How does this sound?

[Mrs. K]

The big difference between chickens and horse raising (I have both) is that there are A LOT more predators for chickens....EVERYTHING likes to eat chickens. Even if you plan to free range, and I do, you will need a coop/run that is totally enclosed, as in over the top. Around the ground level, the fencing needs to be heavy duty, to keep the predators out, and lined with chicken wire to keep chicks in.

I free range, most days..... but I have had at times heavy predator losses. A mature rooseter helps, but not until he is about a year old. IMO you need a safe and secure place that you can leave the flock locked up, if you get a predator hanging around for an easy meal, or you are going to be gone for a couple of days.

I have found that if I vary the routine a bit, it will help with daytime predator loss. Sometimes I let them out of the run early in the morning, somedays not till later, and sometimes not till late afternoon. A rooster, a good roo, will dramatically help with daytime predator losses, unless the losses are coming from a large dog.

Mrs K

 

[Beardie Girls]

We free range as well. We live out in the country where there are huge packs of coyotes - we hear them every night, plus fox, skunk, opossum, owls, hawks, snakes, etc. We have an super-secure coop with concrete foundation where everyone gets locked up before dark. We have a fenced run, but we just leave the run gate open during the day and the chickens roam the property. I tend to leave the sliding gate secured with just a chicken-sized opening in case of stray dogs. We've lost one hen to a coyote or fox, and one had a close call - came home one day with most of it's tail feathers missing. After that, we started letting them out later in the morning, and haven't had another loss. But besides that, we do have a few things in our favor -

• First, a big pyrenees/anatolian who is ever watchful. He has killed raccoons and actually pursues any coyote he sees. We had the dog for a couple of years before getting the chickens, so coyotes were already avoiding the house, and we haven't seen a raccoon or opossum since. We have two other dogs, who don't do as much, but I suppose their presence alone is helpful.
• Second, the yard is completely open except for long grass around the sides and a brushy pond at the back, so it's difficult for a predator to sneak up.
• Third, we do have two roosters that stick with the hens and are always on guard.
• Fourth, we have two guineas that roam with the chickens and raise the alarm at anything out of the ordinary.
• Fifth, the problem remained that the chickens LOVE the brushy pond and it's abundance of tasty food items, but we discourage them from going back there because it's just too dangerous. So we're now getting a jenny-donkey who will be fenced in the back six acres which include the pond. Donkeys will chase and attack coyotes, foxes and stray dogs as well. At least we hope she will, but even if she doesn't, we look forward to having another lovely animal around.

I just wanted to share what has been working for us in case you can get anything helpful out of it. I just love having the chickens all around the yard and watching their antics.

I like what Mrs K said about a secure run to leave them in should a predator start hanging out or for when we're gone all day. We don't have this and it's something that bothers me. Our run is chicken wire, and doesn't even confine the chickens when closed as there are a few that can fly over.

 

[phoenixrises]

I will have a predator proof (as much as possible) coop for nighttime keeping and an attached run with netting over top. But my hope is to have them out most of the day. We 're getting a mini donkey to be friends with my gelding while my mare and I are off at shows, who knows he may help!

As for the hatchery issue above, I'm getting the 25 dp straight run from myer, but I don't want to order the geese at the same time so I was looking for a local alternative.