads to go away. Like move to another planet..
We have a ton around here. My girls mostly hang out in the thick brush when they are around

 

[GravityWaves]

Cool photo! Hawks are beautiful. Beautiful chicken eating jerks lol. We have one that patrols our neighborhood and almost got one of my hens. I opened the door and scared him off. A second later and she would have been dead! He perched on the fence and stared at me for a while to see if id leave so he could try again.

About 15 or 20 minutes after it got the Dove, I saw it sail from my front yard right over my chicken area back to the woods. Then I saw it doing the same thing later. Good on you for looking out for your girls! I've been known to yell at the Red Tails and make them fly off when they perch near the coop lol.

 

[Prop toe]

Yep free range has its advantage and it's down fall Stray dogs wipe out all that don't pitch up onto trees or something.When I was a young boy about everyone had chickens and most dogs were broke.However the dogs used for game hunts wipe you out then if the hunters were neglegent.. Mostly deer hunters . However back then hunters respected people's property.Now not a care.Till you turn the table and save the dog owners feed money.No dogs no feed LoL

 

[GravityWaves]

To bad there isn't a way we can get those big meany heads to go away. Like move to another planet..
We have a ton around here. My girls mostly hang out in the thick brush when they are around

We have Sharp-shinned, Cooper's, and Red-tailed Hawks along with the Bald Eagles that I see almost every day now. The Bald Eagles are cool but I'm sure they love chicken. I also saw a Kestrel making multiple runs at the birds in our front yard. Not to mention the Barred and Great Horned Owls that I hear every night.

 

[GravityWaves]

Yep free range has its advantage and it's down fall Stray dogs wipe out all that don't pitch up onto trees or something. When I was a young boy about everyone had chickens and most dogs were broke.

Stray (or loose) dogs are another reason why I can't free range.

 

[SaintIzzy]

Stray (or loose) dogs are another reason why I can't free range.

The hawks and vultures are why I put a canopy up and fenced in my girls. Free range is a beautiful thing,but sacrificing my girls is not.

 

[McChooky]

My grandma's cat would jump on a hounds back if one showed up and ride em' like a cowboy! They'd roll on the ground to get her off and she'd jump right back on! Meanest cat I ever saw!

 

[GabrielBernard]

Lifestock protection dogs help with both. Saw some articles about chicken farmers who had those big white dogs in pasture with the chickens who kept watching ground and sky for predators.

But just for birds of prey, corvidae are awesome in keeping them away.
They do warning calls, and the chickens will learn those and hide, but also they attack birds of prey and keep them away.
I hope I can attract some crows to my place once I have settled down.
Love them.