Free range or large run

[perchie.girl]

Mamma hen scratching happily in the horse Poo.... Coyote zipped past me to grab her not twenty feet away.... Nothing I could do but scream and throw rocks....

deb

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Mamma hen scratching happily in the horse Poo.... Coyote zipped past me to grab her not twenty feet away.... Nothing I could do but scream and throw rocks....

deb

Yep...supervised free range just means you get front row seat to the horror show.

Unless you are armed and ready, nothing you can do but scream, which the predator just laughs and zips away with a chicken dinner.

LofMc

 

[Parront]

Mamma hen scratching happily in the horse Poo.... Coyote zipped past me to grab her not twenty feet away.... Nothing I could do but scream and throw rocks....

deb

We can't protect our pets from a determined predator. In Palm Springs a woman had her small dog taken by a coyote when she was walking it on a leash. Right by P.S. airport. We can only do our best, sometimes bad stuff still happens.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Amen LofMc Amen, so been there, and it ALWAYS is your favorite, ALWAYS!

Is why I don't name my birds, or if I do it is something generic. I dono, does that make me superstitious? Sure seems to be true, though.

 

[aart]

Yep...supervised free range just means you get front row seat to the horror show.

...and a rooster is just a speed bump to the buffet.

 

[Parront]

...and a rooster is just a speed bump to the buffet.

Or maybe an appetizer. Every carnivore likes chicken!

 

[Toothpick]

I free range very rarely. But will be increasing my flock and I don't think the run can handle more than I have now. So I will be free ranging more often I think. I got an incubator so I'm set for replacements. Only thing that has gotten my chickens is stray dogs

 

[Phoenixmaine81]

Oh gosh this I struggled with as my animals are first on priority list so I'm extremely connected with my fur/feathered Kids any animal I have but I have 12 chicks six wks old and two khaki cambel ducks of course a cat n dog and u think the dog would wanna roll with me to do chores?? Nope... That's Oliver my cats job.. He claimed it.. He's one yr and intact and male and he's an animal assassin or dragonflies which everything he kills from air or land my heart breaks but he's a cat n instinct but these babies my 12 chicks?? HIS!!! COMPLETELY!!! and he'll kick dogs butt and a big raccoon he chased two nights ago away from coupe so I have a chicken herding guarding cat lol...oh I wanted an aussie heeler not a chicken cat but I'm are glad cuz how often does an assassin melt at these babies but wreck other critters lives it's amazing but my cat Oliver helps round em up into their play area my bf built just for them (yup my chicks learned how to play) and they are the climb in your lap n nap kinda chickens no joke.. The 3 eggers I have are not so friendly(ones coming around tho) they not are not mean either just kinda there but won't let me near them really but they do know I'm important (well duhhh lol FOOOD) but the others?? My lil baby Bella she's a blk Aussie lorps hen all mine are free free free range reason why I say that is cuz I'm in N.Woods MAINE almost at Canada border where there's snow still on the mtn and it's still only 40s so I'm still running a 150w heat flood light n cover the coupe cuz they are only six wks old but they got all their feathers earlier I believe because had to go out sooner than later cuz they were getting out of pack n play n 12 fast growing chicks roostin all over my furniture n cute as hell but Yup just poopin... Everywhere... But not anymore free range it is for my kids and they put themselves to bed very tired from slug n work hunting they get a can of corn as a treat almost everyday n omg the worms my bf feeds them and they invite themselves into the house still I'm forever shooing them out and my bf has a pullet she climbs on bench seeing into his lap and I've loaded a picture of him n baby Bella BLK aussie lorps and no more baby peeps she clucks now... So free range if u can.. Happy birds...

 

[Ljc01]

I free range from dawn to dusk, and have been for 3 years. The only bird I have ever lost to a predator, was when we adopted a rescue beagle. He ran past my DH into the backyard while the chickens were outside. He is no longer allowed out back until the chickens are put in the coop for the night.
The only positive is he killed the chicken that like to roost in the tree and I would have to poke with a stick to get down every night.
We have been lucky.

 

[Phoenixmaine81]

I free range from dawn to dusk, and have been for 3 years. The only bird I have ever lost to a predator, was when we adopted a rescue beagle. He ran past my DH into the backyard while the chickens were outside. He is no longer allowed out back until the chickens are put in the coop for the night.
The only positive is he killed the chicken that like to roost in the tree and I would have to poke with a stick to get down every night.
We have been lucky.

Ya had me cracking up... Ugh it loud too.. I'm glad my assasin cat (or could be serial killer or soul stealer too as far as I know) just by his horrible Behavior with winged fast flying off the ground four ft here comes Oliver my chicken guard cat cartwheeling thru the air n takes this cow bird we have up here right out of the air in glad I was there but I cry laughing so hard at the vision..claws erect legs spread eagle flying thru the air can't stop laughing.. squirrels are doomed except one and that's only cuz they grew up together every other one I found one by one decapitated n left nothing eaten and he HAS TO KNOW I mean I cry n get upset thank God was three to save cowbird and saved one squirrel too but I was nervous about it they were really small first time free in playpen my bf built outside their enclosed baby chicken tunnel attached to temp coupe but he would sit up on pallets I thought to stalk but he was so careful to show me his intent was not malicious and I worry now if HE'S NOT watching over them and is sleeping.. They are way bigger now.. phenomenon that does not happen but weirdly a person commented today in here they have an orange tabby named Oliver who also does chicken guard/herd too.. What's the odds? Plus three significantly just as weird that's not coincidence n yup Shoulda played mega bucks