will my dog keep hawks away

[sydney13]

i just got two hens and was wondering if i let them free range during the day would they be safe from hawks and cats if my dog is lying in the sun sleeping outside with them? Would hawks notice a big motionless dog who is sleeping and who blends in to the dirt?

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

Don't count on it. Read my thread, this particular hawk wasn't bothered by my dog.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=312189

 

[fancbrd4me02]

It depends on the type of hawks and the availibility of food in your area. I free range, but accept the possiblility that a hawk might eat some of my chickens. I think it is worth the trade off for the overall health of my chickens and the quality of the eggs. I never free range baby chicks, that is waayyy to tempting for the hawks. I advise you to free range only if you can accept the possibility of loosing your hens to hawk predation. If that's a problem, don't free range - or free range in a chicken tractor that you move every day.

 

[sydney13]

Quote:
i agree that its worth the risk to free range because their are few hawks in my area anyways.