Free Ranging: Animal happiness vs Risk of Loss

[cmom]

Your perspective changes when you come home and find your birds are ripped open and laying on the floor. You think it can never happen to you until it does.

So true...

 

[cmom]

In the summer I have a yard vacuum that I tow around behind my mower and collect grass clipping. I put piles of the clipping in each of the pens. The birds just love to scratch through the piles. During the winter months I give them alfalfa. I split the bales up and put some in each pen and eventually they clean all of the little leaves off of the stems. I also give them Flock Blocks to peck at.

 

[cmom]

That's a great night image cmom...what brand are you using there?

I have 6 cameras identical to this one. I actually bought this one too and it's working well. The only drawback is that they take the tiny micro SD cards.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CGMQRWP/?tag=backy-20

 

[aart]

They are not children, they're animals.

Ditto Dat!!!^^^

 

[cmom]

Op - this is the most difficult question I've had to deal with as a chicken parent. I'm currently on my second flock of chickens. My first I got to enjoy for a fabulous 6+ years. My little hens were just like kids - not much laying any longer, but they were pets. They had always been confined to a coop / run, and had about 100 sq ft per hen. After all those years, I finally started opening the run door and letting them wander about on our property (we have 10 acres). I think the few weeks they had little 1 hr wandering sessions were some of the most fun they ever had - they loved every second. But, on that last, fateful day, they were cleaned out in seconds by a pack of coyotes. It was so fast, there wasn't a sound. All that remained on the ground were some of their feathers.

After dealing with that heartbreak, their coop / run, despite not having grass, looks fantastic to me. I couldn't go through it again. I do my best to provide them as much enrichment that I can ... and keep them alive.

I had kind of a similar situation with fox except the fox was killing then going for another bird and killed it and on and on. I chased it off but it made the mistake of coming back. I had leg traps set with a body of one of the birds in the middle of the traps. I caught it.

 

[harmonyp]

"Aquatic_blue said:
They are not children, they're animals."

Sure, we're all aware of that. It's a matter of speech - some people get emotionally attached to their livestock, some do not. I'm one of those who do. Regardless, we should all try to have their best interest in mind as we are their keepers and they are dependent on us - so they rely on us to use the best logic we can in each of our different scenarios.

 

[cmom]

I get attached to a few but I have so many it's impossible to get attached to them all. My most favorite bird was killed by a fox during the day a few months ago. It was my fault for letting her out of her pen while I was otherwise occupied. She would probably be here today. She was 3 years old. I have had more losses this year than in many years. I went for several years without a loss. I learned now not to be so assuming, things can and do happen regardless. I knew it was a risk to let Gladys out of her pen, but she was out every day and stayed near us. She would come when called and loved to be held. She would stay pretty close to wherever we were. I did develop a special bond with her. I don't think I'll ever do that again.

 

[bobbi-j]

I've actually lost more in the coop than I have free ranging. Leave it to the mink and weasels to let me know things aren't as secur as I thought they were. I am willing to take the risk of letting them free range. I think they're a lot healthier that was. As Banty Chooks shared - they are less prone to worm and other parasite infestations.

 

[Fairview01]

I think they're pretty unhappy when something kills them.

 

[centrarchid]

I've actually lost more in the coop than I have free ranging. Leave it to the mink and weasels to let me know things aren't as secur as I thought they were. I am willing to take the risk of letting them free range. I think they're a lot healthier that was. As Banty Chooks shared - they are less prone to worm and other parasite infestations.

Most losses I have had to wildlife were at night when the free-ranging component is not as relevant.