what time of day is best for free range?

[vpeterson]

I had an owl/hawk/eagle take off with one of my rooster yesterday. Best guess was it was in the morning. I am now trying to only free range in the afternoons. Will this help?

 

[PunkinPeep]

I haven't noticed that hawks are any more or less active during a particular part of the day.

So sorry about your rooster. I have been there.

If you are able to outside with them in the afternoons to keep an eye out, that might help. I don't think time of day, in itself, makes a difference.

 

[usschicago1]

Quote:
They will attack more often now because they want to feed there young. These next two months I never alllow free range. The hawks are more docile in later months

 

[ADozenGirlz]

We had a loss due to a hawk early on in our chicken-keeping experience. I learned that hawks are more active in the morning and early evening (which is when our Silkie was pulled part way through the bottom of the coop through the chicken wire. We have since reinforced with hardware cloth.) The attack happened at the end of August after dinner time while we were admiring our new coop and flock, just 6 weeks old.

We didn't know he had already attacked our Silkie when we took this photo of him.

The aviary netting at the top of the run foiled his plans.

 

[La_TomboyGirl]

I seem to notice the hawks are most active in my area (flying in swirling groups even) in the late afternoon/early evening, but like punkin says, it really doesn't matter, as they are out all day long. Was it a grown rooster? That must be a humongous hawk! All I would suggest, beyond watching them yourself, which of course would be best, is to build a cheap, simple Chicken Tractor & move it around your property in order to provide protection from hawks. I don't know how safe it would be in regards to other daytime pests such as loose dogs though. Maybe you're lucky & have responsible neighbors though!

Here's some ideas you might be able to use. Hope they help & good luck to you!

I'm probably going to make this first one later this summer, but will use a clear &/or pleasantly colored shower curtain for the top to up the eye appeal a bit:

http://www.plamondon.com/hoop-coop.html

I've never seen this site before, but I live in a warm climate zone & think this would work GREAT for our winters here!

http://sugarmtnfarm.com/blog/2005/12/winter-hen-coop.html

A bit more work, but looks nicer:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/2007-04-01/Portable-Chicken-Mini-coop-Plan.aspx

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
We built our chicken tractor/forager in response to hawks also.

Here's a link to my page that shows the building process:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=43104-chicken-tractor-forager

 

[mdbokc]

Very nice....like the website too.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
Thanks!

 

[kota1369]

My hawks in my area seem to be out all times of the day. I let the girls out when I have time in the day to keep an eye on them.
When I am more busy I toss one or two of their buddies out to keep an eye on them. I am not foolish enough to think they will protect them
from a hawk, but I do know they will sound the alarm and the black Spaniel would have no humor about something near his flock.

My advise is if your going to free range, use a hoop house and move it daily or every few hours. If you do not have the time to watch them.
I have a lot of hiding places for the ladies to help them get away if need be. At my house, I take full responcability if a hawk swoops down and gets one. The risk is worth it to me as I have less bugs, less weeds, less ticks, fertilizer and better tasting eggs then chckens that do not get to forage around. I go to great lengths to watch the ladies and protect them.
Free ranging has its risks and we need to accept them. I would hate to have a hawk get one of my girls and would be heartbroken as I love them all. But, I am extremely happy with their quality of life.


Good luck to you
The lady with 4 dogs, 4 city chickens, 2 meat rabbits and a lizard