I'm sorry you had your first loss, it is inevitable but sad. I too free range - no fences whatsosever - surrounded by thousands of acres of woods filled with every predator known to man and chicken. I lost a few of my older girls this spring shortly after moving here because they were used to wandering far into the woods and sometimes not making it back by dark. The younger ones that were reaised here are learning to keep closer to home and don't go as far into woods as the older ones do. Our dogs have now had more time to chase predators away from edge of woods. Will I lose more to free ranging - yes. Will I change my "philosophy"? NO! Why - because they are happier and healthier and have a better life. I get more enjoyment, as do the many guests here, of wandering the property and seeing chickens everywhere we go - all running up to greet you and seeking treats. My young ones all started laying eggs at four months, the roosters began fertilizing those eggs at five months and now I'm hatching my own flock. Every hen lays an egg a day, with rare exception. They have never molted or stopped laying in winter.
Those who keep them locked up in Fort Knox still have losses and deal with issues I've never had to deal with. I to don't have pecking issues or fighting (even amongst the many roosters). I raise all age groups and let the babies start free ranging at one week old and no one has ever harmed them and I've never lost a baby chick. I have a disabled chicken that others not only do not pick on, they seem to go and gently sit by her.
Free ranging is the way God intended this remarkable creature to live. Locking it in a bubble in an effort to keep it alive longer does not mean it has a better life.
If I were asked my preferences, for my own life style, I would choose a life well lived, living freely, with the possible quick and sudden death to a life long lived in captivity with limited freedom. If we let our children go out into the world, why would we try and hold onto chickens? Our children could also be attacked by predators, hit by cars, get in accidents but if we kept them locked up, they would miss out on living life. None of us have any guarantees. My philosophy is to enjoy life and let my animals enjoy it as well. I would rather find a few feathers and know that my chicken died a quick death and went on to feed a fox or coyote than find it dead from long term abuse by another chicken that slowly pecked it to death and ate it alive because is was cooped up in too small a space. In the second scenario, I would feel that I failed my chicken. It died a senseless and tormented and tortured death.
