How do people free-range their chickens??!!!?

[RWise]

I free range every day with many hawks, and no problems! One must train the hawks where not to hunt (not in my chicken yard).
I have a pair that comes right to the fence line, but they keep to the fields hunting squirrel. Before they were trained, (and I had to train a new group this year as something happened to the originals), they were coming and giving the girls an good look.
How do I train a hawk, with a shotgun and very light bird shot! The goal is not to harm them in any way, that would just bring in another. The goal is to let them know this hunting area is mine.
I have tried beating on pans, dont work, I have tried firecrackers, same, but some bird shot flying near them gets their attention.

 

[centrarchid]

You play it by ear making adjustments for your location and time of year. No hard and fast rules. First concern is where birds will range during course of day. You can influence ranging habits to a degree by positioning feeding stations and cover patches. Quality of forage is also important as poor quality means birds go further. Then you have predator issues where in some locations and some years predators are not an issue then in another predators can wipe you out fairly quickly. I manage risk of depredation by a variety of means. Fencing, especially electric, can be used to keep most bad guys out that cannot fly. I also employ dogs which are an expensive tool that can misfire if not properly managed. I almost always have traps out. Then you have option of managing free-range time by penning birds for much of the day. Some chicken breeds are poorly suited for free-range keeping unless environment is predator free. I also deploy game cameras to get a handle on who is in area, especially those that might violate core. Owls and foxes can be good at getting in for a variety of reasons and their visits may not always equal losses, at first.


It has been my experience that in many areas predators are much more abundant than they have been in decades past. My family used to free-range flocks of exceptionally hardy chickens that could even breed successfully in locations only with trees surrounded by pasture. Now it can be a challenge to keep chickens even in an urban setting as predator keep coming in much too frequently. There are benefits to having hunters / trappers working an area, but in most locations economics no longer provide benefits to the hunter / trapper. Some predators that used to be taken out by pesticides have also rebounded.

 

[Rick M]

Ours free range from before sunrise till dark. They forage on our 5 acres and up by our neighbors shrubs dusting. Our land is mostly wide open with a big tree line and woods on one side. I lost one about a month ago to a hawk. I've been trying to keep an eye out for anymore that might try and hang around but they seem to be staying away and there are tons of rabbits running all around for them to concentrate on.

 

[ChicksDigItFCF]

make a chicken tractor so they are safe but still get grass and can be brung back to the coop when you want

 

[LoveMyChickenBabies]

I free range everyday from dawn to dusk then they go back into the coop without a problem. That's also because we shoot every predator that causes a problem or we scare them so badly that they never come back. We also put them in the coop for a week before letting them out so that way they know the coop is home and the coop is the safe area.

 

[Grits&Eggs]

What does your free range area look like? I deliberately planted two new trees (about 3 foot high now) and LOTS of bushes in the yard after our scare. My 6 (now 11) free ranged for several weeks until a hawk swooped down and scared me (I always am out there with them), the dogs went crazy the chickens started running and I herded them to run and they haven't been out since. Once the bushes fill in I plan on trying again! I will be adding a hawk net before I try ( suggestion from a friend).
ALSO: To help with them having access to "fresh grass" I built a 3'x1" grass box to put in the run. I bought rye grass seed and sprinkle new grass in every couple of weeks. when it peeks up through the hardware cloth they love to stand on it and peck it!!

 

[ash_en_em]

I free range when I'm home. My pit is good at letting me know if any issues are happening, even if we're in the house. She's alerted me to skunks (and chased them off) and even a hawk. I just open the door if we're inside and she does the rest.

That being said, they only free range when we're home and can watch/listen. They don't go too far, and I know there's a chance of something happening. However they're happier when they're out and about. One of my girls literally screams her head off each morning until I come let them out

I know people use chicken tractors to keep grass from disappearing in one spot. My neighbor has a HUGE chicken tractor that houses 10 birds. He puts them in the coop and pulls it from spot to spot with his truck every few days.

 

[jolenesdad]

Just lost half of my adult flock to a series of hawk attacks, first attack of any kind in three years.

Cover is extremely important. I recently moved my coop to another part of my property and they didn’t make it two months down here. Down here there are lots of tall trees, but a lack of low vegetation cover and I think that’s the biggest difference.

 

[Shadrach]

I learnt to dig really lovely graves and always have tissues in my pocket to mop up the tears.
There is no safe free ranging.

 

[HenHouse4Life]

This is a question that doesn't really have one specific answer, unfortunately. It is indeed a risk. Hawks, fox, coons, dogs, cats, possums...etc etc. It's worrisome, without a doubt and I can feel your frustration, however, at the same time I have to ask myself-how do I get in my truck every day and just drive somewhere?...with a baby in the backseat?
Life is a risk...it's also a blessing.
There's something to be said for looking out and seeing your chickens free ranging, it's peaceful. Yeah, yeah, until the hawk comes swooping down...I know, I know lol BUT it's a weighed risk that many choose to utilize, and many don't.
If you want Fort Knox for your flock that's totally up to you and I commend you for it.
If others want to free range I commend them also.
Me? I do both...haven't lost a chicken yet. Our dogs keep most predators away honestly.