I've been keeping our birds locked up until about 4 each day so that they become trained to lay in their nest boxes (all pullets from 21-23 weeks of age). Four or five are laying, and when the rest "come online," I'd like to leave them out all day. The dog is at home all day and hopefully would be somewhat of a deterrent to foxes, etc., but not hawks.
How many of you do this without regard to predation?
How many of you do this without regard to predation?