"free ranging" around the yard?

[aoxa]

That's adorable! Love that cat

 

[robynz]

5 weeks tomorrow - they were home alone with no problems for 5 hours on Monday, so today is a bit longer...! They are still coming in at night, and have been in the brooder for the last few days because of the rain, so they were so excited to get out this morning

Robynz, how old are yours?

 

[robynz]

Silly kitties!!! My chihuahua is great with the chicks, but my schnauzer has to be tied up when she's outside and the chicks are out, until the chickens get bigger and can fight back. Let's just say that my schnauzer is un-impressed with it!

 

[robynz]

So, just wanted to let you all know that my girls did great outside today! All 10 were in or around their coop when I got home from work and were good about loading into the doggie crate to come inside for the night. All said and done, they were outside from 6:30am - 7:30pm running free! Really need to get the wire up, I think they are ready to move out permanantly.

They are all 5 weeks tomorrow - 3 Barred Rocks, 2 Leghorns, 5 bantams - mostly feathered and almost flying!

 

[jahphotogal]

Mine slept out in the coop the last two nights, but it was quite chilly last night - when I went to check on them just after dark they were all huddled up, so I brought the heat lamp out. I was a bit nervous about having it out of doors, but all went well. Tonight it's supposed to be chilly AND rainy, so I have to figure out how to really protect the lamp - and chicks - from the wetness. But I keep them in the run during the day and just let them play outside in the evening when I'm home. I've been teaching them to take mealworms and scratch from my hand - they're starting to trust me more. My favorite, (the Americauna, named Bonnie) hopped up on my shoulder last night. (I just kept saying, 'please don't poop, please don't poop! and she didn't.)

 

[frostbite]

Patience is a virtue. A live full grown chicken can eat a lot more ticks than a chick, and can defend itself against predators better. There are still ravens and hawks that can get your chicks when you're not there to frighten them off; just because you haven't seen them doesn't mean they're not there, and it only takes on fly by for a hungry raptor to notice and take advantage of an unprotected chick. And there could always be a stray cat. There are some towns that have coyotes and racoons roaming downtown even, when they get acclimated. What's your risk tolerance? How would you and your kids deal with it if you come home to a damaged flock of chicks?

One more month, they'll be bigger...

 

[jahphotogal]

Frostbite, I appreciate the advice from someone more experienced. I notice you are in Alaska - do you heat your chicken house in the winter?

 

[rikithemonk]

Its interesting that I should see this thread today. I live in a very urban section of my city and any time before yesterday my answer would have been very different. Yesterday changed that for me. Like you, I haven't seen anything, and my main concerns are neighbor dogs and cats. But yesterday as I was driving home from work at 4PM, I spotted a raccoon two blocks away from my house. It darted into the bushes when it saw my car coming. Later that evening 6-7PM, while walking my dog, I saw a second Raccoon about three blocks away in the opposite direction. I have never noticed raccoons before and would have sworn under oath that my area was raccoon free. I was dead wrong. They have always been there, I simply never noticed them before.

You have predators in your neighborhood, you simply haven't had to keep an eye out for them before. Now that you have chickens, you will be on the look out for them and will begin seeing them. The two big chicken killers seem to be Raccoons and Neighbors Dogs. I know from first hand experience that raccoons are out and roaming as early as 4:00 in the afternoon, and neighborhood dogs are in the backyards almost all day. Ive also had raptors perching in the trees eying my Chickens in the past as well.

You can do what you want with your own chickens, but in my opinion its not wise to let them outside unsupervised.

Just my 2 cents.

Riki

 

[mondotomhead]

Its interesting that I should see this thread today. I live in a very urban section of my city and any time before yesterday my answer would have been very different. Yesterday changed that for me. Like you, I haven't seen anything, and my main concerns are neighbor dogs and cats. But yesterday as I was driving home from work at 4PM, I spotted a raccoon two blocks away from my house. It darted into the bushes when it saw my car coming. Later that evening 6-7PM, while walking my dog, I saw a second Raccoon about three blocks away in the opposite direction. I have never noticed raccoons before and would have sworn under oath that my area was raccoon free. I was dead wrong. They have always been there, I simply never noticed them before.

You have predators in your neighborhood, you simply haven't had to keep an eye out for them before. Now that you have chickens, you will be on the look out for them and will begin seeing them. The two big chicken killers seem to be Raccoons and Neighbors Dogs. I know from first hand experience that raccoons are out and roaming as early as 4:00 in the afternoon, and neighborhood dogs are in the backyards almost all day. Ive also had raptors perching in the trees eying my Chickens in the past as well.

You can do what you want with your own chickens, but in my opinion its not wise to let them outside unsupervised.

Just my 2 cents.

Riki

I so agree with Riki. Predators are masters are hiding. They can't afford being seen or they don't eat. Believe me, they are around. Eventually, they will find your chicks. Maybe not today or tomorrow or next week but they will. It happened to me. I would let my chicks out in the morning to free range all day. I lost my rooster first, he was just missing until I found his headless body under the bushes. The next two were taken by hawks. I've had some just disappear before I ended up putting my chickens in a covered run. When I get home after work I let everyone out to free range with me watching the whole time.

I so hate telling you these gruesome details but I wouldn't want your kids to experience this. I'm a grown woman and it still makes me sick when I think about it.

 

[jahphotogal]

Good advice, everyone.

How old were your chicks when you let them sleep outside without a heat lamp? (And how warm was it at the time?)