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These chickens are not feral. I raised them from day 1 and they are super friendly and jump on our laps. I visit the barn several times a day to give everyone a good petting and feeding. I had every intention of having laying nests and everything else that is already in my coop.
My biggest concern is really flying predators. I see the hawks out there often, and though I have never seen the owls, I can sure as heck hear 'em hooting, so I know they are out there.
The question is, truly, am I willing to risk their lives? I had every intention of re-homing this group that I'm putting in the pasture anyway, so I was trying to see if they'd successfully make it down in the pasture and therefore keep them. I'm ill at ease wondering if they will. I guess it's one of those questions that really doesn't have a good answer...
Ours aren't feral either. We do see hawks, it is an open pasture. Have been possums trotting through too to go down towards the creek. And a coon or two. So far we have not lost any, but ours do not go that far from the barn......1/2 to 1 acre of it at the most. I think the bigger animals (goats & horses) keep the hawks at bay. We put them out there fully expecting to lose one or two. Our intentions were to grow them out, and process any that survived, but they are still here.
I would not put any of certain breeds out there, because I do not want to chance losing them.
These chickens are not feral. I raised them from day 1 and they are super friendly and jump on our laps. I visit the barn several times a day to give everyone a good petting and feeding. I had every intention of having laying nests and everything else that is already in my coop.
My biggest concern is really flying predators. I see the hawks out there often, and though I have never seen the owls, I can sure as heck hear 'em hooting, so I know they are out there.
The question is, truly, am I willing to risk their lives? I had every intention of re-homing this group that I'm putting in the pasture anyway, so I was trying to see if they'd successfully make it down in the pasture and therefore keep them. I'm ill at ease wondering if they will. I guess it's one of those questions that really doesn't have a good answer...
Ours aren't feral either. We do see hawks, it is an open pasture. Have been possums trotting through too to go down towards the creek. And a coon or two. So far we have not lost any, but ours do not go that far from the barn......1/2 to 1 acre of it at the most. I think the bigger animals (goats & horses) keep the hawks at bay. We put them out there fully expecting to lose one or two. Our intentions were to grow them out, and process any that survived, but they are still here.
I would not put any of certain breeds out there, because I do not want to chance losing them.
