My chickens come running to me. Just train them. Give them treats at a certain time of day. Eventually they associate you with treats and they will follow you right into the coop. I trained both my turkeys and my chickens. It is awesome.
I have had the same issues with our flock here in Alberta, Canada. I noticed the ravens and magpies were attracted to the area more after the addition of our chickens. As I observed over the next year, I saw the ravens chasing the hawks and such away. I took note of the sounds warning sounds they made during “hawk events” when they cry out, their whole flock appears to aggress the predators . Since learning their benefits to our flock I have fed them cast off eggs and other treats as a thank you. They have added a huge security to our flock. I can mimic their warning now and they come secure the area. They magpies aren’t as aggressive in the air towards predators, but they call out, and the ravens show. It is fascinating to watch! It isn’t a solution, but I have lost no birds to predators since I befriended the ally birds( going on 3 years now).
Blue Jays do the same thing only these birds mimic the sound of the hawk to warn other birds. It happened one day, I heard this going on, but after the incident I went on online to find that this is exactly what they do and I found a Leghorn pullet partially defeathered and one side of its body picked off including it's brain and neck and gut area. Largely though I have little issues with hawks because I keep 5 roosters with the 29 hens and it has worked so far. I happen to also have 6 other roosters penned, believe me, I hear when there is a hawk in the tree, they let me know!!!
I've had chickens for 24 years. I gave up on free ranging them about 8 years ago due to dogs roaming the neighborhood. I built a 16 x 8 foot run. They get kitchen scraps and yard and garden clippings, but I just couldn't stand to lose any more.
I shot the neighbors dogs that had killed another neighbor's duck. The people knew their dogs killed. Shot with a 22, my 12g wasn't assembled yet but, it's been assembled now. 2 White huskies had 3 -22s in them. Dog Warden told them they were fortunate I didn't have the 12g assembled. The next time they will have the 12g. Actually killed a hen that day & rooster died 2 months later
Pallets raised about 18 inches off the ground provide good cover from hawks when placed in the open areas of the yard. Has worked well for us. Haven’t lost a chicken since we put the pallets out. Oh, and a manly rooster.
I lost all my roosters. I had four. Now my chickens have no "man" to look after them. 😞 Caught a bobcat chomping down on my last rooster one day, and I was just a few feet away cleaning the chicken coop and heard nothing! When I stepped out of the chicken coop, I threw a pooper scooper at the cat and my 4 month old rooster started jumping around like a fish out of water. He rolled down this drop-off and died. One little hen ran after him, but saw that he was gone and ran right back up the the hill to where I was standing. And, that was my last rooster. We've got hawks, coyotes, bobcats, stray dogs, skunks, racoons, ringtail cats, opposums and who knows what else likes to eat my chickies out here.
I stopped at a guys house once to pick up some Market Place items, and he had chickens. He was telling me he also had a Falcon that had a taste for chicken. This conversation came up because every few minutes there was a screeching noise coming from around his coop. What he had done was get a recording of a Bald Eagle, a natural predator to Falcons and Hawks, he had this on some type of timed loop playing through a speaker. It helped to keep the Falcon away, thinking there was a Bald Eagle in the area,
Good one!! I use a recording of the Eastern Screech Owl (on my phone) when I hear mice in the walls...works like a charm, and you only have to play once a season. I pretend that I am the Owl fluttering and scratching around the room that has the problem.
Correct, it is about 49 years of TREASON making total control of humans possible! You must begin to understand that all 194 UN Member Countries Government Politicians agreed to work for the United Nations 49 years ago, you can research your Country's Government Politicians 49 years ago to see who was your Politician in your Government became your very first TRAITOR for the United Nations 49 years ago the UN was already controlled by the International Economic Order (the same Monster Klaus Schwab, they changed their name to the WEF)! First of many in your Country! In my country Australia, in 1975 with no public consultation, the ALP government of Gough Whitlam supported by the LNP of course, signed Australia up to the United Nations Lima Declaration which required Australia to reduce its manufacturing capabilities by around 30% and to commit to importing that amount from other preferred countries China, Vietnam, India. Pakistan, etc) That was the beginning of the now endemic TREASON by both Labor/Gang-green and the LNP Politicians, they take turns telling the State Governments and all Councils regional and local Councils, these people don’t even realise they are working against the citizens who pay their wages! 49 years of being instructed by your Government what the latest UN Instructions are working for the UN=EU=WHO=WEF globalist monsters helping these evil Creatures destroying the freedoms we have lived with since 52 Million people died fighting the previous Globalist Monster Adolph Hitler 90 Years ago in 2024 we are witnessing our and your Politicians and Bureaucrats are increasing their attacks on private property Gardens, did you think the back in 2015 your TRAITORS agreed UN agenda 2030 sustainability programs was about benefiting you? No, by 2030 their Great Reset should have taken all of your private property away from you, the TRAITORS are increasing all taxes on all private property, Housing, transport, cash, and of course FOOD! All food must be created and controlled by the Globalists, they will stop you from growing your own healthy food, do you remember the video of Dr Billy Goats telling his audience about their great achievements in Vaccine and mRNA plants for food production that will certainly be able to dramatically reduce the global human population to their sustainable target by 2035, where did these Globalist evil monsters evolve from?
YES!!!! For sure!!!! It is in the Pyrenees blood!!!THEY WILL PROTECT WHATEVER AND WHO EVER THEY LIVE WITH. I HAD 2!!! They are the best!!! But you need to get them a special collar that has spikes sticking up from the collar so if something like a coyote or wolf or another dog or whatever tries to attack, when they go to bite their throat they get a mouthful of spikes!
Outstanding!! I live in south Mississippi in the middle of a small rural town. When I built my coop and run I also went with the hardware cloth, the most expensive item of the project, but the girls are safe from hawks, which are really bad here in town. The thing about a small rural Mississippi town is that the safety and protection of our livestock, including chickens, is that it supersedes federal law. We’d splash a hawk in a second to protect our babies. Never had to thus far. While free ranging every evening, I stay with my birds. Total enjoyment.
Hardware cloth is massive overkill for hawks but 100% required to keep raccoons from deheading all your birds through the chicken wire. You can use deer cloth for the top if it's just raptors.
This was surprisingly entertaining. Very well edited. The jokes all landed. Impressions were fun. "Kids ran out as fast as possible" was one of my favorites 🤣
We've had hawk problems and found that creating a sort of web 🕸️ of fishing line works really well. Hawk's will definitely avoid the chicken free range area. The lines are about 3 - 4 ft apart. Tied from fence perimeter across tree branches etc. Works great 👍
With all sincerity, does the line affect backyard birds? I'm in a suburb, and we HAD backyard hens, but neighborhood predators and illness (Marek's Disease) got them all. Our last one died this past September. That said, the backyard birds literally flocked to our backyard because of our dogs protecting the chickens. Even with a few Coopers and kites in our area (or we are in theirs), they only went after the backyard birds and never the hens. I'd hate to have line or netting destroy the comfort zone of the backyard birds.
My grandfather took good care of his chickens. He had built a huge open space for the chickens and laid out a chainlink fence on top that kept the birds of prey away and the chickens safe. Worked really well and the chickens could lay their eggs in peace. He really took good care of them.
Correct, it is about 49 years of TREASON making total control of humans possible! You must begin to understand that all 194 UN Member Countries Government Politicians agreed to work for the United Nations 49 years ago, you can research your Country's Government Politicians 49 years ago to see who was your Politician in your Government became your very first TRAITOR for the United Nations 49 years ago the UN was already controlled by the International Economic Order (the same Monster Klaus Schwab, they changed their name to the WEF)! First of many in your Country! In my country Australia, in 1975 with no public consultation, the ALP government of Gough Whitlam supported by the LNP of course, signed Australia up to the United Nations Lima Declaration which required Australia to reduce its manufacturing capabilities by around 30% and to commit to importing that amount from other preferred countries China, Vietnam, India. Pakistan, etc) That was the beginning of the now endemic TREASON by both Labor/Gang-green and the LNP Politicians, they take turns telling the State Governments and all Councils regional and local Councils, these people don’t even realise they are working against the citizens who pay their wages! 49 years of being instructed by your Government what the latest UN Instructions are working for the UN=EU=WHO=WEF globalist monsters helping these evil Creatures destroying the freedoms we have lived with since 52 Million people died fighting the previous Globalist Monster Adolph Hitler 90 Years ago in 2024 we are witnessing our and your Politicians and Bureaucrats are increasing their attacks on private property Gardens, did you think the back in 2015 your TRAITORS agreed UN agenda 2030 sustainability programs was about benefiting you? No, by 2030 their Great Reset should have taken all of your private property away from you, the TRAITORS are increasing all taxes on all private property, Housing, transport, cash, and of course FOOD! All food must be created and controlled by the Globalists, they will stop you from growing your own healthy food, do you remember the video of Dr Billy Goats telling his audience about their great achievements in Vaccine and mRNA plants for food production that will certainly be able to dramatically reduce the global human population to their sustainable target by 2035, where did these Globalist evil monsters evolve from?
*HAXMAN* Great video, I was glued to my monitor... Thank you for taking the time to make and post this excellent video protecting/saving your chickens. 🐔
Hey man, I'm located in South Louisiana, and I've had the same problems as you in the past. Hawks were a problem, including coyotes, raccoons, and minks. I've been raising chickens now for about 25 years. One remedy I've found to deter birds of prey is to buy the reflective emergency blankets from walmart. They are about $1 each and cut them into 2 - 3ft strips. Hang the strips from tree branches around your yard. If you leave them too lengthy they will get tangled in the branches in heavy wind situations. I've heard of people using pie trays and CDs also. The other remedy I use is natural. We have a lot of crows that live in the area, and they hate a hawk. Crows will chase off hawks and alert everything in the area when one is near. I do my best to keep them fed and coming back everyday. I know how to call them by mouth so if I ever see a hawk in my tree I call the crows and they will locate the danger and chase him off. Keep a crow call near you. Try these methods and let me know how it works out.
We're in our eighth year of Chicken mania and have had to deal with Hawks, Foxes and other predators as well. Last year we built a 10 fence around the chicken yard. (large enough for 50 chickens without turning the grass into just dirt... because I still have to mow it ) I placed 3 owl decoys on top of the posts. We've not lost another chicken since. I know that sounds extreme, but eggs are getting higher every week.
Herding chickens into their coop is very easy, especially if you raised them this way from the get-go. Every time you take them feed or scraps that they love say chick chick chick chick, this conditions them to run to you every time they hear that because they think they're getting a treat. Don't fool them too often and not give them a treat because they will catch on. This bunch of chickens I've had for several years, they have gotten to the point that when they hear me or see me coming they run my direction. If there's a threat, I stand in their Coop and say chick chick chick. A stampede of chickens comes! If you have a straggler use your finger to fake Peck at the ground as you say chick chick they think you are getting a bug or pointing out a bug and they don't want to be left out. This will work on adult hens just give them a little time to catch on when you bring them table scraps or mealworms etc always say chick chick chick. 👍
I agree! I trained mine from young with cheese as treats and saying "Come Come Come", they would come running even now they are adults. It's been really useful countless times with or without cheese in my hands...
@@goldflow6690 well first find out if its being picked on..look up natural essential oils that can be used on chickens to help calm them down. Check what's in the feed your giving them! Chickens can have allergies just like us. Above everything else PRAY over your chickens all of your animals, family, self. God can touch us all. Be careful, be cautious, be mindful, be watchful, be prepared, above all PRAY. 🛐📖🙏🕊️ Show ❤️ like Jesus then if need be 🔫🏹 then victory 🙌🙌
You and your family are the greatest. I'm sorry about your chickens. You just made my day with your humor in this situation. Can't wait to see more videos
My parents both grew up on farms and were young adults in the Great Depression. I was born in 1940 and can remember the last two years of WWII. At that time, my parents had a pen full of chickens, and a garden, and holstien milk cow. My Dad also hunted wild game on many places owned/ or controlled by people indebted to his many skills at helping "work" cattle and repairing windmills. So one day Dad was looking out a back window and exclaimed that he saw a "chicken hawk" trying to get a chicken. Sure enough, a hawk had landed outside the pen and was walking up and down the section of fence facing the house. A very retarded hawk, 'cause the pen was completely open on top. In seconds my Dad has his 22 rimfire rifle in hand and pointed out the window. And bang, he shot right through the window window screen and the "chicken hawk" fell dead. The family's favorite egg machines were now safe.
Those old school men were legends. I worked for a guy who shot a bat that wouldn't leave his living room. I wasn't there for the shot, but I got to see the patched hole in the ceiling. He was a Korean War Vet. 😁
Shame about the loss of some of your chickens mate to those hawks and I like your extra build on to give them more room & protection. You never fail to make me laugh though and your family bless you all.
New subscriber here. Thanks for all the laughs and great info here on keeping chickens safe. We have hawks, bald eagles, Falcons, dogs, coyotes, fox, raccoons, pine martens, weasels, and sneaky neighbors. Sure, you gave a lot of great ideas, but your subscribers down in the comments had more practical info. So I'll watch your videos for the comic relief, and read the comments! Thanks so much for making these great videos, and thanks to all your awesome subscribers!
Our classroom keeps a flock of hens (and one rooster). We have been visited by a pair of Cooper's Hawks. They are a pain, but there is a level of respect that they have earned from us. They truly act as a team. The female hunts, the male is lookout. Since we are not in a very rural area, we have formed our own team: crows. We have left jugs of water out for the crows. They like to hang out for the freebies. Plus, they chance the hawks away
"Look at the joy in that face." Had to get to the youngest daughter to find it. LOL. Seriously great parenting! It's awesome to see kids contributing to the family enterprise.
We’ve had problems with hawks also. I brought out a lot of old cd’s and placed them on fence posts all around the yard. The sun reflects off of em and the hawks can’t see their targets anymore.
Ok your sense of humor made me laugh so hard that I had to subscribe. 🥰 It was the description of your wife calling "Adam!" Where you sent the girls out to help -- "they ran out as fast as possible" (but they are turtle walking)! 😂😀😂😭😂👀
As a fellow chicken mama myself, I don’t think Kim looked crazy at all. In fact, I think she looked like a bad-ass runnin that hawk down to save her babies. 💜 “ The girls come running as fast as they can” 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣
We've free-range our birds for years. We 100% solved the hulk problem by getting a peacock (obviously a male). While we were on our larger farm we had dwarf goats that we could not keep end because they could escape even a ten-foot fence. That actually turned out to be our saving grace from night predators (foxes and possums). The goats would not leave our property but they would wander around all night eating things which kept the land predators away. When we had to move to smaller acreage it was deemed too small for the five goats we had so we were back with the night predator problem. In comes the coup that we lock them in at night and that ended the night predator problem. We've had many a bird taken by eagles but after our peacock got to be two-and-a-half years old (when their tail fan is at full length exceeding 5 ft) the peacock would scare off the eagles.
We had hawk issues as well! I built a safe fenced area surrounding the coop and feeding area where our hens stay for most of the day. When I get home in the evening, I let them out to roam the property and forage when the hawks are far less active. After a few hours, they find their way back to the coop on their own as the sun goes down and I close 'em in for the night. Best of both worlds: they get a morning feeding inside the coop and an evening one on the property, all while staying safe from the bad birds 👍
We have been raising chickens for 6 or 7 years now and haven't lost any to predators, which is amazing since we have hawks, eagles, foxes, coyotes, roaming dogs, raccoons, etc. All of which I've seen roaming and flying around our property. We rely on the roosters for protection while they free range. So far, so good. I use camo netting over the run for shade and protection from flying predators.
Did you see them last year, talking about the next Planned-demic it's ready to go according to the "people in the know" like these trusted humanitarians Bill Gates and Fauci talked about it in November 2022, how do the "people in the know" able to predict global food shortages? We know that Bill Gates is now the largest private Farmland owner in the USA, I didn't know Bill Gates was a farmer until recently? Certainly, the WEF's United Nations Climate Change UN agenda 2030 has worked marvellously for all UN Member Countries guided by the UN's POLITICIAN TRAITORS in control of your Governments; the population has embraced the illusion of GREEN Replaceables, lovingly called RENEWABLES? we are just putty in the hands of our POLITICIANS (old heads remember the beginning of the TREASON by all UN Member country POLITICIANS 40 plus years ago, the UN LIMA agreement, that was the begging of the end of democracy in the WEST since then our controlling POLITICIANS have been loyal only to the unelected United Nations Bureaucrats, we know that Klaus Schwab had successfully infiltrated the UN before the UN LIMA AGREEMENT remember? He and his comrades were the "International Economic Order." Today these monsters are the “World Economic Forum” once they succeeded in taking the use of cash away from us all, giving us all digital # 7,820,963,721.your number relates to all your savings, and the best part of their plan is to prevent you from buying what they decide you are not entitled to, (this will make most of you laugh) if you try to buy an insect past burger, their AI instantly decides that you have eaten your allocated Cricket burgers for the week and your card will be declined, sure you are upset and still hungry, so you complain, then their AI will fine your savings because of your not being a good global Citizen, complain again and it's off to the RIGHT THINK Hospital! ( hahaha, What a laugh, that can't possibly happen; that's like being able to predict the next Planned-Demic? impossible hahahaha)
I fear the reason you haven't lost any is they haven't been discovered by those predators yet. I can't count the times a skunk would get in the coop at night and then stink up everything because he couldn't drag the dead chicken back through the same whole he got in through. The worst destruction of all though is when neighbors dogs discover the chickens. They kill them for fun so they will kill all the chickens given the chance.
This video was so much fun to watch! Great parenting along with so many hilarious comments and asides. So many farming videos are all hard work and no joy. You put joy onto my face with yours. I had to subscribe for more! Thanks.
That's not CRAZY! You haven't seen TRUE CRAZY until you've seen me go CRAZY! 😂 I love the humour you use! You're a wonderful family, it's hard to get teens to do ANYTHING! 💗 Your chicken run turned out fantastic! I subscribed!
I’m always happy when I see a notification that there’s a new video from you. Your videos are always so informative and entertaining! Thanks for all the great info.
I've got the same hawk problem, lost all my small breed and only have large breed birds left now, damn hawk is extremely smart, it actually went under my house on foot in pursuit of my last litter rooster
That was an interesting, informative Story. Someday, we hope to raise chickens, ty for the tips. Good luck with your free range Chickens, they are beautiful birds, and the eggs must be so amazing 🤩👍💯
NOOOOO!!! Don't give up on free range chickens. Can I make 2 suggestions ? I have used both. LGD~~~Livestock Guardian dog--- I had them in AZ + also here in Maine--- it works! Also, I bought solar electric mesh fencing ( Premiere 1 catalog, they have EVERYTHING!) and that kept my layers in 1 big area. It really worked well, and occasionally, we'd turn the "power" off and let them completely free range. They significantly lowered our TICK population!! 😂 Well, I hope you find something that works for you. Good luck 👍
When I was a kid in the 1950’s my granddad had a next door neighbor who raised free range chickens as did most farmers in those days. There was a big oak tree along the road between the two farms. There were always between 6 and 12 raptors nailed to that tree. I was fascinated as a young boy. Our ancestors knew how to handle predators that endangered the food supply in mid Ohio.
They used to do that here in Australia with our Wedge Tailed Eagles and sheep stations. Driving through there you'd see a massive eagle spread out on the barbed wire fences. Out of interest the biggest one recorded had a wing span of 13 feet, they attack kangaroos as well as just about anything else here
I put up bent cattle panels to provide extra shelter to run under. Then run twine between them so the hawks can’t come down to grab them. You can also put up old CDs on string, the sun reflection confuses them and they fly away. I LITERALLY thought of buying the air arm guy!!! 😂. You will have to move him around the yard because the hawks will learn your game. They are VERY smart. If you actually just throw treats into the run and call them they will go in for the treats. Grubbies!!
We only let our chickens free-range out of their run when we are outside. When project outside are done, chickens go back in there run that is covered with bird netting and made from pallets. And yes we learned the hard way from the Ravens around here getting one of ours. There are also Hawks everywhere around here. Northern Arizona 🌵🙋
Feed the Ravens in an area somewhere away from your chickens…trust me: make friends & they’ll understand…gain their trust & you’ll never have a problem (Ravens and Crows teach their young, and their extended families about us, humans…who’s cool & who’s not. Be cool)
@@JaimeBlackBird true. Crows/ravens are super intelligent and sociable. I don’t have an open lot. Mine is planted with numerous small trees so they generally stay at the perimeter of my place where there’s more open space
I stumbled across your channel while holed up with the ice. I enjoy your wit and the interactions with your family. You have a unique style that YT viewers need. New subscriber! ❤
You have probably already heard about them, but if not then you should check out chicken tunnels. Basically they are just half dome wire that ends up resembling a hamster tube cage. You can make chicken runs all around the property, zip tie them together, and re-arrange them occasionally as needed. Not really an easy solution but possibly one of the better compromises.
As another commenter had mentioned, black colored birds (ravens, crows, magpies, grackles, etc) are raptor enemies. Add some black chickens to your flock, especially a rooster (JG, Australorp, etc) and you’ll notice much less hawk activity. As I’ve read, they spot the black birds from high up and don’t bother. Worked for me in my large, open topped run.
Love your channel man, great content. And when you say things like “he took a massive dump as he left” it reassures me I’m with likeminded friends. Great job!
As much as I would love to free range my chickens, I just don't have a flock large enough to suffer the loss. We have quite the family of hawks in the area so it is just not worth the risk. You did good, and I am so sorry for your losses.
Get a turkey (a tom). Raise him with the chickens, and when he gets to around 20lbs, let them roam. Be careful, because toms aren't very child friendly, but hawks are scared shitless of them.
Legal or not I have a remedy for Hawks and I have used it several times. For the life of me I don't understand why they're still protected there are so many here in Kentucky
did not lose any to hawks, but we have rabbit wire around "all" areas of their "huge" pen and hut. We put up chain link fencing and then covered it with netting. We have not had any loss to raccoons (that was our problem to start with) possums or hawks or coyotes. It is hard when you name them and they are pets. But, we get the most excellent eggs you ever want to have, and they are healthy. Hens are happy also. So happy you have your hens now safe.
I have a suggestion. I know that fishing line strung along a fence freaks out deer because they can't see it but they can feel it. Maybe if you strung fishing line from tree to tree across the open area (in a loose net pattern) that would deter the hawks because they'd get tangled in it. It shouldn't cost much at all either and visually, you'd hardly notice it.
I have used this method in the past it works very well. But also I grew up in a fishing community so the owls and hawks are accustomed to people stretching out nets for fishing and they have learned its a danger to them.
You and family are funny and entertaining. We have the same chicken predator issues but also get coyotes, racoons, snakes (eat eggs) as well as hawks. We have geese and donkeys to deter a little. Also our hound dog is trained to chase hawks all the way off the property. Just make a hawk whistle and she goes crazy looking for a bad bird. Or if the hawk screeches she goes into action. Of course we always lock the coop at night. Good luck - it is a constant battle but worth fighting.
We had hybrid coyotes who'd charge the pen where our chickens were, scaring them. They kept it u until the hens quit laying. When these coyotes starting bothering our orphan baby calves, my husband killed 4 with a double barrel shotgun. He also shot a rabid skunk in our mare labor pen. Police drove up at that time, he told my husband he wasn't to fire gun in city limits. My husband showed him the rabid skunk and the policeman got into his car saying, "Carry on, Mr. Wells, carry on."
@@HAXMAN I understand. I feel that way about squirrels with my bird feeders. I know it's not the same but still. I bought bird seed not squirrel food! Go away! Haha
We have hawks and eagles I absolutely hate them i dont think it's a joy to see one i would get joy if one of my livestock guard dogs was actually able to catch one I would find joy In seeing a dog or pig eat one of them.
We raised an African Grey with thed m chickens (a female). Once she was Grown, no more hawk. and we made a low no fly box. Also goose eggs are awesome.
Oh my gosh I love this video the fact this is a very serious subject on a home stead, I latterly laughed so hard I fell off my chair, and had to show it to every one in the house they too showed tears of laughter because we could totally relate to all the hilarious puns you put in, being raised as home steadier kids many moons ago. I truly hope you the best of luck with this task what my dad did is he put up a giant mesh tarp every similar to your solution and scare crows and every chance my parents had away from chores we were tossed out side to deter the hawks and we had bald eagles also that coulda swooped in and took us kids away they were so big with no prob, but we were a pack of five wild animals out side haaa. So it work very well.
Man my grandpa bought 2 gooses and all birds of prey, weasels, rats, foxes and stray dogs vanished. No attacks, no deaths, gooses lay giant eggs too. We don't have wolves in the area, but if we did, they wouldn't mess with the gooses
Great video, practical and funny. I will always keep my birds in a run. I can always put grass and bugs in there run to eat. I care more about losing them to predators than free ranging them. 1 day a hawk another day an owl another day a coyote another day a mink, another day the neighbors dog or cat, well you get the idea.
This far, my girls have been free range on about a half acre, but we have three loud obnoxious geese, actually two ganders and a goose and they free roam the property. I have seen hawks, falcons and ravens circling above, but the geese are definitely a loud presence. Also, they provide huge nutritious eggs, cost even less to feed than chickens and can also be food if needed if/ when SHTF in our country. The ganders will bite out of protectiveness of their girl, but I keep sticks with me when I go out into the barnyard and fields. They seem to understand that if they go after me I will give them a warning wop. I raised them from 4 day old goslings but ganders will be ganders. They don't bother the chickens either. Just a suggestion. Love your content by the way. 🐔🐓🐣
Dying over here. The big dancing man was hilarious but your girls running out of the house, reminded me of my girls when I ask them to help with our chickens. 😂
You should do a video on the cost of the chicken run build. I believe it would be informative to people who already keep chickens and to those of us who decide to start keeping chickens. 💪
Brother I feel your pain. I've had chickens my whole life and my grandparents and parents always had chickens. I'm a country boy through and through. I live in the mountains now with my family and we have chickens of course and man keeping them alive and safe is a non stop challenge. We lost over 25 in one night a few years ago from a huge pack of wild dogs. The same pack of dogs killed every single one of our rabbits (18 total) except for one that we found a few days later hiding under some piles of wood. Just so happens and to our luck it was a female and she was pregnant before the dogs killed all the others and we had a huge healthy litter of baby rabbits a few weeks later. Now we're back up to our original numbers. I don't blame the predators they're only doing what they have to in order to survive and if they get my livestock then that means I've failed to do my job of keeping them safe. It's a win some lose some game in the business of keeping livestock. But you definitely learn along the way and not everything works with all predators. A fox will be a true nightmare as well as bobcats. Oh and I can't leave out feral cats they can be a big problem. Smart agile animals are tough to deal with. But eventually you figure out how to keep them all out. Good luck in the future and keep those cluckers safe..
Just have to have a coup and not free range then. And have a caged in area outside the coup for them to graze in. I plan on building this when I get the money for all the materials
I feel for you cuz I've been there, done that. The dogs are the worst. Most people don't realize domestic dogs will leave home and pack together, get in trouble, then separate and go to the home where the owners believe "fluffy wouldn't hurt a flea". We didn't have a whole lot of trouble with coons and the chickens cuz the coons were to intent on destroying the garden. If you depend on the livestock and the produce for survival then the war on predators is a very real thing. I understand they are only doing what they have to to survive but I will do the same. Bobcat fur for instance is quit valuable and they're easy to trap.
Great info, HAXMAN. My sinus cavity still stings a little from the coffee that exited out of my nose at supersonic speed from your excellent wit! Thanks again, and keep them coming.
If you want to protect the chickens, without spending a fortune on netting, I have just one word... Tom. Hawks and eagles are very common in my area, but the chickens are always safe, because even the bald eagles won't mess with a 30lb male turkey. The turkey does go after the rooster from time to time, but he doesn't cause any harm. We keep the chickens in an area without a lot of cover, but since getting the turkey, we've never lost one to a hawk or eagle. Our biggest issue used to be the damned skunks getting to the chickens at night. We don't close the coop, because we don't live on the property. The road to the property floods almost every year, so our livestock property has to be self-sustaining for up to two months. Skunks chew off the chicken's head, but don't even attempt to eat the chicken. We don't have to deal with that very often these days, because if they show their smelly little asses, they get live trapped and go swimming. The skunk population is quite thin around our livestock property now.
I can't believe I watched the video all the way through. The cage reminded me of one I built for my pigeons when I was a teenager. I had about 100. My mom decided we were not going to feed them for nothing. She said we would start eating them. Whoops, I "accidentally" left the gate open and they all flew away. 😂😂😂
How sweet, in another video, interviewing the chickens. shows compassion. & amazing to think that that chicken has never seen a microphone before, maybe it's saying, 'is it something I can eat?'. I love animals too much to want to watch this video above. was bit concerned when I saw the name of it. it's probably ok, since I saw the comment below. Lisa, UK
I'm about to intro y'all to my hubby. Tonight. You make the Best videos. You made this city girl, attempting to become a country girl, laugh and learn! I have chickens on my Spring Wish List. It's awesome to see what I'm really in for. On the subject of hawks...we took on 7 ducks last Summer. Come late Fall, I looked a massive hawk in the eyes, who then continued to scope out my Feather-Babies! Not sure why, but I ran outta the house yelling, "Not in my yard, you b@$%#rd!" He flew suspiciously low over the ducks, only to land in the trees. Soon after, we were 1 duck short, but I stay in need-to-know mode because I can't handle the "knowing." I simply Don't need-to-know. Luckily the hawk moved on when Mike kept shooting kinda at it. That's because I'm a live-and-let-live gal. Side note: our Feather-Babies were schedule to start laying eggs this Spring! That is until we figured out all six of them were males. *Jeesh!* Nope. Not adding girls because I read that the boys will start fighting. Right now they all seem to be BFF's. So now we're on to chickens...
Living near the forest, Ravens visited daily. My flock ran the yard but the Ravens never bothered them. They did however get leftovers from our dog who laided back watching them play. It was very nice to see them from the kitchen window. Started the day smiling.
Your daughters are slow running😂😂😂 Your narration is OUTSTANDING, you need to write a book too of fun homesteading, the whole family of course with pictures😂😂😂
I'm truly glad you made a video on this. This has been in my head a while now. Some people can't afford a nice coop or are disabled & can't build one. I can't afford full coverage on my vehicle but assure you if I hit a protected deer the government won't pay for me a new vehicle. This country is by far a free one. Can't afford the taxes on your property after living there 20 years they come & take it. It's all a money racket & they want to lock up the good people & let the bad ones run free.
I can't believe I watched your whole video on chickens and I don't even own any! The closest I get to free range is feeding the crows around my city home. Enjoyed your presentation, that's what kept me glued
Our family has a beagle that keeps predators at bay. Thank heaven she only howls at intruders and doesn't try to attack them... like the time she chased away three mountain lions prowling around the chicken enclosure.
This is what family life should be! I wish I was 25 years younger. I would be living off the land. Somewhere there are few crazy people! Thanks for sharing! Blessings to you and yours.
As someone who grew up on a chicken farm..(we had well over 400 chickens free range) You CAN train the chickens to return to their coop with feed. To do this, always put the feed inside the coop and when you do make a loud sound. Use the same loud "call" and after a few times, you will see them all run to the feeding spot when you make the call. Hawks were always a problem for us but we got the routine of calling them all back to their coop using the call.
I was going to sub just because you made the effort on your Amazon search history. Priceless. But there were so many other reasons to sub. Great content.
I also had issues with predators attacking my chickens. Locking them inside a secure coop at night helps with night predators. During the day we free range our chickens for years. We use to lose chickens to hawks, foxes, fisher cats & weasels. Then we purchased 8 Embden Geese & raised them in the chicken coop. A year later nothing could go near our chickens or property. The geese could chased off most predators even a black bear once. One or two geese alone would work for hawks but not larger predators. A flock of angry geese charging together will scare off most predators. The noise at least could let you know danger is on your property. Recommend larger breeds such as Embden or Toulouse. Africa geese breeds are to vocal for most neighborhoods. Other breeds can be to small to be a good deterrent Another bonus to the geese they are natural law mowers & weed wackers. We rarely had to mow again. They don't eat much but grass except during winter months. Plus you get goose eggs & downy feathers. They feathers you can collect around the nest daily. If you butcher a goose or offspring then you get meat but more importantly the fat / lard. You can use this in cooking, baking, making lotions, soaps or candles. But most likely you'll fall in love with them.
Your family is so funny. Keep up the good work. You rock. Love the chickens mom had them until the city said no more. Wish we could still keep them. Blessings ❤️
Hey Haxmaniacs, check out the new "Become Ungovernable" merch here 👉www.thehaxman.com
What about a movable chicken fence - house?
My mother and father in law use whistling bottle rockets to scare them off.
And it’s fun for the family!!
My chickens come running to me. Just train them. Give them treats at a certain time of day. Eventually they associate you with treats and they will follow you right into the coop. I trained both my turkeys and my chickens. It is awesome.
I have had the same issues with our flock here in Alberta, Canada. I noticed the ravens and magpies were attracted to the area more after the addition of our chickens. As I observed over the next year, I saw the ravens chasing the hawks and such away. I took note of the sounds warning sounds they made during “hawk events” when they cry out, their whole flock appears to aggress the predators . Since learning their benefits to our flock I have fed them cast off eggs and other treats as a thank you. They have added a huge security to our flock. I can mimic their warning now and they come secure the area. They magpies aren’t as aggressive in the air towards predators, but they call out, and the ravens show. It is fascinating to watch! It isn’t a solution, but I have lost no birds to predators since I befriended the ally birds( going on 3 years now).
Blue Jays do the same thing only these birds mimic the sound of the hawk to warn other birds. It happened one day, I heard this going on, but after the incident I went on online to find that this is exactly what they do and I found a Leghorn pullet partially defeathered and one side of its body picked off including it's brain and neck and gut area. Largely though I have little issues with hawks because I keep 5 roosters with the 29 hens and it has worked so far. I happen to also have 6 other roosters penned, believe me, I hear when there is a hawk in the tree, they let me know!!!
Put a recording on a delayed repeat on top of a pole with a speaker on it 😂
Great idea. I'm glad it works.
Ravens are Kool. I first 'met" them in Alaska :-)
And, those black birds are sooo intelligent!
I've had chickens for 24 years. I gave up on free ranging them about 8 years ago due to dogs roaming the neighborhood. I built a 16 x 8 foot run. They get kitchen scraps and yard and garden clippings, but I just couldn't stand to lose any more.
Dogs would infuriate me. That’s not nature. That’s lazy owners.
just shoot the dogs. problem solved.
I shot the neighbors dogs that had killed another neighbor's duck. The people knew their dogs killed. Shot with a 22, my 12g wasn't assembled yet but, it's been assembled now. 2 White huskies had 3 -22s in them. Dog Warden told them they were fortunate I didn't have the 12g assembled. The next time they will have the 12g. Actually killed a hen that day & rooster died 2 months later
@@Rosethatwantstomove this is what we refer to as the Triple S method... Shoot, Shovel & Shut up
@@Rosethatwantstomovedog warden 😂
Dude.... Your editing and storytelling in this one is off the charts!
Hello Beth
How are you doing today?
Pallets raised about 18 inches off the ground provide good cover from hawks when placed in the open areas of the yard. Has worked well for us. Haven’t lost a chicken since we put the pallets out. Oh, and a manly rooster.
Great idea thank you!
Yup roosters. I never lost a chook til I lost my roosters. And only lost to hawks
Hang pie pans around your chicken yard,I've never lost a chicken in 15 years,due to this!
EGGS NOW. $7.
I lost all my roosters. I had four. Now my chickens have no "man" to look after them. 😞 Caught a bobcat chomping down on my last rooster one day, and I was just a few feet away cleaning the chicken coop and heard nothing! When I stepped out of the chicken coop, I threw a pooper scooper at the cat and my 4 month old rooster started jumping around like a fish out of water. He rolled down this drop-off and died. One little hen ran after him, but saw that he was gone and ran right back up the the hill to where I was standing. And, that was my last rooster. We've got hawks, coyotes, bobcats, stray dogs, skunks, racoons, ringtail cats, opposums and who knows what else likes to eat my chickies out here.
A momma in her robe saving her chickens is the most normal thing I’ve seen 😉
Being a UPS delivery driver, I approve this message!
Thank you! Beautiful dogs by the way!
😂 Thanks!
@@HAXMAN i've heard that if you get some geese they'll chase the hawks away
The joy on their faces is overwhelming. How can anyone be that happy its amazing just, just amazing.
The speed in which the children move is impressive. Much faster than ours.
I stopped at a guys house once to pick up some Market Place items, and he had chickens. He was telling me he also had a Falcon that had a taste for chicken. This conversation came up because every few minutes there was a screeching noise coming from around his coop. What he had done was get a recording of a Bald Eagle, a natural predator to Falcons and Hawks, he had this on some type of timed loop playing through a speaker. It helped to keep the Falcon away, thinking there was a Bald Eagle in the area,
Clever. I’ll look into that.
Good one!! I use a recording of the Eastern Screech Owl (on my phone) when I hear mice in the walls...works like a charm, and you only have to play once a season. I pretend that I am the Owl fluttering and scratching around the room that has the problem.
Correct, it is about 49 years of TREASON making total control of humans possible! You must begin to understand that all 194 UN Member Countries Government Politicians agreed to work for the United Nations 49 years ago, you can research your Country's Government Politicians 49 years ago to see who was your Politician in your Government became your very first TRAITOR for the United Nations 49 years ago the UN was already controlled by the International Economic Order (the same Monster Klaus Schwab, they changed their name to the WEF)! First of many in your Country! In my country Australia, in 1975 with no public consultation, the ALP government of Gough Whitlam supported by the LNP of course, signed Australia up to the United Nations Lima Declaration which required Australia to reduce its manufacturing capabilities by around 30% and to commit to importing that amount from other preferred countries China, Vietnam, India. Pakistan, etc) That was the beginning of the now endemic TREASON by both Labor/Gang-green and the LNP Politicians, they take turns telling the State Governments and all Councils regional and local Councils, these people don’t even realise they are working against the citizens who pay their wages! 49 years of being instructed by your Government what the latest UN Instructions are working for the UN=EU=WHO=WEF globalist monsters helping these evil Creatures destroying the freedoms we have lived with since 52 Million people died fighting the previous Globalist Monster Adolph Hitler 90 Years ago in 2024 we are witnessing our and your Politicians and Bureaucrats are increasing their attacks on private property Gardens, did you think the back in 2015 your TRAITORS agreed UN agenda 2030 sustainability programs was about benefiting you? No, by 2030 their Great Reset should have taken all of your private property away from you, the TRAITORS are increasing all taxes on all private property, Housing, transport, cash, and of course FOOD! All food must be created and controlled by the Globalists, they will stop you from growing your own healthy food, do you remember the video of Dr Billy Goats telling his audience about their great achievements in Vaccine and mRNA plants for food production that will certainly be able to dramatically reduce the global human population to their sustainable target by 2035, where did these Globalist evil monsters evolve from?
Great content amigo. Grab yourself a Great Pyrenees dog. They will protect your chickens from hawks and can hear them before the chickens do.
true !!
I love the balloon man but mostly the look on ya'alls faces. ❤
our great p passed away last year... such a great dog
@@jameslow5536 rest in peace so sorry to hear
YES!!!! For sure!!!! It is in the Pyrenees blood!!!THEY WILL PROTECT WHATEVER AND WHO EVER THEY LIVE WITH. I HAD 2!!! They are the best!!! But you need to get them a special collar that has spikes sticking up from the collar so if something like a coyote or wolf or another dog or whatever tries to attack, when they go to bite their throat they get a mouthful of spikes!
Outstanding!! I live in south Mississippi in the middle of a small rural town. When I built my coop and run I also went with the hardware cloth, the most expensive item of the project, but the girls are safe from hawks, which are really bad here in town. The thing about a small rural Mississippi town is that the safety and protection of our livestock, including chickens, is that it supersedes federal law. We’d splash a hawk in a second to protect our babies. Never had to thus far. While free ranging every evening, I stay with my birds. Total enjoyment.
Hardware cloth is massive overkill for hawks but 100% required to keep raccoons from deheading all your birds through the chicken wire. You can use deer cloth for the top if it's just raptors.
This was surprisingly entertaining. Very well edited. The jokes all landed. Impressions were fun.
"Kids ran out as fast as possible" was one of my favorites 🤣
Mine too
I noticed how joyful they were.
The shorts.
This dude is easy to entertain
lol, no chicken soup for them.
We've had hawk problems and found that creating a sort of web 🕸️ of fishing line works really well. Hawk's will definitely avoid the chicken free range area. The lines are about 3 - 4 ft apart. Tied from fence perimeter across tree branches etc. Works great 👍
Parallel, horizontal lines of bailing twine over top about 2-3 feet apart works pretty well for my family's chickens.
With all sincerity, does the line affect backyard birds?
I'm in a suburb, and we HAD backyard hens, but neighborhood predators and illness (Marek's Disease) got them all. Our last one died this past September.
That said, the backyard birds literally flocked to our backyard because of our dogs protecting the chickens. Even with a few Coopers and kites in our area (or we are in theirs), they only went after the backyard birds and never the hens.
I'd hate to have line or netting destroy the comfort zone of the backyard birds.
My grandfather took good care of his chickens. He had built a huge open space for the chickens and laid out a chainlink fence on top that kept the birds of prey away and the chickens safe. Worked really well and the chickens could lay their eggs in peace. He really took good care of them.
Correct, it is about 49 years of TREASON making total control of humans possible! You must begin to understand that all 194 UN Member Countries Government Politicians agreed to work for the United Nations 49 years ago, you can research your Country's Government Politicians 49 years ago to see who was your Politician in your Government became your very first TRAITOR for the United Nations 49 years ago the UN was already controlled by the International Economic Order (the same Monster Klaus Schwab, they changed their name to the WEF)! First of many in your Country! In my country Australia, in 1975 with no public consultation, the ALP government of Gough Whitlam supported by the LNP of course, signed Australia up to the United Nations Lima Declaration which required Australia to reduce its manufacturing capabilities by around 30% and to commit to importing that amount from other preferred countries China, Vietnam, India. Pakistan, etc) That was the beginning of the now endemic TREASON by both Labor/Gang-green and the LNP Politicians, they take turns telling the State Governments and all Councils regional and local Councils, these people don’t even realise they are working against the citizens who pay their wages! 49 years of being instructed by your Government what the latest UN Instructions are working for the UN=EU=WHO=WEF globalist monsters helping these evil Creatures destroying the freedoms we have lived with since 52 Million people died fighting the previous Globalist Monster Adolph Hitler 90 Years ago in 2024 we are witnessing our and your Politicians and Bureaucrats are increasing their attacks on private property Gardens, did you think the back in 2015 your TRAITORS agreed UN agenda 2030 sustainability programs was about benefiting you? No, by 2030 their Great Reset should have taken all of your private property away from you, the TRAITORS are increasing all taxes on all private property, Housing, transport, cash, and of course FOOD! All food must be created and controlled by the Globalists, they will stop you from growing your own healthy food, do you remember the video of Dr Billy Goats telling his audience about their great achievements in Vaccine and mRNA plants for food production that will certainly be able to dramatically reduce the global human population to their sustainable target by 2035, where did these Globalist evil monsters evolve from?
Great video and appreciate you and your wife's humor.. even the kids help.
Thanks!
@@HAXMAN Thank you! ❤👍
*HAXMAN* Great video, I was glued to my monitor... Thank you for taking the time to make and post this excellent video protecting/saving your chickens. 🐔
Hey man, I'm located in South Louisiana, and I've had the same problems as you in the past. Hawks were a problem, including coyotes, raccoons, and minks. I've been raising chickens now for about 25 years. One remedy I've found to deter birds of prey is to buy the reflective emergency blankets from walmart. They are about $1 each and cut them into 2 - 3ft strips. Hang the strips from tree branches around your yard. If you leave them too lengthy they will get tangled in the branches in heavy wind situations. I've heard of people using pie trays and CDs also. The other remedy I use is natural. We have a lot of crows that live in the area, and they hate a hawk. Crows will chase off hawks and alert everything in the area when one is near. I do my best to keep them fed and coming back everyday. I know how to call them by mouth so if I ever see a hawk in my tree I call the crows and they will locate the danger and chase him off. Keep a crow call near you. Try these methods and let me know how it works out.
We're in our eighth year of Chicken mania and have had to deal with Hawks, Foxes and other predators as well. Last year we built a 10 fence around the chicken yard. (large enough for 50 chickens without turning the grass into just dirt... because I still have to mow it ) I placed 3 owl decoys on top of the posts. We've not lost another chicken since. I know that sounds extreme, but eggs are getting higher every week.
Herding chickens into their coop is very easy, especially if you raised them this way from the get-go. Every time you take them feed or scraps that they love say chick chick chick chick, this conditions them to run to you every time they hear that because they think they're getting a treat. Don't fool them too often and not give them a treat because they will catch on. This bunch of chickens I've had for several years, they have gotten to the point that when they hear me or see me coming they run my direction. If there's a threat, I stand in their Coop and say chick chick chick. A stampede of chickens comes! If you have a straggler use your finger to fake Peck at the ground as you say chick chick they think you are getting a bug or pointing out a bug and they don't want to be left out. This will work on adult hens just give them a little time to catch on when you bring them table scraps or mealworms etc always say chick chick chick. 👍
I agree! I trained mine from young with cheese as treats and saying "Come Come Come", they would come running even now they are adults. It's been really useful countless times with or without cheese in my hands...
I prefer saying “peep”. It works ok.
Thanks for the info. How you get a mean ass chicken to chill out? Some trouble makers in the bunch.
@@goldflow6690 well first find out if its being picked on..look up natural essential oils that can be used on chickens to help calm them down. Check what's in the feed your giving them! Chickens can have allergies just like us. Above everything else PRAY over your chickens all of your animals, family, self. God can touch us all.
Be careful, be cautious, be mindful, be watchful, be prepared, above all PRAY. 🛐📖🙏🕊️ Show ❤️ like Jesus then if need be 🔫🏹 then victory 🙌🙌
100,000 hens destroyed in fire in Connecticut End of January this year.
You and your family are the greatest. I'm sorry about your chickens. You just made my day with your humor in this situation. Can't wait to see more videos
I love how you get the entire family to help. The look on your wife's face at 4:28 was hilarious! Great humor. God bless
Thank you so much
@@HAXMAN put fake owls out
Yep... that was when I hit the subscribe button.
My parents both grew up on farms and were young adults in the Great Depression. I was born in 1940 and can remember the last two years of WWII. At that time, my parents had a pen full of chickens, and a garden, and holstien milk cow. My Dad also hunted wild game on many places owned/ or controlled by people indebted to his many skills at helping "work" cattle and repairing windmills.
So one day Dad was looking out a back window and exclaimed that he saw a "chicken hawk" trying to get a chicken. Sure enough, a hawk had landed outside the pen and was walking up and down the section of fence facing the house.
A very retarded hawk, 'cause the pen was completely open on top.
In seconds my Dad has his 22 rimfire rifle in hand and pointed out the window. And bang, he shot right through the window window screen and the "chicken hawk" fell dead. The family's favorite egg machines were now safe.
Simpler times
X
@@burtknighten4438 it still can be. First you gotta acknowledge your In the matrix.
@@russeanfolts4820 zzzzZzz
Those old school men were legends. I worked for a guy who shot a bat that wouldn't leave his living room. I wasn't there for the shot, but I got to see the patched hole in the ceiling. He was a Korean War Vet. 😁
Shame about the loss of some of your chickens mate to those hawks and I like your extra build on to give them more room & protection. You never fail to make me laugh though and your family bless you all.
Thanks Rodney! You as well.
New subscriber here. Thanks for all the laughs and great info here on keeping chickens safe. We have hawks, bald eagles, Falcons, dogs, coyotes, fox, raccoons, pine martens, weasels, and sneaky neighbors. Sure, you gave a lot of great ideas, but your subscribers down in the comments had more practical info. So I'll watch your videos for the comic relief, and read the comments! Thanks so much for making these great videos, and thanks to all your awesome subscribers!
Our classroom keeps a flock of hens (and one rooster). We have been visited by a pair of Cooper's Hawks. They are a pain, but there is a level of respect that they have earned from us. They truly act as a team. The female hunts, the male is lookout.
Since we are not in a very rural area, we have formed our own team: crows.
We have left jugs of water out for the crows. They like to hang out for the freebies. Plus, they chance the hawks away
That’s brilliant
Crows are hawks #1 enemy. You might also try raising some glossy black chickens to deter the hawks.
"Look at the joy in that face." Had to get to the youngest daughter to find it. LOL. Seriously great parenting! It's awesome to see kids contributing to the family enterprise.
Great work I love how you solve the hawk issue while showing an obvious love for your dear family !
God bless you all for the wholesome content.
We’ve had problems with hawks also. I brought out a lot of old cd’s and placed them on fence posts all around the yard. The sun reflects off of em and the hawks can’t see their targets anymore.
Get some turkeys
That's not gonna help. Buy a nylon net. $20 for like 120ft
@@jason200912 we haven’t lest an animal since I placed the cd’s. It’s been 4 years. The hawks still circle and even dive but then fly away 🤷🏼♀️
What an interesting idea maybe we can use cds to ward off Drones & Fighter Jets 😱
Ok your sense of humor made me laugh so hard that I had to subscribe. 🥰 It was the description of your wife calling "Adam!" Where you sent the girls out to help -- "they ran out as fast as possible" (but they are turtle walking)! 😂😀😂😭😂👀
As a fellow chicken mama myself, I don’t think Kim looked crazy at all. In fact, I think she looked like a bad-ass runnin that hawk down to save her babies. 💜
“ The girls come running as fast as they can” 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣
Yeah, I even chase giant loose dogs now, even though I’m actually afraid of big dogs lol
@@tiffanyclark-grove1989 I do the same, chase the dogs.
She looked just like a momma should imho.
Never seen a grown woman run so fast, well, almost.
? fellow - - chicken mama ? is that a double superlative
We've free-range our birds for years. We 100% solved the hulk problem by getting a peacock (obviously a male). While we were on our larger farm we had dwarf goats that we could not keep end because they could escape even a ten-foot fence. That actually turned out to be our saving grace from night predators (foxes and possums). The goats would not leave our property but they would wander around all night eating things which kept the land predators away. When we had to move to smaller acreage it was deemed too small for the five goats we had so we were back with the night predator problem. In comes the coup that we lock them in at night and that ended the night predator problem. We've had many a bird taken by eagles but after our peacock got to be two-and-a-half years old (when their tail fan is at full length exceeding 5 ft) the peacock would scare off the eagles.
We had hawk issues as well! I built a safe fenced area surrounding the coop and feeding area where our hens stay for most of the day. When I get home in the evening, I let them out to roam the property and forage when the hawks are far less active. After a few hours, they find their way back to the coop on their own as the sun goes down and I close 'em in for the night. Best of both worlds: they get a morning feeding inside the coop and an evening one on the property, all while staying safe from the bad birds 👍
Randomly found your channel. I instantly liked it. As a family man that aspires to be a DIYer, I appreciate all the help I can get.
The content he puts out works, I installed a diy well on my property following his video.
We have been raising chickens for 6 or 7 years now and haven't lost any to predators, which is amazing since we have hawks, eagles, foxes, coyotes, roaming dogs, raccoons, etc. All of which I've seen roaming and flying around our property. We rely on the roosters for protection while they free range. So far, so good. I use camo netting over the run for shade and protection from flying predators.
Did you see them last year, talking about the next Planned-demic it's ready to go according to the "people in the know" like these trusted humanitarians Bill Gates and Fauci talked about it in November 2022, how do the "people in the know" able to predict global food shortages? We know that Bill Gates is now the largest private Farmland owner in the USA, I didn't know Bill Gates was a farmer until recently? Certainly, the WEF's United Nations Climate Change UN agenda 2030 has worked marvellously for all UN Member Countries guided by the UN's POLITICIAN TRAITORS in control of your Governments; the population has embraced the illusion of GREEN Replaceables, lovingly called RENEWABLES? we are just putty in the hands of our POLITICIANS (old heads remember the beginning of the TREASON by all UN Member country POLITICIANS 40 plus years ago, the UN LIMA agreement, that was the begging of the end of democracy in the WEST since then our controlling POLITICIANS have been loyal only to the unelected United Nations Bureaucrats, we know that Klaus Schwab had successfully infiltrated the UN before the UN LIMA AGREEMENT remember? He and his comrades were the "International Economic Order." Today these monsters are the “World Economic Forum” once they succeeded in taking the use of cash away from us all, giving us all digital # 7,820,963,721.your number relates to all your savings, and the best part of their plan is to prevent you from buying what they decide you are not entitled to, (this will make most of you laugh) if you try to buy an insect past burger, their AI instantly decides that you have eaten your allocated Cricket burgers for the week and your card will be declined, sure you are upset and still hungry, so you complain, then their AI will fine your savings because of your not being a good global Citizen, complain again and it's off to the RIGHT THINK Hospital! ( hahaha, What a laugh, that can't possibly happen; that's like being able to predict the next Planned-Demic? impossible hahahaha)
I fear the reason you haven't lost any is they haven't been discovered by those predators yet. I can't count the times a skunk would get in the coop at night and then stink up everything because he couldn't drag the dead chicken back through the same whole he got in through. The worst destruction of all though is when neighbors dogs discover the chickens. They kill them for fun so they will kill all the chickens given the chance.
Add snakes to your list. They swallow eggs whole
@Onemoreday 1 They do. And they'll eat chicks as well. That's why I have multiple roosters and cats. The biggest threat to my birds are loose dogs.
@@michaelward9880 agreed
This video was so much fun to watch! Great parenting along with so many hilarious comments and asides. So many farming videos are all hard work and no joy. You put joy onto my face with yours. I had to subscribe for more! Thanks.
That's not CRAZY! You haven't seen TRUE CRAZY until you've seen me go CRAZY! 😂 I love the humour you use! You're a wonderful family, it's hard to get teens to do ANYTHING! 💗 Your chicken run turned out fantastic!
I subscribed!
I’m always happy when I see a notification that there’s a new video from you. Your videos are always so informative and entertaining! Thanks for all the great info.
Wow, thank you!
“Look at the joy on this face!” 😂 More power to you. Loved the video and your spirit.
We are going through the same thing right now! Thank you for this awesome video!
It's the cold weather. There is less food available so chickens make easy pickins.
Try hanging some aluminum pie pans all over in the trees. Hawks and owls hate them. Make sure they twirl in the wind.
Aww this was a very entertaining video!!I commend you sir getting the whole family involved.
Stumbled upon you and your tale telling is wonderful. Good luck with your chickens. My son had an Australian Shepherd that kept the chickens safe.
Hello Cynthia
How are you doing today?
This made my morning. Love the editing and playful style.
The kids are kids;)
Just way too funny!! Dad is having fun with family even while trying to help the chickens!
I've got the same hawk problem, lost all my small breed and only have large breed birds left now, damn hawk is extremely smart, it actually went under my house on foot in pursuit of my last litter rooster
That was an interesting, informative Story. Someday, we hope to raise chickens, ty for the tips. Good luck with your free range Chickens, they are beautiful birds, and the eggs must be so amazing 🤩👍💯
NOOOOO!!! Don't give up on free range chickens. Can I make 2 suggestions ? I have used both. LGD~~~Livestock Guardian dog--- I had them in AZ + also here in Maine--- it works! Also, I bought solar electric mesh fencing ( Premiere 1 catalog, they have EVERYTHING!) and that kept my layers in 1 big area. It really worked well, and occasionally, we'd turn the "power" off and let them completely free range. They significantly lowered our TICK population!! 😂 Well, I hope you find something that works for you. Good luck 👍
Now THAT's dedication to attention to detail @3:17 . You never cease to amaze, Haxman! Hawxman don't stand a chance!
😁 Thanks!
When I was a kid in the 1950’s my granddad had a next door neighbor who raised free range chickens as did most farmers in those days. There was a big oak tree along the road between the two farms. There were always between 6 and 12 raptors nailed to that tree. I was fascinated as a young boy. Our ancestors knew how to handle predators that endangered the food supply in mid Ohio.
🙌
They used to do that here in Australia with our Wedge Tailed Eagles and sheep stations. Driving through there you'd see a massive eagle spread out on the barbed wire fences. Out of interest the biggest one recorded had a wing span of 13 feet, they attack kangaroos as well as just about anything else here
bird shot from the shotgun?
I put up bent cattle panels to provide extra shelter to run under. Then run twine between them so the hawks can’t come down to grab them. You can also put up old CDs on string, the sun reflection confuses them and they fly away. I LITERALLY thought of buying the air arm guy!!! 😂. You will have to move him around the yard because the hawks will learn your game. They are VERY smart. If you actually just throw treats into the run and call them they will go in for the treats. Grubbies!!
We only let our chickens free-range out of their run when we are outside. When project outside are done, chickens go back in there run that is covered with bird netting and made from pallets. And yes we learned the hard way from the Ravens around here getting one of ours. There are also Hawks everywhere around here. Northern Arizona 🌵🙋
Wow, even Ravens huh?
@@tiffanyclark-grove1989 yep, carnivores
Feed the Ravens in an area somewhere away from your chickens…trust me: make friends & they’ll understand…gain their trust & you’ll never have a problem (Ravens and Crows teach their young, and their extended families about us, humans…who’s cool & who’s not. Be cool)
@@JaimeBlackBird true. Crows/ravens are super intelligent and sociable. I don’t have an open lot. Mine is planted with numerous small trees so they generally stay at the perimeter of my place where there’s more open space
I stumbled across your channel while holed up with the ice.
I enjoy your wit and the interactions with your family.
You have a unique style that YT viewers need.
New subscriber!
❤
Awesome! Thank you!
@@HAXMAN
Most welcome.
I'm planning on a coop soon.
We are definitely under owls and hawks.
It's gonna be the raptor rapture soon.
Lol
Love you guys. 💜You're family is beautiful. Love the work & knowledge you spread! Thank you. May God bless you All 🙏🏼
You are hilarious! Thank you for adding a chick, uh, chuckle to my day!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
You have probably already heard about them, but if not then you should check out chicken tunnels. Basically they are just half dome wire that ends up resembling a hamster tube cage. You can make chicken runs all around the property, zip tie them together, and re-arrange them occasionally as needed. Not really an easy solution but possibly one of the better compromises.
I've seen those. Very clever.
I might have to try that with ducks so I can move them from my garden to the Orchard and various ponds and the vineyard once that's set up
This sounds great except if the free range for the chickens is also free range for other livestock.
As another commenter had mentioned, black colored birds (ravens, crows, magpies, grackles, etc) are raptor enemies. Add some black chickens to your flock, especially a rooster (JG, Australorp, etc) and you’ll notice much less hawk activity. As I’ve read, they spot the black birds from high up and don’t bother.
Worked for me in my large, open topped run.
Love your channel man, great content. And when you say things like “he took a massive dump as he left” it reassures me I’m with likeminded friends. Great job!
😄 Thanks
🤣🤣🤣
As much as I would love to free range my chickens, I just don't have a flock large enough to suffer the loss. We have quite the family of hawks in the area so it is just not worth the risk. You did good, and I am so sorry for your losses.
Thanks Suzy
Get a turkey (a tom). Raise him with the chickens, and when he gets to around 20lbs, let them roam. Be careful, because toms aren't very child friendly, but hawks are scared shitless of them.
Legal or not I have a remedy for Hawks and I have used it several times.
For the life of me I don't understand why they're still protected there are so many here in Kentucky
@@cericson3426 Our problem is eagles, and not much we can do about them. Just have to be watchful and keep the flock protected.
did not lose any to hawks, but we have rabbit wire around "all" areas of their "huge" pen and hut. We put up chain link fencing and then covered it with netting. We have not had any loss to raccoons (that was our problem to start with) possums or hawks or coyotes. It is hard when you name them and they are pets. But, we get the most excellent eggs you ever want to have, and they are healthy. Hens are happy also. So happy you have your hens now safe.
Those searches had me dying, “How to look less handsome” and “Why do my feet smell like hamburgers”.
I have a suggestion. I know that fishing line strung along a fence freaks out deer because they can't see it but they can feel it. Maybe if you strung fishing line from tree to tree across the open area (in a loose net pattern) that would deter the hawks because they'd get tangled in it. It shouldn't cost much at all either and visually, you'd hardly notice it.
I have used this method in the past it works very well. But also I grew up in a fishing community so the owls and hawks are accustomed to people stretching out nets for fishing and they have learned its a danger to them.
You and family are funny and entertaining. We have the same chicken predator issues but also get coyotes, racoons, snakes (eat eggs) as well as hawks. We have geese and donkeys to deter a little. Also our hound dog is trained to chase hawks all the way off the property. Just make a hawk whistle and she goes crazy looking for a bad bird. Or if the hawk screeches she goes into action. Of course we always lock the coop at night. Good luck - it is a constant battle but worth fighting.
We had hybrid coyotes who'd charge the pen where our chickens were, scaring them. They kept it u until the hens quit laying. When these coyotes starting bothering our orphan baby calves, my husband killed 4 with a double barrel shotgun. He also shot a rabid skunk in our mare labor pen. Police drove up at that time, he told my husband he wasn't to fire gun in city limits. My husband showed him the rabid skunk and the policeman got into his car saying, "Carry on, Mr. Wells, carry on."
Love, love seeing them girls raised up right! Y’all are a pleasure to watch; Ty for sharing!
🦋
Getting so many chances to get up close to an amazing bird is such a treat. But at a terrible terrible cost!
Yes. I really find them amazing but I'm not going to keep feeding them.
@@HAXMAN I understand. I feel that way about squirrels with my bird feeders. I know it's not the same but still. I bought bird seed not squirrel food! Go away! Haha
We have hawks and eagles I absolutely hate them i dont think it's a joy to see one i would get joy if one of my livestock guard dogs was actually able to catch one I would find joy In seeing a dog or pig eat one of them.
@@tkfarms4337 hawks and eagles here too. Our big 'ol tom scares them off, and doesn't bother the chickens much.
@@tkfarms4337 Read the room, buddy. Geez.
Even your search history was hilarious!!
Good catch! 😉😄
We raised an African Grey with thed m chickens (a female). Once she was Grown, no more hawk. and we made a low no fly box. Also goose eggs are awesome.
Hello Laura
How are you doing today?
Oh my gosh I love this video the fact this is a very serious subject on a home stead, I latterly laughed so hard I fell off my chair, and had to show it to every one in the house they too showed tears of laughter because we could totally relate to all the hilarious puns you put in, being raised as home steadier kids many moons ago. I truly hope you the best of luck with this task what my dad did is he put up a giant mesh tarp every similar to your solution and scare crows and every chance my parents had away from chores we were tossed out side to deter the hawks and we had bald eagles also that coulda swooped in and took us kids away they were so big with no prob, but we were a pack of five wild animals out side haaa. So it work very well.
Man my grandpa bought 2 gooses and all birds of prey, weasels, rats, foxes and stray dogs vanished. No attacks, no deaths, gooses lay giant eggs too. We don't have wolves in the area, but if we did, they wouldn't mess with the gooses
I've seen where people keep a guard goose. Maybe I need to look into that more.
@@HAXMAN I asked him just now, he said to get two so they don't feel lonely / sad
@@HAXMAN I’ve heard that a Goose is very effective. I know they’re a bit loud, so I can’t keep it in town I don’t think.
@@HAXMAN guard goose and some black chickens. Apparently, hawks think the black chickens are crows.
The Amazon searches had me rolling 🤣
Great video, practical and funny. I will always keep my birds in a run. I can always put grass and bugs in there run to eat. I care more about losing them to predators than free ranging them. 1 day a hawk another day an owl another day a coyote another day a mink, another day the neighbors dog or cat, well you get the idea.
This far, my girls have been free range on about a half acre, but we have three loud obnoxious geese, actually two ganders and a goose and they free roam the property. I have seen hawks, falcons and ravens circling above, but the geese are definitely a loud presence. Also, they provide huge nutritious eggs, cost even less to feed than chickens and can also be food if needed if/ when SHTF in our country. The ganders will bite out of protectiveness of their girl, but I keep sticks with me when I go out into the barnyard and fields. They seem to understand that if they go after me I will give them a warning wop. I raised them from 4 day old goslings but ganders will be ganders. They don't bother the chickens either. Just a suggestion. Love your content by the way. 🐔🐓🐣
Dying over here. The big dancing man was hilarious but your girls running out of the house, reminded me of my girls when I ask them to help with our chickens. 😂
You should do a video on the cost of the chicken run build. I believe it would be informative to people who already keep chickens and to those of us who decide to start keeping chickens. 💪
Brother I feel your pain. I've had chickens my whole life and my grandparents and parents always had chickens. I'm a country boy through and through. I live in the mountains now with my family and we have chickens of course and man keeping them alive and safe is a non stop challenge. We lost over 25 in one night a few years ago from a huge pack of wild dogs. The same pack of dogs killed every single one of our rabbits (18 total) except for one that we found a few days later hiding under some piles of wood. Just so happens and to our luck it was a female and she was pregnant before the dogs killed all the others and we had a huge healthy litter of baby rabbits a few weeks later. Now we're back up to our original numbers. I don't blame the predators they're only doing what they have to in order to survive and if they get my livestock then that means I've failed to do my job of keeping them safe. It's a win some lose some game in the business of keeping livestock. But you definitely learn along the way and not everything works with all predators. A fox will be a true nightmare as well as bobcats. Oh and I can't leave out feral cats they can be a big problem. Smart agile animals are tough to deal with. But eventually you figure out how to keep them all out. Good luck in the future and keep those cluckers safe..
How do you keep the cats out the domestic ones that is ? ? We don’t have any wild ones
In my country. Like a bobcat or fox
Just have to have a coup and not free range then. And have a caged in area outside the coup for them to graze in. I plan on building this when I get the money for all the materials
I feel for you cuz I've been there, done that. The dogs are the worst. Most people don't realize domestic dogs will leave home and pack together, get in trouble, then separate and go to the home where the owners believe "fluffy wouldn't hurt a flea". We didn't have a whole lot of trouble with coons and the chickens cuz the coons were to intent on destroying the garden. If you depend on the livestock and the produce for survival then the war on predators is a very real thing. I understand they are only doing what they have to to survive but I will do the same. Bobcat fur for instance is quit valuable and they're easy to trap.
We gotta pack of wild dogs that roam our properties thru the summer , SWVA. But the geese have pretty much kept them at bay.
they want the linked to a health passport
Great info, HAXMAN. My sinus cavity still stings a little from the coffee that exited out of my nose at supersonic speed from your excellent wit! Thanks again, and keep them coming.
If you want to protect the chickens, without spending a fortune on netting, I have just one word... Tom. Hawks and eagles are very common in my area, but the chickens are always safe, because even the bald eagles won't mess with a 30lb male turkey. The turkey does go after the rooster from time to time, but he doesn't cause any harm. We keep the chickens in an area without a lot of cover, but since getting the turkey, we've never lost one to a hawk or eagle.
Our biggest issue used to be the damned skunks getting to the chickens at night. We don't close the coop, because we don't live on the property. The road to the property floods almost every year, so our livestock property has to be self-sustaining for up to two months. Skunks chew off the chicken's head, but don't even attempt to eat the chicken. We don't have to deal with that very often these days, because if they show their smelly little asses, they get live trapped and go swimming. The skunk population is quite thin around our livestock property now.
I just found your videos! Love them! You and your family's positive outlooks and humor are refreshing! I am a "chicken tender", too! 35 birds!
I can't believe I watched the video all the way through. The cage reminded me of one I built for my pigeons when I was a teenager. I had about 100. My mom decided we were not going to feed them for nothing. She said we would start eating them. Whoops, I "accidentally" left the gate open and they all flew away. 😂😂😂
😂
LOVE your attitude
keep it up
,
How sweet, in another video, interviewing the chickens. shows compassion. & amazing to think that that chicken has never seen a microphone before, maybe it's saying, 'is it something I can eat?'. I love animals too much to want to watch this video above. was bit concerned when I saw the name of it. it's probably ok, since I saw the comment below. Lisa, UK
I'm about to intro y'all to my hubby. Tonight. You make the Best videos.
You made this city girl, attempting to become a country girl, laugh and learn!
I have chickens on my Spring Wish List.
It's awesome to see what I'm really in for.
On the subject of hawks...we took on 7 ducks last Summer. Come late Fall, I looked a massive hawk in the eyes, who then continued to scope out my Feather-Babies! Not sure why, but I ran outta the house yelling, "Not in my yard, you b@$%#rd!"
He flew suspiciously low over the ducks, only to land in the trees.
Soon after, we were 1 duck short, but I stay in need-to-know mode because I can't handle the "knowing." I simply Don't need-to-know.
Luckily the hawk moved on when Mike kept shooting kinda at it. That's because I'm a live-and-let-live gal.
Side note: our Feather-Babies were schedule to start laying eggs this Spring! That is until we figured out all six of them were males. *Jeesh!*
Nope. Not adding girls because I read that the boys will start fighting. Right now they all seem to be BFF's.
So now we're on to chickens...
Hello Karen
How are you doing today?
Living near the forest, Ravens visited daily. My flock ran the yard but the Ravens never bothered them. They did however get leftovers from our dog who laided back watching them play. It was very nice to see them from the kitchen window. Started the day smiling.
Your daughters are slow running😂😂😂 Your narration is OUTSTANDING, you need to write a book too of fun homesteading, the whole family of course with pictures😂😂😂
I'm truly glad you made a video on this. This has been in my head a while now. Some people can't afford a nice coop or are disabled & can't build one. I can't afford full coverage on my vehicle but assure you if I hit a protected deer the government won't pay for me a new vehicle. This country is by far a free one. Can't afford the taxes on your property after living there 20 years they come & take it. It's all a money racket & they want to lock up the good people & let the bad ones run free.
Thanks!
Thank you so much Joan!
I can’t help to think this is a John C Reilly commercial! 😂😂😂. Love that guy! You could be his twin - even with your voice and mannerisms! Love it!
Just found your page. Informative for sure..and hilarious!! So easy to watch! I always said, 'Losing chickens is part of having chickens.'
To add to my previous comment, I like the addition to your coop, & especially your idea of putting up camouflage covering.
Great vid! As always thanks for letting us ride along.
I can't believe I watched your whole video on chickens and I don't even own any! The closest I get to free range is feeding the crows around my city home. Enjoyed your presentation, that's what kept me glued
Our family has a beagle that keeps predators at bay. Thank heaven she only howls at intruders and doesn't try to attack them... like the time she chased away three mountain lions prowling around the chicken enclosure.
Love You Kim, You did great! We love your precious family! 🙏❤🙏
Thank you so much! ❤️
This is what family life should be! I wish I was 25 years younger. I would be living off the land. Somewhere there are few crazy people! Thanks for sharing! Blessings to you and yours.
My mother had chickens and pigs. I turned 80 years old last week and wish I could have chickens and goats but is now too much work for me.
As someone who grew up on a chicken farm..(we had well over 400 chickens free range) You CAN train the chickens to return to their coop with feed. To do this, always put the feed inside the coop and when you do make a loud sound. Use the same loud "call" and after a few times, you will see them all run to the feeding spot when you make the call. Hawks were always a problem for us but we got the routine of calling them all back to their coop using the call.
You're a lucky man. You have a beautiful family. God bless you all.
I was going to sub just because you made the effort on your Amazon search history. Priceless. But there were so many other reasons to sub. Great content.
I love that hawk taking a dump in defyiance 😂😂😂. Good luck protecting your chickens
I also had issues with predators attacking my chickens. Locking them inside a secure coop at night helps with night predators.
During the day we free range our chickens for years. We use to lose chickens to hawks, foxes, fisher cats & weasels. Then we purchased 8 Embden Geese & raised them in the chicken coop. A year later nothing could go near our chickens or property. The geese could chased off most predators even a black bear once. One or two geese alone would work for hawks but not larger predators.
A flock of angry geese charging together will scare off most predators. The noise at least could let you know danger is on your property.
Recommend larger breeds such as Embden or Toulouse. Africa geese breeds are to vocal for most neighborhoods. Other breeds can be to small to be a good deterrent
Another bonus to the geese they are natural law mowers & weed wackers. We rarely had to mow again. They don't eat much but grass except during winter months. Plus you get goose eggs & downy feathers. They feathers you can collect around the nest daily.
If you butcher a goose or offspring then you get meat but more importantly the fat / lard. You can use this in cooking, baking, making lotions, soaps or candles.
But most likely you'll fall in love with them.
Your family is so funny. Keep up the good work. You rock. Love the chickens mom had them until the city said no more. Wish we could still keep them. Blessings ❤️
I love your videos! So entertaining ! Beautiful family and a great sense of humor!