sick of hawks killing my chickens...

[Saaniya]

WOW that's a lot of gigantic trees!

You are right the hawks could be nesting right above your birds.


A hoop run would be a full redo of your set up but would be very effective.
I wish I could figure out a way to roof your current set up.

You can reuse your metal fencing to cover the cattle panels of a hoop run. That would save a lot of cost.
A hoop run tends to be 8'wide, 6' tall and as long as you make it.

There are quite a few in the coop pages to get inspiration from.

I have a small one on my small coop.

View attachment 1620082

I cover it in plastic in winter.

Wow love this

 

[Saaniya]

My run is fairly big so adding a roof would be near impossible lol maybe netting but could be only on the 2nd run

I always figured the trees might hide the hens a little with their branches but I guess it’s working against me since birds can just make there nests above my free “buffet table” ugh..

If u have a big space can u able to change the chicken area from.one to another safe place ??

 

[Melky]

I like the metal roof idea as well. Depending on run size this could be fairly easy to add on.

Run should ideally be 10 sq ft per bird.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Run should ideally be 10 sq ft per bird.

Yes. This is my small coop with a small run. It is 64sq foot of run and houses 6 birds.

The nice thing about hoop runs is to go bigger just add more cattle panels so the run is longer.

The run I posted has 2 cattle panels to make it 8' X 8'.

Each additional cattle panel increases the run by 32sq feet.

I was showing my tiny run so the OP could see what one looks like without having to search. As an example only and not the size I would recommend for the OP.

 

[centrarchid]

Have you looked at options provided by Memphis Net and Twine?

https://www.memphisnet.net/category/netting-bird-aviary-cages/a

Someone not far from me uses the same material to protect multiple breeding groups of chickens he uses to produce hatching-eggs. Each breeding group has a pen very similar in size to your run. Each pen has what amounts to a tent pole in the middle to support load even with a heavy snow.

 

[Howard E]

Until something better turns up, you can try the old traditional method of making a grid above the run with baler twine. Space it out about one foot or so apart. Best results came from square grids, others just ran parallel lines. Theory being hawks have to fly in and instinctively will not fly into that grid as it may tear up a wing. Snow won't pile up on a grid of baler twine.

 

[Acre4Me]

Oh no that's so sad
If I have a gun I will shoot the hawks

I don't know what can make them scared
But if I was there I will not allow chickens to come outfor few days then he might think there's no CHICKENS

This is bad advice! Shooting birds of prey is generally illegal anywhere in the US. You need to use other means to keep them away from your flock.

 

[Aunt Angus]

This is bad advice! Shooting birds of prey is generally illegal anywhere in the US. You need to use other means to keep them away from your flock.

Saaniya is in Delhi. Maybe it's legal there. But I would be so tempted to want to shoot the hawks, too, no matter where I lived!

@Silkie2 I am so sorry you are losing birds. Your area is GORGEOUS, though. Those trees! Makes a suburban dweller like me very jealous! I hadn't thought of using baler twine like Howard E suggests. My run is covered (it's store bought for waaaaaay too much money). But, given the size, I'd probably try the wire until I could get something more permanent, like the netting aforementioned. The hoop run is ingenious, too. BYCers never cease to amaze with their resourcefulness and ingenuity.

 

[Acre4Me]

Saaniya is in Delhi. Maybe it's legal there. But I would be so tempted to want to shoot the hawks, too, no matter where I lived!

Yes, this is why I specified the US, since it is illegal here. However tempting it is, it’s not likely worth the hassle of having a legal case against you or fines. Probably best to spend money on keeping flock safe using the other suggestions already mentioned, or using the money to buy new chicks and birds on a regular basis.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Right. I was being conciliatory.