Release the flock! Free range times

[OKVet]

Hawks are thick as thieves were I live so regardless of when I let them out of their coop and covered run I have to stay out with them.

I lost a hen to a hawk the day after Christmas. I literally went in for 15 minutes, came out and one was down and decapitated, SOB.

I know about losing chickens to hawks, it is very frustrating.

 

[Mrs. K]

I do best with varying the times. Not the same time every day, and not every day. I never close my pop up door, so my birds can go inside and outside at will. I have a nice set up of coop and a large run.

I do let them out, but we have pretty wicked predators here. I have lost many over the years. For day time predation, I have had good luck with a mature rooster. But for night time ones, you need a tight coop/run set up.

Mrs k

 

[Beekissed]

My pop stays open always, so mine come and go when they please. They learn high predator times and usually won't forage in the open during "hawk time". They've got plenty of shelter and wooded areas in which to forage, so they have options.