How to Protect Chickens and Ducks from Predators

In this video, I'll show you how I protect my backyard chickens from hawks and owls. The strategy that we've done is to implement several deterrent methods to discourage birds of prey from killing our flock.

Our Strategy:
1. Keep Food and Water in a "Safe Zone" preferably under roof cover or in the coop.
2. Hang CD's or Aluminum Foil in your run and in areas your chickens like to spend time. Birds of prey don't like shiny objects because it can disorient them.
3. Run Fishing Line in open areas. We do this because it's not overly unsightly and doesn't clutter our view of the forest. It may not be very visible to human eyes, but birds of prey have excellent eyesight and they will see it as a barrier.
4. Large Eyes - The idea here is to make it appear that a larger predator is hunting the area. They'll be less likely to intrude on another predators kill zone.
5. Keep Roosters and large breed birds. Roosters may not be able to kill a bird of prey but they're good at keeping watch and will sacrifice themselves if necessary to protect their hens : (
6. Keep your birds locked up at night. Owls are nocturnal hunters. So if you're birds are put up by dusk, they'll be safe (from owls atleast).
7. Scarecrows can be tricky ways to make a predator think you're out at watch. But you'll need to move it ever few days or they'll catch on. We mainly use the scarecrows during winter when the tree cover is less.
8. Ground cover is one of the best methods to deter an areal predator. If you're birds hide out of sight, then the hawks won't see them.
9. Motion Sensor Lights are great for keeping owls away at dusk.
10. Keep Extra Chickens and replenish your flock regularly!

One thing you'll have to accept with backyard chickens, definitely if you free range them, is that you're going to loose some. Chickens and ducks are prey animals that have lots of predators. So it's going to happen at some point. If you want to keep birds, then you'll need to continually add to your flock. We just get on a yearly Spring cadence of adding new chicks, expecting that we'll loose a few adults in the winter.

Видео How to Protect Chickens and Ducks from Predators канала Farmer-ish - Homesteading, Overlanding, DIY How to