Free ranging without roo

[Alicat4244]

We let our girls free range and they've done fine (I recently got a roo but not because of that reason) they are pretty smart. Ours are much happier free ranging! There are days my husband and I are gone 10 to 12 hours but the girls head to their coop on their own and before dark, usually 30 to 45 min before dark here lately and every night we shut and lock them up. Our biggest risk is the predators at night thats why we have 2 locks on their door and nothing can dig to get them. It's a risk we take but they are happy and healthy.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think what predators you have depend on where you are. Although a lot will over lap.

I will state the opposite, when I have a year+ old rooster with my flock, my day time predation dropped significantly. However, not all roosters are the same. When you walk up to your flock, that rooster needs to be the first to see you, or he is not the first to see a predator either. A rooster is no defense against night time predation.

But I do agree, even if you are standing right there (though that does reduce the chance) if you free range, you are risking loosing birds. If you leave the pop up door open at night, you are risking birds... I know from experience.

Mrs K