I have two Silkies that free-range the yard all day. Once we had a very bright white Leghorn too. We have Cooper's Hawks visiting every day in Spring breeding season. We have a lot of hiding lean-to shelters, canopy, and dog houses around the yard for the flock to dive/snooze under to avoid aerial predators. Our hawks will land in the yard or on the fence but won't go after our hiding birds even though they can be seen - darnedest thing! Here are some samples of shelters we set up in the yard over the last few years. Same type of shelters can be set up in an open pen/run area The Leghorn liked to sleep under the stickery rosebush against the chainlink fence and the hawk never bothered her there. A BYCer told me she used a child's low plastic table as a shelter for her birds. I have lawn furniture the chickens have slept under also. Hope this helps with some ideas. Chickens love to snooze/hide in cubby spots and that seems to deter the aerial predators.
