A day of terror- or, this is what I fear if I let chickens out of the run.

[Thechickenchick2]

We have always preferred to let our chickens free range as we feel it makes for happier and healthier chickens. We have lost a few girls due to this but still felt the good outweighed the bad. Well, fast forward a few months and now we are in the middle of winter building a run and refuse to let our chickens out without one. In a weeks time we have lost 1 bird and have somehow miraculously prevented 3 other hawk attacks. Between hawks and foxes we have lost a total of 7 birds (in 7 month timeframe. I came home yesterday to a hawk on top of one of my girls... was able to shoo it away and get all of the chickens back in their coop. Fortunately she walked away with a bloody comb and a bit of shock..

 

[webbysmeme]

After reading all the reports of predators grabbing chickens, I'm now so paranoid of letting them outside of a Fort Knox-built coop and run that I don't see how I'll ever be able to do it without a full machine-gun turret and bevy of livestock-guarding dogs! Honestly, how bad IS letting them out to free-range when you're out working in the yard?

(warning, fictional account contains violence)

It was morning. Along with the golden rays of the sun came the friendly two-leg who opened the coop...and then the run. "Come on out, girls," the two-leg said cheerfully, and although the flock didn't necessarily understand the meaning of the sounds, they knew that it meant they could venture outside the Safe Place for the excitement and many treats offered by the Yard. They ran out the gate, clucking in pleasure and anticipation. The two-legs was carrying the pointed sticks she used to Dig In The Dirt which meant the probability of Worms or Bugs!!
The flock spread out happily, singing the Song of Scratching For Delicacies. (Play peaceful, pastoral music).
OUT of the SKY came a figure of terror! The Hawk! With hardly any warning it dropped out of the sky, grabbing poor Mildred in its talons and carrying her off, shrieking, into the air! The rest of the flock scattered in blind panic, running for the shelter of a bush. But as they fled, the Fox leapt out from under the elderberry bush and pinned Gertrude to the ground! The two-leg came running, brandishing her pointed stick and yelling, but the fox was too quick and it - and Gertrude - vanished into the woods!
Again, the flock ran, off toward the Big Coop, seeking shelter. But, oh NO! A bobcat jumped down from the roof and grabbed Penelope in its mouth and bounded off! Before any of the flock could decide where to run next, the sneaky little weasel had emerged from its burrow near the hedgerow and snatched up Fanny, who perished in a flurry of feathers and squawks! The two-leg shouted again and ran to the Big Coop, coming out with the Bang Stick and Dog, but before she could do much more than stare dismally at the various piles of blood and feathers, the Mountain Lion jumped over the fence and nabbed the Dog in mid-bark, hauling it off in the direction the Fox had gone. The two-leg screamed in rage and started running after the Mountain Lion, but as she neared the fence a Huge Bear bore down from the woods and grabbed the two-leg and bore her off into the forest!
Quiet returned to the Big Yard. The four remaining chickens of the flock looked at each other. "So," clucked Ethel. "That's probably all of them for today. Let's go get those worms."

You should put this in the stories forum. Not here.

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

I free range my small flock in my very large unkempt garden because I can't afford a large enough run to keep them happy and I have the space right there...but I know we get foxes around.

Luckily in England foxes are about the extent of predators but back a couple of years ago one fox wandered into my garden and grabbed one of my young cockerels and tried to make off with him. Luckily I was home, heard the shrieking, and scared the fox off. The cockerel was injured but made a full recovery. After that I locked up my flock in their Fort knox coop with a teeny tiny run but they were miserable. They would make so much noise complaining to be let out that I caved and started free ranging them again.it has now been around a year of them outdoors during daylight and although I work from home I do often leave them for a couple of hours at a time to run errands. Every time I come home I swear I expect to find a bloodbath in my garden but whew, not yet. But it definitely feels like a when not an if at this point.

I have built better fences around my property but I know six foot privacy fences don't really stop determined foxes. It's obvious that the foxes have just not made the area surrounding my garden their home this year. But come spring... Who knows?

I adore my chickens but I had to make a decision about their welfare. The risk of predation is very low and they are so happy when they free range. In a run they are miserable and there is still a tiny chance a fox could break into a run at which point they would be trapped at the foxes's mercy. At least they can fly up onto the fences etc if a fox attacks whilst free ranging. And if they don't escape... At least they lived their lives to the fullest.

I guess I can live with that...

 

[Stockpilejoy]

We have always preferred to let our chickens free range as we feel it makes for happier and healthier chickens. We have lost a few girls due to this but still felt the good outweighed the bad. Well, fast forward a few months and now we are in the middle of winter building a run and refuse to let our chickens out without one. In a weeks time we have lost 1 bird and have somehow miraculously prevented 3 other hawk attacks. Between hawks and foxes we have lost a total of 7 birds (in 7 month timeframe. I came home yesterday to a hawk on top of one of my girls... was able to shoo it away and get all of the chickens back in their coop. Fortunately she walked away with a bloody comb and a bit of shock..

Sorry for your loss of 7 birds. So your hen survived but has an injured comb...Wow! That's what I call a close call. Today we have a 160 ft fence going up around coop & run to keep flock where I see them all while free ranging. Wish there was a way to cover whole fenced in area but just don't see how with trees and height of fence. My new rooster tends to guide my girls past boundaries and out of view so felt I needed to contain them to smaller area. My area predators during day are stray dogs, feral cats, and Hawks. Hoping fence will keep out dogs but still have to watch for cats & Hawks. In past I've had hawk swoop down at hen with me approx.15ft away and sadly lost 2 hens in 2017 to a hawk. Now that I have rooster hoping his warning signs and me close by will help keep them safe while out.

 

[Shadrach]

Funny story! I noticed that the predator would get bigger almost every time

Having chickens is fun, taking care of chickens is fun, free ranging is fun. But if you worry about these things it takes one thing out of all three: FUN.

Whether you live in town or out in the sticks, there is always a risk when you free range. But those free ranging chickens are happy! Of course they can be just as happy in a nice, entertaining run, but if that's not possible let them free range!

Still use your common sense, though. If a predator has been making attacks on your free range flock, or if there are literally all sorts of predators in your woods stalking your chickens, build a run! Like I said earlier, there is always a chance that any pet can be preyed on. And chickens are no different.

But please (and I'm speaking from experience) don't let worry and fear take the joy out of something so rewarding!

In my fives years of chicken keeping, I have lost two chickens to coyotes. Before I lost the first chicken, I had been worrying about letting them free range- and I mean I was worrying myself sick! When it happened I was devastated. I thought that by choosing to free range it was my fault.
After that I was tired of worrying, I began to stop worrying and just let things be as they're going to be! I enjoyed my chickens so much more after that.

When I lost my second chicken I knew that losing a chicken every now and then was expected in chicken keeping. While I didn't wait for a predator attack, nor did I dread one coming, I just learned to keep an open mind and to expect anything.

You'll be surprised how much happier you'll be in your chicken keeping if you enjoy them!

Apart from the insistance that chicken keeping has always got to be FUN, as advice goes this is about as good as it gets on this forum.
Locking chickens in a run is no guarantee that they will be safe from predators. There are lots of posts here, lots, where predators have broken into runs and killed chickens.
The secret for me at least is the attitude you have. If you think the chickens are 'yours' and you are their mum or dad and you can protect them for the rest of their lives you'll just be stressed, miserable and whats worse for the chicken in my view, over protective.
Creatures die, people and children die. Let the chickens go in your mind. Care for the sick and injured when you can but most of all, let them live like chickens and not like prisoners.

 

[Stockpilejoy]

Apart from the insistance that chicken keeping has always got to be FUN, as advice goes this is about as good as it gets on this forum.
Locking chickens in a run is no guarantee that they will be safe from predators. There are lots of posts here, lots, where predators have broken into runs and killed chickens.
The secret for me at least is the attitude you have. If you think the chickens are 'yours' and you are their mum or dad and you can protect them for the rest of their lives you'll just be stressed, miserable and whats worse for the chicken in my view, over protective.
Creatures die, people and children die. Let the chickens go in your mind. Care for the sick and injured when you can but most of all, let them live like chickens and not like prisoners.

You are right. I'm so trying to have a different mind set. My dad's chicken keeper advice is: Let chickens be chickens.

 

[Eggscaping]

"]You should put this in the stories forum. Not here."
Sorry...my bad.

 

[MinniesMomma]

My experience is a lot like several of the other posters. Mine free-range every single day from sunup till sundown. In a year's time I have lost three chickens to predators. I don't like it, but I know that they had the best life a chicken could ever ask for.

 

[50-45-1]

What a great piece of writing!
I enjoyed that very much this morning with my coffee.
Interestingly, i can relate to all minus the mountain lion and bear. (We do have them here though)
i free range and despite having 3 guardian dogs and a small flock of guineas for alarms i still lost a few hens last year.
This is why i allow my broodies to hatch a few chicks each year to replace the missing hens.
I think this post is right where it should be.
We all eventually loose birds. Copping with that and upgrading our stradegy is critical.
Thank You!

 

[RodNTN]

Apart from the insistance that chicken keeping has always got to be FUN, as advice goes this is about as good as it gets on this forum.
Locking chickens in a run is no guarantee that they will be safe from predators. There are lots of posts here, lots, where predators have broken into runs and killed chickens.
The secret for me at least is the attitude you have. If you think the chickens are 'yours' and you are their mum or dad and you can protect them for the rest of their lives you'll just be stressed, miserable and whats worse for the chicken in my view, over protective.
Creatures die, people and children die. Let the chickens go in your mind. Care for the sick and injured when you can but most of all, let them live like chickens and not like prisoners.

Sorry, I didn't mean to come across that way