That was almost bad...

[sawilliams]

So we moved to the country the end of June and yes i know there are more predators out here but this was just funny...

My chickens only free range in the evening about 5pm till bed time. Lately becuase of kids activities daddy is the only one home to let the chickens out some days. Anyways today as i was heading home i was wondering if he let the chickens out tonight, i don't worry to much about it. I'm coming up the bend in the drive and i see a hawk (or large predator bird) swoop down in an attack dive. At about this same moment I can see chickens running for the brush and my 7w Lavender Orpington in the line of attack, then my dog a big blood hound mix running through the field to greet me in the drive way. The hawk sees the dog (maybe the car too) daisy is coming striaght at it. The hawk stalls out mid flight and starts flapping wildly to catch it's self and change directions. Daisy only briefly noticing the hawk as she is trying to get to me, and all the chickens temporarily safe from the hawk run back to the coop.

Now my run isn't predator proof as its open top, but does have a huge oak as cover. And the coop its self is wide open during the day and shut tight at night, but they have a large space underneath where they can hide if needed. So i know a lose will happen, and with 7 chicks running around right now, even mama hen can't protect them all.

But it was so funny to watch the hawk get scared off by my big dog. The chickens are safe till next time....

 

[StevenKarin]

A rooster can help. We had to cover the top of our run with bird netting except where there is a roof. Owls, coyotes, foxes, racoons, opossums, bobcats, cougars, bears and dogs are a few predators we protect against. Whew now I'm tired. Lol

 

[sawilliams]

I'm trying for a rooster, but my 18w chick that was suppose to be a roost everyone here says is a pullet. The chick that almost got grabbed is about 7-8weeks and showing more personality for a rooster thought looks aren't quite fitting yet. If these 2 aren't I will be finding myself a rooster, though typically the hound dog is a good guard she just isn't always outside.

Wee know there are fox near by, haven't seen coons or possums yet and can hear the coyotes. Thier are also deer, wild boar and a variety of predator and sacavener birds. I want to do bird netting but i want to reinforce the run first, it's just a dozen or so t posts right now and i want cement peremiters and wood framing

 

[Little Chicken Girl]

Yay! No casualties!

Coincidence: We have a big brindle mastiff named Daisy.

My flock has had quite a few encounters with birds of prey... We used to live near the river (i.e Osprey area)... I had an EE that got picked up 2x by Ospreys there. Both times, she twisted around just and was released at about 10-20ft up in the air (literally) and landed on the lawn unhurt... not even a scratch... I had no idea she knew martial arts so well...
Another time, A hawk came and was coming down to grab a hen... Henry (my Roo) rounded his ladies up and took them to the bushes before running back out in the middle of the lawn and crowing repeatedly at it... Henry must've won the war because the hawk left...
I have also had 2 hawks slam into the chicken run because they didn't see the wire there... oops. To bad for them but good for me because it must've been to traumatic to cause them to desire a second try.

 

[sawilliams]

Well her name is actually Daisy May, but that's syill funny.

I was thinking back and the chicks where all under the dead pine tree, mama and the other hens ran up the hill to the brush. But the 7w lavender was almost like running circles in the clearing between. At first i thought maybe like which way do i go? But trying to picture it all in my head I think that little chick was distracting the hawk. I know 7 weeks he's still just a baby and would have been gone in a second. I would think 7 weeks is far too going for then to try to take on rooster duties, especially of that size but short of mating I swear somethings it acts like the other chicks are already his personal harem. Mom still nests with the chicks at night, but the lavender is becoming more of the boss during the day lately.

 

[RonP]

Now my run isn't predator proof as its open top, but does have a huge oak as cover. And the coop its self is wide open during the day and shut tight at night, but they have a large space underneath where they can hide if needed. So i know a lose will happen, and with 7 chicks running around right now, even mama hen can't protect them all.

Good you are prepared to sustain losses.

When I tired fighting mother nature, heavy losses on both sides, I secured both run and coop, all six sides.

No more close calls...
No more casualties...
No more sleepless nights...

 

[Sara Ranch]

Wow - great timing!

So glad there were no losses!

 

[sawilliams]

It was a funny sight to see and it made my day better as i got a good laugh out of it. Of course I did count my chickens last night before locking them up just to be sure. All where home and safe.

My friend and neighbor who i got the 2 lavenders from (one as a chick one as an egg) has had foxes in her coop. Though hers free range all day and often times they don't get home till well after dark. Also she lives closer to the creek then us with oak trees everywhere, my chickens are on the side of my house close to the creek but the creek runs through the next property over with the drive way between us and them. Most of my land is clear except immediately around the house. So most of the wildlife my friends deal with I don't even see though they are just up the road so i know danger is never to far from my girls. But i like not having then free range all day as when they do they don't tend to go as far and someone is typically home when they are out incase something was to happen.

 

[Dharmachick]

I live 1/2 mile from the Columbia River, so I have Osprey, Turkey Vultures, Red Tailed Hawks, Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles, etc. My dogs keep them away most of the time, and I rest easier now that my chocolate Orpington chick is big now. She is 10 weeks old and is a ball of fluff.