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keesmom said:
Birds of prey are the most common daytime predators. They will kill large adults let alone tiny chicks. I've also lost birds to dogs, foxes and coyotes during the day. Even had a raccoon attack late day once.

Do you have an enclosed covered pen to put them in?
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I have a soft puppy playpen with a zip mesh top and bottom for the chicks. Daytime predators sound awful... I was hoping they'd be able to free range as adults.
 

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Mine free range sometimes but usually just for a few hours before bedtime when it gets dark and when I can watch them. That might be your best option. But I've never had an issue or I should say minimal. One attempted hawk attack last year but they only got feathers, no injuries, and most recently, a few weeks ago, the neighbor's dog got loose and got one of my hens but she too was fine, mostly just tons of feathers and one small scrape. We have also had a fox visit very early morning/late night when they were still locked up. Predators are just something you have to deal with with chickens and imo, I don't think the predator risk is enough to keep mine locked up all the time, it's not fair to them. Mine LOVE getting out, even if it's just for a couple hours or supervised. And supervised there isn't much risk anyway. You just have to decide what you could live with. I only have 8 and mine are pets (and of course eggs) so I would, of course, be devastated if I lost any but like I said, I don't think it's fair to keep them locked up. But I have only recently come to this conclusion. They were locked up for months. If they have a big enough run, bigger than recommended, and things to do so they don't get bored, keeping them confined might be fine but mine don't have that atm. But soon.
 
katherinejelly said:
I have a soft puppy playpen with a zip mesh top and bottom for the chicks. Daytime predators sound awful... I was hoping they'd be able to free range as adults.
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Nighttime predators are worse so be sure you have a well built coop.

If you free range you stand the chance of losing a bird, that's just the way it is. Everything likes a free chicken dinner. You will have to weigh the benefits of letting your chickens range vs potential predator losses. Only you can determine what predators you have and how often they come close. You may go years without a losing any.

We've had chickens for 20 years. I let my birds range. I feel the benefits outweigh the risk. I do think of my chickens more as livestock than pets but that doesn't mean I don't care if something happens to my birds. If we start having a predator issue then they stay locked up for a while. I will say my worst losses were during late spring/early summer when coyotes and foxes had young to feed. They hunt day and night then (learned the hard way).

If you have chickens you're bound to meet all the neighborhood predators at some point, as well as some freeloaders. So far I've dealt with hawks, foxes, coyotes, dogs, raccoons, mink, weasels and fishers trying to get chickens. Had possums and skunks try to steal eggs, as well as with chipmunks, squirrels, house sparrows and groundhogs of all things in the coop after the feed.
 
Looking for a blue black splash Ameraucana rooster. Unfortunately I lost my blue ameraucana rooster. I did not hatch any of his chicks this season so there is no up and coming replacement. It is that time of year I am hoping someone has or knows someone who has an extra quality rooster they would be willing to part with. I know I always hate to cull a good rooster so hopefully we will both feel good about it.
 
View attachment 1118130 Hello- may have a Buff Orpington rooster to rehome/exchange in Peabody. Not entirely convinced I have a roo yet, just putting out feelers if anyone would be willing to do a swap if 'Nia' becomes 'Nigel' over the next few weeks. I cannot have a roo in the city limits, and 'she' is making a racket. Please send me a PM!
 
windyridgefarm said:
Looking for a blue black splash Ameraucana rooster. Unfortunately I lost my blue ameraucana rooster. I did not hatch any of his chicks this season so there is no up and coming replacement. It is that time of year I am hoping someone has or knows someone who has an extra quality rooster they would be willing to part with. I know I always hate to cull a good rooster so hopefully we will both feel good about it.
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https://providence.craigslist.org/grd/d/free-rooster/6267966858.html
? Many on Craigs List have them for free ;)
 

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