What are your thoughts???

[mrslita2019]

Hi All,

We picked up 10 hens of various types from my aunt last week. They have been raised free ranging and getting egg layer AM and PM. We live on 10 VERY OPEN acres. Built them a decent size coop to keep them safe from predators. I am feeding egg layer AM and PM with a few treats like mealworms and apple. We wanted to free range them during the day and coop them at night but I am not sure anymore. We have hawks and since they have been home, I have seen coyote sign. I know they will lay better if they continue to free range. I want them to be happy and safe. Thoughts? AND if we decide to let them range, how long until they know, "this is where you live and lay eggs now?"

 

[Rock17]

They will be fine in a large run on grass and plenty of shelter

 

[Mantisquailman]

Were I live I also have a lot of hawks, I don't have any coyote problems but there was a big dead racoon on the road today. But I'd say that you should be able to free range as long as you link them up at night.

 

[aart]

how long until they know, "this is where you live and lay eggs now?"

A few days to a week should do it.
Start ranging for just an hour or so before roosting time, they won't go far and should go back to the coop at dusk. Increase that time daily until you are sure they will return to coop to roost.

As to whether you should range or not, that's up to you and your tolerance for risk of loss and poops all over the yard/porch/steps/etc.
I've never free ranged, but they have a 8x50' run and lay lots of eggs.

 

[Mrs. K]

IMO - take it for what it is worth. If you have predators, they will find you. Often times, once they find you, they come back. This is a question you have to come to terms with. Will you be devastated if you loose a bird, if so - don't free range.

The way I do it, and I DO have predators. I have a set up, coop/run in which my flock can stay in with peace. There is a lot of room for the flock I have. I do not try and make up for too small of coop/run by free ranging.

• I do not free range every day
• I don't free range at the same time every day - sometimes they are let out early, sometimes for the afternoon, and sometimes not at all.
• I don't free range on cloudy, or stormy or high wind days - gives too much advantage for the predators.
• I do have a year old rooster - some roosters do well at predator awareness, and some do not. Not all roosters are good roosters. But if you have one, a year old one is when they start getting good at this, not before.
• If I get a hit, I go into lock down 24/7 for several days, even weeks - giving time for the predator to move on.
• My run is totally enclosed chainlink fence with a skirt on the ground of chicken wire. It has worked for coyotes, coons and eagles for me.

Everything loves to eat chicken, I love to let mine out, it is a paradox that can be tricky to live with. I have been wiped out or nearly wiped out a couple of times. Each time I got better.

Mrs K

 

[CHICKENX2005]

I've been told that mature hawks attack chickens usually out of territory aggression. And young inexperienced hawks are usually the ones that try to attack them to eat them because they think that it's an easy meal

 

[CHICKENX2005]

What breeds of chickens do you have. Some chickens are better at free rainging.

 

[mrslita2019]

Do you mean that you have started seeing the hawk since you got the chickens?

I have seen hawks always. They hunt in our pasture. Since we got the chickens, I have seen signs of coyotes....large dog /prints/tracks during a time my dogs were not out.

 

[Mantisquailman]

I have... 2 EE, 1 RIR, 1 Brahma, 2 Colombian Wyandottes, 2 leg horns, one astralorp, and a barred rock mix

 

[Snakebiteholloway]

Hi All,

We picked up 10 hens of various types from my aunt last week. They have been raised free ranging and getting egg layer AM and PM. We live on 10 VERY OPEN acres. Built them a decent size coop to keep them safe from predators. I am feeding egg layer AM and PM with a few treats like mealworms and apple. We wanted to free range them during the day and coop them at night but I am not sure anymore. We have hawks and since they have been home, I have seen coyote sign. I know they will lay better if they continue to free range. I want them to be happy and safe. Thoughts? AND if we decide to let them range, how long until they know, "this is where you live and lay eggs now?"

Free ranging with predators never really works imho. Tried it 3 of the 7 years I've lived on this big place we have. Constant predation loss but also the girls start laying everywhere willy nilly even though they were coop&run for MONTHS, even years, b4 free range!
Also, the more they are out, the farther they start spreading. Eventually they get lost or get too far out and get picked off by mr. Bitey, who is very wily and patient and observant. The farther they range the more predators will notice them and be drawn in.
Chickens lay. Its what they do. If the feed is right and they are safe there may be a brief transition time where they get reaccustomed to new surroundings, maybe less eggs for a bit, but that would happen even if they free ranged. Just from moving.
But less eggs temporarily sure beats less chickens forever!