May I suggest a compromise of sorts.
1. Fence in about a quarter acre or so with sturdy wire and let them run there. Make sure they have adequate overhead shelter. That's what I did and I only lost one hen to wild predators in 10 years. An early riser was nailed by a late running great horned owl. I also planted a very large overhead grape arbor and included a portion of my apple orchard as part of the hen run. With the goal of protection from flying dangers. Hawks don't really like to fly through something they can't clearly see through. That made my heavy grape arbor and thick apple trees a hen paradise.
2. Put a timed, possibly solar powered, door opener on your hen house door, keep the little enterprisers from getting out too early. That's how I made sure the great horned never got a second hen.
I recently sold my farm and moved further out to a much less populous area. I've been off BYC for a while due to moving. Now I'm looking at a whole new, smaller, chicken set up. LOTS more predators near me now, including foxes which I've never had to deal with before. Should be interesting!
1. Fence in about a quarter acre or so with sturdy wire and let them run there. Make sure they have adequate overhead shelter. That's what I did and I only lost one hen to wild predators in 10 years. An early riser was nailed by a late running great horned owl. I also planted a very large overhead grape arbor and included a portion of my apple orchard as part of the hen run. With the goal of protection from flying dangers. Hawks don't really like to fly through something they can't clearly see through. That made my heavy grape arbor and thick apple trees a hen paradise.
2. Put a timed, possibly solar powered, door opener on your hen house door, keep the little enterprisers from getting out too early. That's how I made sure the great horned never got a second hen.
I recently sold my farm and moved further out to a much less populous area. I've been off BYC for a while due to moving. Now I'm looking at a whole new, smaller, chicken set up. LOTS more predators near me now, including foxes which I've never had to deal with before. Should be interesting!