Warning......

[Lobzi]

Boo-Boo's Mama :

That is why our run is covered. We have hawks in our neighborhood and I did not want to lose any of our chickens to them. We discussed 2x4 welded wire but decided it would be good to have a solid roof to keep rain and wild birds out of their feed plus provide shade.

I want to build a better roof over the entire pen and coop but for now I have my coop with a solid, peak cover and the pen area which is flat with welded wire. I lay plywood on top for shade during the warm seasons and remove it for added sunshine in the winter months. Its nice to have the option. In any case, I cant imagine not having a good, solid top over both the pen and coop area.​

 

[CMV]

I've had 2 hawks attacks. After the first attack the hawk came back to the scene of the crime. I found the hawk pacing on the ground around my chicken tractor trying to figure out a way to get in. There was no way for it to get in, but it didn't stop walking around the tractor until I chased it away. My hens were freaking out. The second attack I had was on my duck pen. I had electric mesh fencing 4 feet high, fishing line strung every 4 feet across the top of the pen, CDs hung everywhere... so I figured it was as safe as I could make it. Covering the entire run was out of the question because the run was about 500 sq. feet. A hawk swooped down and grabbed a duck through the fence. The hawk wasn't shocked by the electric fence because it attacked from the air and was not grounded. The duck didn't stand a chance. Again, the hawk came back several times after the original kill.

Hawks are very tenacious. They will test and test set-ups until they find a weakness. The only way to be sure they can't get your birds is to cover your whole run.

Sorry for your loss. It's always the favorites that get snapped up.

 

[Ace918]

We have about 400 Sq. Ft. of run bounded by chain link fence, for the top I used that orange construction webbing, the big box stores sell, I stretch it fairly tight I cover the webbing with deer netting. The combination is relatively inexpensive and surprisingly tough. Twice I have seen hawks dive and boy do they bounce when they hit that top.....

3 Ameraucana white layers, 1 RIR Hen, 4 Golden Comets just starting to lay, 1 EE getting ready to lay, 2 Road Runner Hens (caught in woods when they were about 2 weeks old), and they are great layers, one weary Black Giant Roo (I think 11 - 1 ratio was to much for even him

) he is now in isolation, once he gains another pound or so he will graduate to Freezer U. he is just to big for the girls, and to rough. 15 new Ameraucanas: I think 7 roos and 8 pullets time will tell, 9 weeks old.

Ace