Predator scare and free ranging

[dandydoodle]

Okay we had a hawk scare about two days ago, now I am really nervous to let my girls out to free range. Do you let your hens free range?

 

[Nicole01]

Me too!!! I can hear the hawk in our backyard. I let them out yesterday for about an hour. I stood over my bantam(d'uccle), so the hawk couldn't swoop her up. I'm keeping them locked up for a few days or until I no longer hear that hawk.

 

[dandydoodle]

It is pretty scary, we really had no warning. I didn't hear or see it until it was about 7 feet from the ground and I was down at the coop. My hubby and I were only 10 feet away at the most. How do I know when they are safe??????? After a scare how long should I wait until I let them out again. I can't imagine not letting them free range again.

 

[prairiehen74369]

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The hawks are on the move right the area i live in is a favored place for them to hang out for the winter. I have some Blue Jays that mimic the hawks sound They have put me on gaurd a few times until I figured it out.

 

[skillswife]

We have hawks, we free range and so far have had no losses. Our roo's are very good at sounding the alarm and the girls listen well. This morning a hawk came in and the rooster alarmed before I even saw the hawk. I am however more worried about our 9 little month old babies.....but I can't keep them cooped up forever. You know those metal looking pinwheels for kids. Take a bunch of them and place them on any fence or higher object around where the chickens range. The hawks don't care for the shine in their eyes. Its made a difference for us.

 

[birdmomma]

we had a couple hawks swoop in a few days ago - fortunately they didn't catch anyone! I could hear the blue jays screaming right before it happened - now when the girls hear those kind of screams, they all run for cover - I think they learn from experience...

 

[dandydoodle]

Hmmm, I might try that. I will have to figure out where to get pinwheels. LOl!!!!


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[dandydoodle]

My girls did a pretty good job running for cover. They were running for cover before my hubby and I even knew something was up.

 

[chiqita]

We use CD or DVDs instead of pinwheels. We got hawks move in RIGHT when we got chickens, and its been working great. I also provide cover for ducking under for the little ones, but they hawks avoid the area wit the cds anyway now.

 

[Noncentzter]

My roosters are good at warning the girls when danger flies by and the girls are good about rushing into the coop...the only problem is, the roosters are warning the girls when it is a blue jay, a crow or even a dove....I guess they are of the mind that if it flies, it's a raptor!

I let my chickens out for a couple of hours after I get home from work and I stay out with them the whole time. The one and only time I let them out before changing clothes is when we had two dogs attack and kill one of our girls. I make sure I change my clothes now before letting the chickens out.