best plants to protect from predators?

[olayak]

My first chickens are arriving in about a week. Although we have a shed converted into a coop and a large fenced in area, the fenced in area is open to the sky. And there are hawks, vultures and owls here. I am terrified of loosing my chickens to a predator. Ive heard that many types of plants/shrubs are most useful to protect the flock. But I can't find which plants provide the best coverage and protection for the chickens! Any suggestions?
I also will have with them a mini potbellied pig who is in love with chickens (he thinks he is one). My husband does not want a rooster, tho. Would you suggest a turkey or guinea fowl as an alarm system? Building/butting a fenced in run isn't really an option now since we just spent a ton fixing up the coop. Any suggestions are welcome!
Sorry, just a newbie here who is terrified of loosing her flock! Thanks!

 

[speckledhen]

Something relatively fast growing and evergreen, if it will grow where you are, is a leyland cypress. I planted quite a few around here before I even thought of having my own flock and they are perfect. My birds jet under them all the time to hide from hawks. After they are established, they grow several feet per year and the low hanging branches provide excellent cover. Anything else with similar traits would work.

 

[Percheron chick]

Any low bush that they can get under will give them some protection from overhead attacks. Love my guineas but they aren't for everyone. If you have small kids I would not get them. They make a racket and can wake the dead. How tall is your run? Smaller bodied hens can easily fly over a 5' fence. Once they start getting out, it can be hard to break them. A simple way to "cover" the run is to string fishing line back and forth across the top.

 

[speckledhen]

Mason's line is easier to work with than fishing line. It's nylon, lasts a long time and comes in neon colors.

 

[centrarchid]

Plants are a long-term option. My preference is to use natives (for me blackberries, rasberries, wild roses, osage orange, sumac, and various cooll season grasses). Shorter-term plants can be something like timothy or broam grass. When young birds are involved my favorite option is to surround dense patches of such plants with electrified poultry netiing. Such a setup makes it difficult for predators to see younger birds. Only plants that give year round benefits are evergreens (eastern cedars here) but they provide very little forage value. Overall I have very good plant covers but we are still two we from being able to release young birds into it. Canopy needs to close first. Having an adult rooster can also make a huge difference, especially with hawks targeting young birds. I use dogs as well.