Give up free-ranging?

[jdgbirds31]

I came home this afternoon from being out of town (with the dog) and all but 1 guinea are gone. There are tracks and piles of feathers in the snow. I feel terrible.

 

[bobbi-j]

Sorry for your loss, Chalk this up to lesson learned. You knew you had a predator and continued to free range anyway. The thing is, once a predator finds your chickens it will continue to return until the chickens are gone or no longer available. I would strongly suggest building a run for your guinea and your future chickens. Don't beat yourself up about this. Chicken keeping is an ongoing learning experience, and sometimes the lessons are hard.

 

[coonhoundmama87]

So sorry for your loss. Free ranging seems easy but it isn't always. It takes a lot of vigilance and a thick skin. Might I suggest trying to get birds that are already free range adults next time? I have predator proven birds who continue to pass it on to their young. It helps a lot. I can't teach the babies like a mama hen can. Last summer, I was leaving and heard my banty mama hollering down below the barn. Went to investigate and off flew a cooper hawk. She was standing, exposed I might add, on a rock pile just screaming. I didn't see any babies. Searched and saw no evidence of attack, she stopped hollering, but still no babies. Finally I hear something, and out comes one baby and soon all 14 from some thick grass. They hid so well I walked right by them. Its an invaluable trait she passed on that day. Might I add, all 14 are still alive and kicking (until spring anyways when decisions will be made). Its just a thought, best of luck

 

[btguy]

I'm saving up for some electric fence and 50x50 poultry net myself

 

[jdgbirds31]

Yeah I just saw a big red fox out back looking for leftovers. I guess I'll be penning the new flock and only doing supervised free ranging. And getting a rooster.

 

[JanetMarie]

So sorry for your loss. Free ranging seems easy but it isn't always. It takes a lot of vigilance and a thick skin. Might I suggest trying to get birds that are already free range adults next time? I have predator proven birds who continue to pass it on to their young. It helps a lot. I can't teach the babies like a mama hen can. Last summer, I was leaving and heard my banty mama hollering down below the barn. Went to investigate and off flew a cooper hawk. She was standing, exposed I might add, on a rock pile just screaming. I didn't see any babies. Searched and saw no evidence of attack, she stopped hollering, but still no babies. Finally I hear something, and out comes one baby and soon all 14 from some thick grass. They hid so well I walked right by them. Its an invaluable trait she passed on that day. Might I add, all 14 are still alive and kicking (until spring anyways when decisions will be made). Its just a thought, best of luck

That's what I have thought is to choose breeds that are known to be predator savvy. My Production Reds seem to do the best, but I'm going to phase them out and only acquire breeds with small combs and wattles.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

So sorry for your loss. Free ranging seems easy but it isn't always. It takes a lot of vigilance and a thick skin. Might I suggest trying to get birds that are already free range adults next time? I have predator proven birds who continue to pass it on to their young. It helps a lot. I can't teach the babies like a mama hen can. Last summer, I was leaving and heard my banty mama hollering down below the barn. Went to investigate and off flew a cooper hawk. She was standing, exposed I might add, on a rock pile just screaming. I didn't see any babies. Searched and saw no evidence of attack, she stopped hollering, but still no babies. Finally I hear something, and out comes one baby and soon all 14 from some thick grass. They hid so well I walked right by them. Its an invaluable trait she passed on that day. Might I add, all 14 are still alive and kicking (until spring anyways when decisions will be made). Its just a thought, best of luck

I agree. The more calm, docile, friendly breeds - which incidentally it seems most backyard keepers desire - are sitting ducks for predation. Their trusting nature makes them vulnerable. I've never played with my birds and only handle them to check their health.
I've had about 30 different breeds and have continually narrowed down my choices to those that are survivors without help from me - other than locking the doors at dusk.

Even without handling them, a few breeds became very docile and I could walk up on them, among them were jersey giants and orpingtons. I was standing in the midst of the birds on 2 occasions and saw a fox run out from behind the compost bins and grab and orpington before it knew there was a predator afoot. Had I not been standing right there and run the fox off, the orp would have been dinner.
Birds like polish, houdans and silkies are definitely out of the question for a long life of free ranging.

I'm now down to 2 breeds. A single Ameraucana is the sole survivor from those previous diverse flocks. She's been attacked by a dogs, raccoons, etc., but I've always nursed her back to health and she's now going on 6 years old and still laying.
The rest of my birds are Black Penedesencas which I originally got for the egg color and several other nice characteristics but I've since grown to love them for their most important qualities. They are extremely wary and can run like the wind. They can fly but because of their speed they prefer to run. As long as they're not disturbed, they're content to stay inside a 3 foot fence. In fact I keep rooster flocks in a 2 foot fence. As long as there's no dogs or coyotes they'll stay in there. I've seen them fly to the top of buildings if a ground predator is afoot. If hawks are in the area the roosters call, hens and chicks run for cover and the roosters stand and fight the hawk. It's a beautiful thing to watch. I've had them for over 4 years and I've never lost one to a hawk.
Quote:

Yeah I just saw a big red fox out back looking for leftovers. I guess I'll be penning the new flock and only doing supervised free ranging. And getting a rooster.

Quote:

That's what I have thought is to choose breeds that are known to be predator savvy. My Production Reds seem to do the best, but I'm going to phase them out and only acquire breeds with small combs and wattles.

The penedesenca combs and wattles are a problem in winter but only the roosters are affected. It gets quite hot here too so the big combs help in summer.

 

[jdgbirds31]

Yup I had orpingtons and they were docile as could be. Would a 3 foot fence keep a fox out? Maybe I'll do ameracaunas... We have hot summers and cold winters here in VA.

 

[JackE]

I have an on-going fox problem here. I got away with freeranging for almost a full year, before the fox discovered my flock. Lost 16 is two separate daytime attacks. Premier's electrified poultry net has been the answer for me. Started out with 300', worked so well I have bought 350' more over the years. The birds get out everyday, and I don't have to worry about them. Any ground pred gets a snootful of that fence, forgets all about chicken dinner that day. A fox will go right over, or dig under a regular fence. They learn to not even approach the electrified poultry net. As far as roosters go, in my experience, they are nothing more then feathered speed bumps to a ground predator. They may, depending on the rooster, work somewhat against a hawk, but are pretty much useless against a determined, and hungry, predator like a fox.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

No, a fox can jump a 10 ft. fence. I once saw a video of a chicken house with a 10 ft. fence, barbed wire at the top and a strand of electrified wire out from the bottom. After several attempts, the fox was able to jump to the top of the fence, avoiding the electric and get into the run.

But if the fox jumps the 3' fence, the chickens can fly to the roof or up in a tree or just outrun the fox long enough to reach safety.