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Great wisdom here @Kris5902 I'm so glad that you turned up in time to help @micstrachan in this difficult time. You are an exceptional voice on this thread. We are all glad to have you back.Ok, I’m going to try to respond in a comprehensible manner. Please bear in mind I was outside working in a heatwave for 13hrs today, so if this comes out too garbled let me know and I’ll make it make sense tomorrow...
There are really only two options: confined or free range. The chickens, and Ruby, are used to confirmed with only supervised ranging. That’s their normal. I would honestly continue as normal, and maybe try to enrich the run environment for her some, to make it more like their ranging time somehow. She’s not being pecked on, is starting to return to “normal” behaviors as is seeming to rebound. I wouldn’t change more than is absolutely necessary. She would be easy picking for any predator alone abs free ranging all day.
That said... Yes, I have taken Chickens I knew were on the verge of passing and allowed them to free range and meet a quick end with a predator. The elderly barred rock when she lost all interest in the other chickens, feed, and life in general. She was being pecked on by some younger members in her tractor, and I was on the verge of culling her for her own sake. She didn’t seem to be suffering, but had lost all will to live. She was happy to just sleep in the sun, on her own. I had resolved that if she didn’t pass on her own that night I would help her along, but I came home to one less chicken and a poof of feathers from a hawk or eagle strike, there were no signs of a struggle, and I believe she met a quick and clean end.
Given Ruby’s situation, condition, and behaviors; I personally wouldn’t be ready to help her pass on just yet, and as such I also wouldn’t leave her out on her own. If possible I prefer to let chickens pass with their Family/Tribe if it’s safe and they aren’t suffering unduly. If they are in pain and all I can do to help is to hasten their passing and I am sure that they are near, then I am also willing to do that as necessary. I just made that decision on the runt of the foster chicks on Monday... it’s not an easy decision, by any means.
I think what I’m trying to say is with the predator pressures and your current coop/run/ranging system, leaving her free (though she may seem more happy and active) is essentially the same as deciding to cull her yourself. It’s not quite the same as actively committing the fatal blow, but chances are the result would be the same, and you would feel just as responsible when you came home and she was gone. If not worse, as she is used confinement and security, and to turn her loose alone is abnormal, and not something she is really prepared to cope with. It’s different with more independent free ranging tribes that are accustomed to full freedom, but that was not how she was raised.
It’s between a rock and a hard place, but I think you made the right choice in putting her back in for the day.
