First time free ranging

[gritsar]

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We have coyotes, hawks, a pair of golden eagles that nest nearby, bobcats and bobcat hybrids, skunks, coons and possums; yet stray dogs are my biggest fear as well. Our farm is pretty isolated so stray dogs are rare on the place. The only time one did come up here - not actually a stray, but the closest neighbor's dog - my late dog Charlie scared it so bad it has never come back. She chased it all the way to the property line.

 

[Sammimom]

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I agree...we only have three and they are such little pets, but the BEST part of their day is when we let them out to roam! I always tell the kids, something may happen to them, but they live very happy little chicken lives and I'd rather have it that way. We also let our outdoor bunnies out of their hutch into a large, outdoor pen (think super big dog run) and I know a hawk or raccoon could get them, but it is a much better life, and better health-wise, for them to be out and living and not just parked in a cage all day.

 

[gsim]

I have 24, 4 breeds. Have not yet allowed them to free range. My place is surrounded by woods and I find it too troublesome to stay with them. No way I am letting them free range if I am not there. So, I built a pen that is 2000 sq ft, 6 ft tall, electrified. It has a large dust bath area, and currently 3 perches and 3 shade trees. May consider doing some free range after foliage drops off maybe an hour before dark. On occasion one has slipped out when my wife was careless about coming thru the gate. They simply walk and graze grass all around the perimeter of the pen. Trouble is, that is only an 8 ft strip of grass bordered by woods on two sides. I am still too afraid of preds and they have it made in that pen. Am adding a chickie jungle gymn (cascading perch) sometime this winter. Also am wanting to add a self-contained cricket breeding station inside of pen. Escapees would become hi grade protein treats for the chooks.

 

[mendygnl]

They are BEAUTIFUL girls; however, don't trust the labs. It's bred into them to get the birds. It happened to me. I had mine fenced in, and a lab broke down the fence (they are so strong and muscular) and killed 14 in one day when no one was home. SO-O-O sad. It broke my heart. Lynn

 

[tls_ranch]

Oh, I don't trust my labs at all around my chickens... To much instinct to retrieve birds. But, they seem to be doing OK so far. I've been working with them for over 7 months now with the chickens. We also don't use them for hunting, so we haven't been re-enforcing their bird instincts. We just moved to a new place and I'm more worried about a neighbor's pit bull. I haven't seen him, but he lives several "hills" away and likes to go visiting. My next door neighbors gave me the owner's contact info if I ever saw him and told me that he is totally friendly and won't hurt "anyone". I don't think for one second that "won't hurt anyone" means that he won't massacre all my birds the first time he does come visiting.


Here's Eva and Daisy (my EE). I started working with her as a puppy.

 

[Country Heart]

May consider doing some free range after foliage drops off maybe an hour before dark.

If you do consider free-ranging, which I highly recommend,

you might consider doing it mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Early morning and just before dark are actually the most dangerous time for predators.​

 

[gritsar]

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If you do consider free-ranging, which I highly recommend,

you might consider doing it mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Early morning and just before dark are actually the most dangerous time for predators.

Yep and my chickens have learned to lay low during those times. They stick to cover of trees in their "yard" until late morning and then head back to cover again in the early evening.
Chickens aren't smart, but allowed to free range they do develop good survival skills. Mine have been free-ranging since they were two and half weeks old; with lots of supervision at first of course.

 

[Jen4]

Pretty Chickens and I bet they did ♥ it!