A hawk overhead made me rethink keeping my hens cooped up

I always kept my chickens in their run because I thought it was safer. One bright morning, a hawk circled above, and I expected chaos. Instead, my flock moved together slowly toward the bushes, staying quiet and close. They didn't panic or run off in different directions. That calm response showed me they know how to handle stress as a group. Now I give them supervised time outside the run each day. They scratch at the dirt and chase bugs, and I get to watch them be chickens. It's a simple change that makes my afternoons more enjoyable for both of us.

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burns.patricia7mo ago

My cousin lost three hens to a hawk during supervised playtime just last month.

1

olivia_nguyen577mo ago

Supervised playtime? I'd probably lose the hens MYSELF.

5

gray_anderson7mo ago

That line used to make me laugh, but burns.patricia's story about her cousin's hawk attack is exactly what changed my mind.

4