Anyone have any luck free ranging bantams?

[Legendchicken]

I have 14 bantams of various breeds and have a large yard to allow them to roam.. 20+ acres!! Its a family owned lot so we basicly own the entire street! We have variouse trees and other structures as well as several acres of hedge rows as well as lots of short grass and shrubs woods and a pond everyone says they would be killed and picked off by pretadors i dont think this is the case. While pretadors are here there mainly nocturnal so thats a different story. There are the ocasional hawk and this is the one think im somewhat worried are chickens smart enough to take cover if they see a pretador?? What are your opinions on this?

 

[Poultrybreeder]

I have many bantams that are free range, they do get picked off by predators once and a while, but not too terribly often, bantams are a clever breed of chicken, I think they will be fine

 

[Pork Pie]

I have many bantams that are free range, they do get picked off by predators once and a while, but not too terribly often, bantams are a clever breed of chicken, I think they will be fine

I agree - occasionally you'll have losses, but if one free ranges it's part of the deal. I only have one bantam and she's so flighty it will be one lucky hawk that gets her for dinner.

 

[MillersFarm]

I have only two bantams.. Used to have more but unfortunately they passed away not from a hawk or eagle though. The hen is free ranged alone with six other chickens but stays mostly in our barn... The rooster bantam that is in a fenced in area that takes up about 3 quarters on an acre is fine as well.. Nothing has gotten any of our chickens though we do put a couple of fake crows to scare off any hawks around the area. We've been having a red tail hawk nest near our chickens lately but it hasnt tried anything yet...

 

[Legendchicken]

The past several years there has so many hawks but this year there has been none i dont want to jinx myself but it is odd

 

[Legendchicken]

I have a few silkies but i did an experinant and clipped off ones crest so she could see. She seems to be able to see remarkably well and it id hard to catch her now. She also killed a snake the other day

 

[Dawnclucks22]

I agree - occasionally you'll have losses, but if one free ranges it's part of the deal. I only have one bantam and she's so flighty it will be one lucky hawk that gets her for dinner.

Me too! We used to have two but now we only have one. She's rarely bullied by the big girls and never lets me hold her!

 

[drumstick diva]

People usually think Silkies are stupid and clumsy. Their IQ soars once they get the crest and beards cut back and can SEE!!! Although I rather not see them eat a snake