What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[-sarahjayne]

This week we've had several pigeons killed by a hawk, the remains of which are in our front garden and down the road. Earlier I spotted the hawk sitting on my neighbours roof looking over our garden, near our WIR.

Im petrified to let my girls out free ranging and they protest (loudly!) when I keep them in there. Would a hawk go for a chicken? They are LF so are about 2 times the size of this hawk we've had around our area. And what can we do to make it safe for our girls?

I don't want them to have no free range time but if thats what I have to do to determine their safety I will

[Patricia W]

I would doubt that they would tackle an LF. A chick, yes. I live in Abingdon and we get Red Kites ( lovely large birds with forked tails) which circle overhead but just look. My bantams don't like them though and set up an alarm call.

 

Maybe others have different experiences?

[teri]

i have had birds of prey in my garden quite often without any problems. i also have a pair of huge buzzards nesting in the woods at the back of my house and even they don't bother the chickens. i wolud be careful if you have any chicks but your bigger girls will be fine. the only time a bird of prey might attack is if one of your girls became week or ill as they would be seen as an easy target. generally birds of prey hunt animals that are small enough to grab and fly off with as this keeps them safe from attack from other birds. if they can't grab it and run they won't bother!

[Olly]

The answer is in the FAQs here - your girls may make a bit of a fuss, but it seems unlikely that you need to be worried.