Free ranging question for the AR peeps... I am planning to put some production reds out in my pasture to eat up all the crickets, grasshoppers, ticks, and spiders running around out there. I know that free ranging runs the risk of snakes and hawks getting them, so my question is, what are some ways to prevent a lot of chickens from dying by way of other natural predators? There will be a little coop where they will sleep at night with some shade. Also, if I buy about 15 to put out in the pasture (it's about 3/4 acre), should I have to put food out for them to make sure they DO get food? I know I'll have to put water out. That's a duh...
At some point (hopefully in the next year) I hope to get my first cow. We are waiting to get the perfect Jersey for our family as a milking cow, plus make sure I'm as knowledgeable as possible with owning my first milking cow before I decide to jump in at the deep end and end up over my head. Would the chickens and cow be okay together, or would I have to stop free ranging them?
I do have to give credit where credit is due. 
