Keeping Chickens Free Range

We have used this set up for years successfully. The coons found a weakness, and have been picking me off. We tried several different solutions, and they worked around them. So aggravating. I think I have it solved now.... fingers crossed.

Yes, once the predators find you, they come back and bring company. When you free range, you are risking birds. Day time and night time predators in some places can be tough.

Mrs K
 
I am adopting six English Orpingtons (they are six months old) and want to free range them as much as possible during the day as my covered run is rather small right now - 9' x 3', but I am concerned about a hawk that visited our pasture from time to time during the spring. I assume he is still in the area. What are your thoughts?
 
I am adopting six English Orpingtons (they are six months old) and want to free range them as much as possible during the day as my covered run is rather small right now - 9' x 3', but I am concerned about a hawk that visited our pasture from time to time during the spring. I assume he is still in the area. What are your thoughts?

I would try to expand the run if possible, even if part of it is uncovered (you could also use something xheap cheap like bird netting or chicken wire for the top), because the general rule of thumb is usually 4 sq. ft. per bird inside the coop and 10 sq. ft. outside in the run. Although some say 2 in and 4 out but really the more room the better. Mine sometimes bicker in their 6x12 run and I only had 8, now 7. So they definitely need room. Especially since Orpingtons are big birds. Although thankfully they are usually fairly peaceful and don't pick as many fights as say Barred Rock or Australorp which really need their personal space but they do still need room. Anyway, I am sure you know this as you say it's small right now which implies you have plans to build it bigger eventually? So for now, you could try just a few hours of free range in the mornings or evenings or on weekends so that you can be there to watch them? And they will still get free range time and be happy. You could also try adding shelters to the pasture. Even something as simple as some bird safe bushes or some pieces of plywood propped up or lawn furniture, etc. If you dont like the messy loom (some people don't, myself included) you can get creative and make the shelters cute or get pretty plants or something but having shelters throughout the open field will help to break up their hunting grounds and make it harder for the hawks to hunt. It will also limit the distance the birds have to go to seek shelter which will help not just from the hawks if they do decide to hunt but also from other predators. You could also try hanging some CDs nearby to deter/scare the hawk or hanging some netting or wire above the field. And if you're really nervous, you could always buy some electrified poultry netting or male a chicken tractor. Of course, I guess the netting wouldn't help with hawks but it would with other predators. And you can build portable chicken tractors that you can move around to fresh grass, which might be an option even if it's just for a few hours and then they go back to their main run. That way it would provide safety and fresh grass without you having to stand out there and watch them. You can also expand the run quite cheaply and easily with cattle panels. You can search "hoop coop" or cattle panel run or any similar thing on this website or on Google and you should find lots of images and examples of what I mean. Good luck!
 
... We... have [a] broody after 3 years... She is barely under the eave of our house... I'm afraid... she will not sit her eggs if I move them.

There is a difference between moving the hen and relocating the nest. Hens bond to the nest more than they do to a GPS type of location. This is why I recommend a nest that is capable of being picked up and moving the whole shebangs to a different location. That way the hen can still recognise her nest.
 

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