Trying to get an idea of how many out there do free range vs chicken runs/enclosed.

[Guardihen]

After my hawk attacks, I was looking into what everyone else was doing....

 

[Anon112]

My chickens have a very large run with lots of levels. I try to have them outside for at least a few hours every day while I do yard work or my regular work. I live near woods and there are simply too many predators at any time of day. I only have them outside when I am around to supervise them.

In terms of hawks specifically, it really helps to have areas of cover (bushes, structures, etc) that the chickens can get to quickly.

But if they're out in the open air, there are no guarantees. With me sitting about 20 feet away, a hawk took a run at some of my chicks a few weeks ago. (Luckily their mama hen tackled the hawk to the ground and it flew off empty handed).

I think it really depends on your situation. I know that I, personally, would not have any chickens left if I let them free range unsupervised. But I'm lucky that most days I can get home from work with time to give them a few hours to forage.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I haven’t actually lost any chickens to hawks and I free range but I also live in chicken paradise that is practically jungle so my chickens have LOTS of cover. We’ll see how they do come fall. When I had city chickens I had two hawk attacks: one I scared it off before any damage was done and the second the hawk got stuck between my run and the fence. I freed it because I think they’re beautiful and it’s illegal to kill them lol

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Mine free range 24/7. I've only had one hawk attack in 10 years which I was able to stop and my hen survived. They got locked up for a while but are back outside. My dog helps a lot at deterring predators as well as my neighbor's dog. Our orchard also has some tree cover they can go under.