Should I still let my chickens free range?

[Chicky Tocks]

I have hawks and also free range my girls. However mine are buff orpingtons and they're really big and fluffy. I've never had a swoop and I think I attribute that to the size of my girls.

I will continue to freerange my girls in spite of the hawks that hang around. I only let them out in the evenings a couple of hours before roost time, and they expect it. They're very disappointed if they don't get this time. I provide plenty of cover. Even a large piece of wood on a couple of sawhorses will be somewhere they can run if threatened.

 

[Beekissed]

Its easy to provide different types of cover for them at a low cost. Some folks put up pallets on blocks, brush piles, etc.

Free ranging is a better life, a healthier life, albeit always a risky prospect. Tackyrama is right....the free ranging lifestyle seems to prevent all the myriad diseases and parasites of run/coop kept chickens.

I use dogs and cover to protect my free ranged chooks but I've heard of others successfully free ranging without them.

I've never lost any to predators all these years of free ranging, so there are different sides to every coin.

Hope this helps!

 

[wxdude99]

I saw a hawk swoop down in my yard about 6 months ago. But it didn't hurt my chickens. And they haven't been attacked yet. I free range my chickens all day inside a privacy fence. I agree that they wouldn't be happy inside a run. And unless they're attacked, I'm going to keep free ranging.

 

[MIgourdgirl]

I have lost 5 chickens to hawks within a year's time. Three were little cochins inside the chicken building, 1 was free ranging, and 1 was inside an uncovered penned in area. Two of the five were full size chickens that got nailed by a red-tailed hawk. It is technically illegal to shoot a red-tailed hawk and some other varieties. I have tried putting up a life-size owl that's head bobbles. It is fairly realistic looking. I've even tried moving it around. It obviously didn't do the trick. While I do have several areas for cover, those hawks have good eyes, and they are very persistent. Best way to avoid losses is keep the chickens in a chicken yard with overhead covering. If anyone has any ideas on sure fire ways to keep the hawks away, I'd love to know. Haven't come across one yet myself.

 

[Biddylover]

most definately keep them up unless you are out and even then have a trusty four legged pal with you. max thinks the chickens are his but my point is those durn hawks are not afraid of us, I lost one of my month old chicks two weeks ago to a hawk, SAW it and could do nothing. Now Max is out when they are. Good luck

 

[greathorse]

I have had a pair of hawks nesting in a tree just above and slightly beyond my run for 3 years. I have not lost a chicken to them. They really dont seem to pay any attention.

I do have lots of trees and i think they would have a hard time getting a good shot at the chickens out of the air. I pay attention but dont worry too much and so far so good. They are out a lot but not during the day when i am at work.

We have had a great couple of years for cotton tails maybe they are just easy enough. I hope i dont have to start fussing about them as they are cool to watch on the nest.