Bad way to thin a flock

[Charrod464]

I live in the middle of nowhere. I have over 50 chickens and have never lost one bird to a coon or any other cause. I have raised Rotties my whole life. I have determined that my Rotts keep all animals at bay but the Birds of Prey. So maybe you need a good dog or two to keep after the homestead while you are away.

 

[Charrod464]

A 22 with hollow point rounds do not travel as far. That is a safe bet i do believe.
I have a free range/run. I have my garden in the middle of a 10,000 square foot fenced in range for my birds. So my chickens run around my garden and eat all the bugs before they get to my crops. My coop is never closed until winter. I will cut my flock down to 15-20 for the winter. I run right at 55 chickens in that area. I have a few trees that provide cover from birds of prey and Rottweilers hat run the yard. I also have two pigmy goats that have free run of all of the property that is not fenced in.