Free Ranging Chickens??

[Fawkes]

My ducks can't be free range anymore because of predators and when I get my chickens they can't either. Hawks, other birds of prey, foxes, raccoons, coyotes are all huge threats where I am. Lots of stray cats and neighborhood cats too but they don't even hurt the wild ducklings that hang out here so I guess I'm at least lucky with that. Its a shame, I've got a big backyard so I'd love them to free range

 

[IndigoJaguar]

Hi peeps,

I imagined when I got chickens that they would be ranging in my backyard all day long. Then I started reading about all the predators and now have scared myself silly. My chicks are 6 weeks old now and have been kept in a makeshift pen all day long moved in different spots of the yard while the run is being built. Well here I am with no run and yesterday I let the chicks roam around in the backyard for a couple hours in the morning. I am doing the same thing right now but I can't take my eyes off of them for more than two minutes. Am I being over paranoid?? I just keep thinking some hawk is waiting for me to turn my back so he can take off with my babies! Also there is a crow being very loud right now and he's making me nervous too! Will a crow hurt them? Are they safe in my suburban backyard during the day? We have no stray cats...

Thanks for your help!

I think the point you have to come to is are you ok with some losses? In the end, if you free range, you may lose some. That's the point I am coming to. I am being more cautious than I was because of a dog attack a few weeks ago, but I would rather see my birds happy free ranging than caged up on dirt all the time.
If you have enough money and yard, you could buy electric netting and put around it. Then they would have access to grass all the time but be safe. That is my ultimate goal when we move to our new house. I'm hoping to fence an acre with electric netting. I only have 23 birds so an acre should be more than enough to keep them from ruining the grass. Electric netting from Kencove is about $160 for 164' I think.​