How big of a coop do I need for 12 chickens?

[Cryss]

How do you control predators while they free range?

Well, you can't control predators. You can control your chickens but only to a point. There are many here that can give you good advice on how to try to protect your birds as they free range. But know that even if you keep them locked up in a fort knox coop and run there can, and probably will, be losses to predators. If you free range you always take into account that there will indeed be losses. I don't free range. If I had a couple hundred chickens I wouldn't miss a couple fox dinners and would consider free range. With only 4, or 8, or 12 chickens losing 2 would be half ,or a quarter, or a sixth of my flock.

 

[LeggyLeghorn]

I have a 6’x8’ coop with an attached 12’x8’ run with 12 hens. While I don’t think they are crowded I wouldn’t want to squeeze any more birds into there.

View attachment 1833264

cool coop!

 

[LeggyLeghorn]

Of course I shell them. Unless it is their find. I don't give them very often. By dirty I mean laid on the poop board, pooped on. My dogs eat chicken poop regularly anyway, lol, but it isn't like I feed it to em. They like to eat dirt too. Dogs will be dogs.

 

[ZaDoxie Chickens]

Well, you can't control predators. You can control your chickens but only to a point. There are many here that can give you good advice on how to try to protect your birds as they free range. But know that even if you keep them locked up in a fort knox coop and run there can, and probably will, be losses to predators. If you free range you always take into account that there will indeed be losses. I don't free range. If I had a couple hundred chickens I wouldn't miss a couple fox dinners and would consider free range. With only 4, or 8, or 12 chickens losing 2 would be half ,or a quarter, or a sixth of my flock.

My thoughts exactly, so if I want to free range my girls I will have to supervise them and even then, I wouldn't be able to save one from a hawk!

 

[ZaDoxie Chickens]

I plan to bury hardware cloth to help with predators that dig like skunks, coons etc. but we also raise smooth miniature dachshunds so they would be our worst predators, because we hunt rabbits with the dogs so free ranging for our girls will be out of the question,

 

[Cryss]

My thoughts exactly, so if I want to free range my girls I will have to supervise them and even then, I wouldn't be able to save one from a hawk!

Yes, you got it. You can put things for them to run under around your yard. Dense shrubby, pallets leaned against a wall, all places to hide till the danger is gone or you intervene. I've heard white chickens are easier prey than dark or colored chickens. I'm sure others here have more advice.

 

[Echilde]

How do you control predators while they free range?

They are fenced in and I am working on adding electric. I have only been in this house for about 9 months and there is a lot of brush and trees along the perimeter that needs to be cut back to add electric. But anyway, I have always free ranged them, even before I had fencing(at my old house). I have lost a couple to a dog years ago and recently to a fox, but I've been pretty lucky overall as far as predators go. I do have a couple of goats though, so that may help. I've also set up a radio that plays talk radio all day and a motion sensor alarm. I just feel that the chickens are happier being able to roam and run, so I do what I can to protect them during the day and lock them up at night. I hope to be able to get a good LGD eventually, but those are expensive!!

 

[Ghosty]

How do you control predators while they free range?

Dogs, trapping, game cams, fences, shotguns, good cover, areas for them to escape to.

 

[Cryss]

Some people only let them free range in the late afternoon/evening because the birds will find their way home to bed before it gets too dark, around dusk. Also the people are home from work and can hang out to monitor them for an hour or 2 or 3.

 

[Ghosty]

They are fenced in and I am working on adding electric. I have only been in this house for about 9 months and there is a lot of brush and trees along the perimeter that needs to be cut back to add electric. But anyway, I have always free ranged them, even before I had fencing(at my old house). I have lost a couple to a dog years ago and recently to a fox, but I've been pretty lucky overall as far as predators go. I do have a couple of goats though, so that may help. I've also set up a radio that plays talk radio all day and a motion sensor alarm. I just feel that the chickens are happier being able to roam and run, so I do what I can to protect them during the day and lock them up at night. I hope to be able to get a good LGD eventually, but those are expensive!!

I got my Border Collie/ Great Pyrenees crosses for 75$ apiece. I have spent far more money in vet and food bills than their initial cost. I see full blood Pyrs, Anatolian Shepherd, and Pyr /Anatolian crosses around here regularly for cheap. They are getting more prevalent, and farm dogs will have puppies their owner wants to get rid of.