Getting over the Paranoia of Putting them Out

[MinervaELS]

Hi all,

This is my first time raising chickens myself and I am wondering... how on earth do you get over the paranoia of putting them outside? I just moved to Ohio from California and I'm having a hard time not checking in on them constantly. All of my neighbors have chickens, most of them free range, and they all tell me that as long as I lock them up at night they will be fine. One assured me that she never lost any until a sick fox that couldn't hunt well moved in, and then her dogs dispatched the fox and all was well again.

So, logically I know that everything will be fine. For now they have a covered pen to be in, though I'm too leery to leave them out when I'm not here, and eventually they will have an uncovered pen like some of my neighbors do for when I'm not home in addition to their secure coop. I should be thinking about moving them to the coop during the night anyway but I just keep thinking that they're going to get eaten by something.

I guess being from California might have scarred me because with the drought the coyotes have just been awful for the last many years. At the barn where my horse was boarded they took out everything! Dogs of all sizes, chickens, cats, sheep, the feral peafowl (we cheered whenever that happened). One night the barn help heard a commotion and went out to investigate. They ended up using shovels to fight off seven coyotes that were trying to take out a four month old foal, even with the mare biting and kicking at them. The barn cats lived on one of the rooftops and only would come down into the barn itself at night, and only if it was closed. The ones that were left knew better than to put one paw down at any time of day.

I know that the predator situation here is mild but still... the thought of putting these dumb little balls of feathers out there even in a secure pen and expecting them to not find a way to get themselves killed seems ludicrous.

 

[lazy gardener]

Nothing is 100% safe in this life. I could get run over by a car or a moose on my way to the mail box.

My chickens are kept in a covered run due to high hawk predation. They could easily be killed inside that covered run by a weasel who can easily squeak through the chicken wire, or any climbing predator who could rip through the bird netting over the run. In the run, it would be like catching fish in a fish bowl. Outside of the run, a land predator would have a more difficult time catching them, but a hawk can pick them off easily. I lost 3 birds to hawks before putting up the covered run. Hawk predation has decreased a bit, so my birds are sometimes out of run, sometimes kept in run.

Each area has it's own peculiarities with predation, as you can attest to. There comes a time, when you have to simply do the best you can do in providing secure house and run for your flock, then... you have to not hold them so tightly. I have to release everything in my care to God. That trust is what allows me to not spend my time worrying. I do what I can and let go of the rest.

 

[Windus]

Unfortunately that is just part of raising chickens. If you are going to let them free range then you have to be ready for some losses. I lose several a year, and I am always upset, but keeping them penned in small areas is just not an option for me, I think it is cruel. So, I just deal with the losses for the greater good of the whole flock.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Also welcome to Ohio. It is very hard to start free ranging without worrying. I waited until mine were good size because of hawks, although I have all kinds of possible predators. But hawks can easily carry off a small chick or pullet. When mine started getting out, I always planned on being home at first. It helps if you hear a ruckus going on outside, so you can intervene.That was the good thing about having a rooster--they do the alarm call to get all the pullets to come to safety.

When they are used to staying in their coop 24/7 for at least a week, so they know where home and where they go to sleep, then you can let them go out to there run during the day. Since you cannot get them back inside easily once they are out, it might be good to let them out to free range an hour or two before dusk, so they will go back in to roost on their own.

The first time I left for a few hours, and came back, I was paranoid that some might be lost or killed. It gets easier the more you let them out. One big problem with lightweight young pullets is that they can easily fly up and over fences, getting into yards where your dog could be. That was my biggest problem at first, and we lost 1 pullet. Clipping a wing was a waste of time. Poultry netting was the answer, where they could no longer jump up on the fence and go over.

Good luck on your new flock.

 

[Dayrel]

I'm in Indiana, so we have similar predators to deal with.

1. You have to be comfortable with a level of safety. There is no such thing as absolute safety.
   
2. Free ranging your chickens means that you are accepting a certain level of losses. Even with excellent fencing around your property, hawks are a threat.
3. Build a quality coop/run. Well-anchored 1/2" hardware cloth is an excellent barrier to keep out any predator. Add a skirt (large rocks or 12"+ underground fencing) around the fence/run to stop digging predators.
4. Make sure you have plenty of space in the run and items in there to help occupy them so that you won't feel the need to let them out so much. The rule of thumb is 4sqft coop/chicken and 10sqft run/chicken, but that is variable.
   
5. My coop/run is a little tight, so I let them out for supervised free ranging each day to relieve space pressure while maintaining safety.

 

[PirateGirl]

I put my coop where I can see it from a window. I'm less paranoid when it's easy to look out the window and see all is well

I also have a motion sensored light on the outside of my house. I know if the light is off that there is nothing lurking in the yard at night. I only need to actually worry when the light flicks on.

 

[Stephine]

Welcome to BYC. Also welcome to Ohio. It is very hard to start free ranging without worrying. I waited until mine were good size because of hawks, although I have all kinds of possible predators. But hawks can easily carry off a small chick or pullet. When mine started getting out, I always planned on being home at first. It helps if you hear a ruckus going on outside, so you can intervene.That was the good thing about having a rooster--they do the alarm call to get all the pullets to come to safety.

When they are used to staying in their coop 24/7 for at least a week, so they know where home and where they go to sleep, then you can let them go out to there run during the day. Since you cannot get them back inside easily once they are out, it might be good to let them out to free range an hour or two before dusk, so they will go back in to roost on their own.

The first time I left for a few hours, and came back, I was paranoid that some might be lost or killed. It gets easier the more you let them out. One big problem with lightweight young pullets is that they can easily fly up and over fences, getting into yards where your dog could be. That was my biggest problem at first, and we lost 1 pullet. Clipping a wing was a waste of time. Poultry netting was the answer, where they could no longer jump up on the fence and go over.

Good luck on your new flock.

Unfortunately hawks don’t just kill birds they can fly off with. Many are happy to kill a chicken on the ground and start eating right there...
It is a good idea to train your chickens to come when called so you can lock them up whenever you want to. Just have treats for them and a specific call, what ever you want it to be - start out just calling as you toss treats in front of them, soon they will come running whenever they hear that call - of course you have to give them a treat consistently after you called. Raisins are great for that.

 

[lazy gardener]

Unfortunately hawks don’t just kill birds they can fly off with. Many are happy to kill a chicken on the ground and start eating right there...
It is a good idea to train your chickens to come when called so you can lock them up whenever you want to. Just have treats for them and a specific call, what ever you want it to be - start out just calling as you toss treats in front of them, soon they will come running whenever they hear that call - of course you have to give them a treat consistently after you called. Raisins are great for that.

I lost 3 full sized hens to hawks in a few weeks. Seeing a hawk eating one of your favorite birds is not a sight you'll soon forget. I urge everyone who has the option: provide a secure run. You can still free range WHEN YOU WANT TO. But, if you have a secure run, you have the option of keeping your birds safe when a predator comes calling.

 

[Sassysouth]

I do not let mine free range unless I am out with them, but a brave hawk still tried to get one. Due to foxes, hawks and opposums, I prefer to keep mine up.

 

[RNPAULIE69]

I was letting my girls out to free range all day when I am home and after work on work days. There has been a hawk in the past week sitting in the pines above their coop/secure covered pen. A few times has swooped low to take a better look. They are pretty savvy watching out for him and sound the alarm then run for cover but it's nerve wracking! A few days ago there were two ;( I am struggling with not letting them free range unless I can directly supervise but they are much happier when allowed to