Evaluate for predators, please

[Kayla's Lunch]

I have twelve 11 week old chicks. We have been letting them scratch and peck and run around in the backyard every day for the past several weeks, but we are always out there to watch them. They are still a little timid and have to be encouraged to leave the immediate area outside of their run. I live on 1/3 acre in suburbia, not a well manicured lawn. LOL We have a fenced yard with lots of trees around. I have 4 dogs that have not yet been allowed to run free with the chickens. Hopefully one will be able to watch over them eventually. We don't have coyotes or anything like that. I know we have raccoons, opossums, and hawks but I haven't seen any in quite a long time. The dogs are out in the yard a lot when the chickens aren't, so I think a lot of wild animals keep clear. There are a few neighborhood cats. Very rare for any dogs to run loose and we have a fence, so they couldn't easily get into the yard. My question is, what are the risks in relation to predators? How much of a danger is a cat? How much of a clear area does a hawk need? The chicks seem to stick to the edges of the yard and not go out into the middle open area. Although we have only let them out when we can watch them, we can't really do that forever and they love to come out! In the first picture, the coop is on the left and is up against the house (which you can't see.) We are still working on it and it has a white tarp on it. Thanks so much for any help.

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

Just want to add, in case it matters, I have 2 BO, 2 GLW, 2BR, 2EE, 2 Delawares, and 2 Cuckoo Marans - one of which is a cockerel that will probably have to leave.

 

[jthornton]

A well fenced yard will keep the worst predator a dog out. Just a quick look at the Maryland predator list I see:

Black bear are the most common large predators in the state, followed by coyotes in frequency of sightings. Wolves and mountain lions are much more reclusive but also share territory in the state.

Maryland wouldn’t be complete without a list of common animals. Anywhere in the region you can find skunks, raccoons, porcupines, foxes, opossums, voles, moles, woodchucks, fishers, nutria, ermine, and mink. There are also bats, snakes, and a host of amphibians.

from the Maryland Wildlife control web site...

Young chickens can be prey for almost anything...

JT

 

[jthornton]

Is that split rail fence part of the perimeter fencing? Limited band width here so I generally don't look at photos except during free time.

JT

 

[JDN]

Mine are months older than yours, just starting to lay. Its an instinctive thing, they don't care to be out in the open. Due to the orientation of my yard, I don't have to weedwhack the side of the privacy fence they prefer for shade reasons.

I'd be most concern with an unsupervised dog. Hawks are worse in the fall, since they seem to migrate through more and the leaves are off the trees. Cats are more of a concern to young chicks than big ones.

Your biggest concern is probably a raccoon, possum, or coyote, but usually they are nocturnal.

Mine are out in my yard unsupervised right now, but I have a 6 ft privacy fence, and a dog that delights in a merry scrap with a furbearer.

 

[townchicks]

You are going to have raccoons, skunks and possums, whether you see them or not. They are not strictly nocturnal, they are active at dusk and dawn also. Some owls will come out early, too, I have seen great horned owls out a good hour or more before sunset. Coyotes hunt day and night, as will foxes. Your fence will probably keep out the neighborhood dogs, but not wild canines and certainly not raccoons, possums, skunks. owls and hawks.Some folks have even had crows, jays and squirrels go after their small chicks. Your best bet is to build a secure run, attached to your coop, and keep them in there for the early morning and predusk hours, and when you are not home. That yard looks like chicken heaven, and they will enjoy and benefit from some time ranging out there, but if you do that, you have to know there are risks involved. Being out there with them may discourage some predators, but not all, and it can happen quickly.

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

Is that split rail fence part of the perimeter fencing? Limited band width here so I generally don't look at photos except during free time.

JT

Yes, the perimeter fence is a split rail with welded wire (or something like that) so a dog would have to go over it or dig under it.

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

Mine are months older than yours, just starting to lay. Its an instinctive thing, they don't care to be out in the open. Due to the orientation of my yard, I don't have to weedwhack the side of the privacy fence they prefer for shade reasons.

I'd be most concern with an unsupervised dog. Hawks are worse in the fall, since they seem to migrate through more and the leaves are off the trees. Cats are more of a concern to young chicks than big ones.

Your biggest concern is probably a raccoon, possum, or coyote, but usually they are nocturnal.

Mine are out in my yard unsupervised right now, but I have a 6 ft privacy fence, and a dog that delights in a merry scrap with a furbearer.

How much space does a hawk need to attack? If the chickens stay near the edges of the yard, will that be safer for them?

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

You are going to have raccoons, skunks and possums, whether you see them or not. They are not strictly nocturnal, they are active at dusk and dawn also. Some owls will come out early, too, I have seen great horned owls out a good hour or more before sunset. Coyotes hunt day and night, as will foxes. Your fence will probably keep out the neighborhood dogs, but not wild canines and certainly not raccoons, possums, skunks. owls and hawks.Some folks have even had crows, jays and squirrels go after their small chicks. Your best bet is to build a secure run, attached to your coop, and keep them in there for the early morning and predusk hours, and when you are not home. That yard looks like chicken heaven, and they will enjoy and benefit from some time ranging out there, but if you do that, you have to know there are risks involved. Being out there with them may discourage some predators, but not all, and it can happen quickly.

We have built a secure run (12' x 12') for them and I often put more "stuff" in there for them to scratch around in - leaves and weeds, etc. The run looked so big for them when they were little, now it looks so small. Hopefully, at least one of my dogs will be trustworthy with them and can stay outside to watch over them if we can't. I won't ever let them out there when we are not home. I'm just hoping to let them out there for maybe 30 minutes at a time without being out there with them.

 

[Kfults]

I also have a 12x12 run and it became too small for my flock of 12. I keep them In the run when I am not home. I let them out midmorning and watch from windows in the house. They return to the coup during heat of day because it is cooler. During evening they enjoy ranging. I do sit outside the hour before dusk to keep watch or herd them in early if I can’t watch for early predators. I share 5 acres with other family so they don’t get total free range. I built a 40x40 chicken wife fenced yard with bird netting on top. It is not secure from raccoon, opossums dogs ect.... so I keep an eye out the window from in house or sit outside. Good luck! You just never know when a preditor will strike.