Here in the Ozarks, I've watched red tailed snap up full grown chickens several times. One struggled to get airborne and finally gave up but the chicken was about dead by then so I ended her misery. Never seen an eagle get one but we do have them so it's possible they have and I just didn't see it.
My neighbor 1/4 mile away doesn't seem to have much of a problem, nor do other people in the area. My place is more wooded than theirs so maybe that's the difference. They generally come in from the South too so my place is apt to be the first place with chickens, when I have them. I've seen a half a dozen hawks at a time scoping the place out.
One of the great pyrenees I had was smart about the hawks or flying things in general. He'd see a shadow moving across the ground and knew to look up and maybe start barking. Feeding a 150 lb dog to keep chickens safe is not cost effective eggs though. My one survivalist hen that lasted a few years after the other five got hawked, was also smart and hung out near the big dogs or the goats or near me most of the time.
The old coup has seen better days so I'll have to build a coup or chicken tractor which won't be happening right away. Got a tunnel to finish first. I'll get day old birds in mid to late summer so brooding temperature will be less effort and time and they'll be feathered out before it gets cold and will start to lay next Spring.
Today's a burning day, SW wind 5-8 mph. Rain coming up towards the weekend so the Sevin granules will be coming out and between these two things, ticks will be minimal. Today, while raking leaves, not so much.
My driveway w/parking spot wraps 3/4 of the way around the house so that's where I use Sevin. My walking path on the 4th side is the other place I hit with Sevin and I plan to turn that to gravel and have wrap around driveway. A tick moat.
I spent about 5-6 hours just raking and burning. Spent about the same forking up beds yesterday. It hurts to type.
After raking/burning, I did some wiring in the shed to control grow lights and heat mats. Both are now on a commercial/industrial automation controller instead of a household vacation light timer for lights and the regular temp controllers for heat mats to control those. End goal is to control each heat mat individually. Will just require a $15 temp sensor for each tray and mat. Not worried about it right no because all the seeds I’m starting have an ideal germination temp between 68 and 77 so I set all trays for 73, about half way.
Sore shoulders from forking yesterday. Sore upper back muscles and noodle arms from raking today. Good night for long form podcast or TV/movie.
No pain, no gain and good to get back in shape for the new job after having 6 months off. Most likely rain from Fri to Sun, so that will be protein heavy meals and recuperation time.
Seems like when I was 40, I was 25 but now that I’m 60, I’m 75.
Pollard; IIRC Some people keep a few geese with their chicken to chase the Hawks off. (Diana might know more.)