Free Range or not? (I saw a fox last week)

[meredithhouston]

I have kept my 5 chickens in their coop for the last week. I saw a fox 2 times last week in the daytime. But, I feel so guilty for keeping them in there. They are bored and not happy. But, I was them tp stay safe. The ling term plan is to build a large run.
Any thoughts?

 

[bugglesmommy]

That fox is already eying those chickens if he's come by twice. Free ranging them would be pretty risky. The chances are extremely high you will lose birds. Have you considered trapping or shooting the fox first?

 

[RileyB]

I am in the same exact boat. We lost a chicken and two ducks to a fox a few weeks ago. I also feel horrible keeping them cooped up (they prefer free ranging), but keeping them safe is the priority.
I agree the above poster...the fox already knows where it can get its meal. It will stake out those chickens if they free range.

 

[Life is Good!]

Build them a run or a portable tractor to keep them safe, but allow them to range. You'll need 1/2" hardware cloth and fencing. The hardware cloth goes down in a trench you dig out at least 6-8" (a foot is better) and up the side of the fencing. Attach two fence materials together with zip-ties.

Do not leave the chickens cooped up for long. You can make them some 'toys' to keep boredom away... Take an empty, clean water bottle; cut 'x' shaped cuts in sides of bottle (big enough for a beak to fit into), fill with black oil sunflower seeds. Hang a head of boston lettuce or cabbage from a piece of wire or string, approximately 4" higher than they can reach easily - they'll spend the day trying to get the treat! (Hang from ceiling of coop). If you've already got them, sunflower heads are wonderful 'toys' for the birds too.

Just a few quick ideas to keep your birds happier. But they'd much rather have sunshine, wind and bugs to find! Get that run finished!

 

[donrae]

How much space do they have now? Sounds like your "long term plan" may need to become a "this weekend" plan!

Truthfully, it depends on how devastated you'll be if you lose a bird to a predator. Sounds pretty likely to me, that fox knows where dinner is and is checking out to see if chicken is on the menu tonight.

 

[DLV58]

Hi Everyone....Meredithhouston are you in city limits or country?
I live in Omaha and saw a fox just a couple of blocks away near a small wooded block area.
I was surprised to see it in the city!

 

[RedDrgn]

As others have said, your best bet is to build an enclosed run. Our coop is in an enclosed run, but we also free range, and we've got fox, skunks, bears, opossum, weasels, and plenty of birds of prey to supplement the free-roaming neighborhood cats and dogs. The cats have pretty much made friends with and hang out with the chickens and the dogs are a greater problem than any of the wildlife, so far (and we've seen plenty of day-roaming fox), BUT we only free range when my DH and I are home. When we're not around or engaged in something we can't readily run away from indoors, they stay locked in the run. In overnight hours, they're locked in the coop in the locked run.

 

[meredithhouston]

We live in the country