way to not get my chicken picked up by bigger birds live in pa

[Junejones]

So i want to let my chickens eat grass without getting picked up. We have halks and a bold eagle that goes/flays into/by my yard every day we have them in a 10x5 coop with a 13x3 run way and 13x7 area to do what ever but i have extra room for them. I kinda want to make something thats cheep to let them go throw the rest of the yard but easy to take down so when the kids want to play they can any suggested we do try to let them out 1 week with us back there i just dont want to be back there all the time

 

[nuthatched]

The coop and run is large enough for them to be fine. Just cover it with metal fencing over head. They don't need in the grass since they really don't eat it, just look for bugs and anything that can be moved an eagle can get through.

 

[Junejones]

Ya we have that........ So how many chickens do you think i can have before it get over crowed

 

[NatJ]

So i want to let my chickens eat grass without getting picked up. We have halks and a bold eagle that goes/flays into/by my yard every day we have them in a 10x5 coop with a 13x3 run way and 13x7 area to do what ever but i have extra room for them. I kinda want to make something thats cheep to let them go throw the rest of the yard but easy to take down so when the kids want to play they can any suggested we do try to let them out 1 week with us back there i just dont want to be back there all the time

If hawks and eagles are the ONLY predators, maybe something like a portable playpen or dog pen (the kind that come in sections and fold up for storage), with a tarp over the top. A tarp would keep the hawk from seeing the chickens, so it should not try to attack them.

A pen like that would not be good protection against things like raccoons, foxes, or stray dogs, but it would probably be enough against hawks.

They don't need in the grass since they really don't eat it, just look for bugs

In my experience, chickens DO eat grass. Yes, of course they like bugs too, but they will walk across a lawn taking bites off the grass blades, or eat any grass I put in their pen. They seem to like grass at least as much as they like lettuce or cabbage.

 

[Junejones]

If hawks and eagles are the ONLY predators, maybe something like a portable playpen or dog pen (the kind that come in sections and fold up for storage), with a tarp over the top. A tarp would keep the hawk from seeing the chickens, so it should not try to attack them.

A pen like that would not be good protection against things like raccoons, foxes, or stray dogs, but it would probably be enough against hawks.


In my experience, chickens DO eat grass. Yes, of course they like bugs too, but they will walk across a lawn taking bites off the grass blades, or eat any grass I put in their pen. They seem to like grass at least as much as they like lettuce or cabbage.

Thanks see my back yard is already fenced in allround

 

[nuthatched]

If hawks and eagles are the ONLY predators, maybe something like a portable playpen or dog pen (the kind that come in sections and fold up for storage), with a tarp over the top. A tarp would keep the hawk from seeing the chickens, so it should not try to attack them.

A pen like that would not be good protection against things like raccoons, foxes, or stray dogs, but it would probably be enough against hawks.


In my experience, chickens DO eat grass. Yes, of course they like bugs too, but they will walk across a lawn taking bites off the grass blades, or eat any grass I put in their pen. They seem to like grass at least as much as they like lettuce or cabbage.

You're right, Maybe I should rephrase, "they don't really eat grass like a cow" mine don't touch what ever grass we have but it's tough stuff