How early do you let your chickens out?

[Mtn Cur]

If electric fence was a car. Joules would be horse power. And volts would be speed. Always look at joules- not rated linear miles, acreage, or volts. My charger idles at 6 joules and can peak to 9.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

View attachment 2887626
If electric fence was a car. Joules would be horse power. And volts would be speed. Always look at joules- not rated linear miles, acreage, or volts. My charger idles at 6 joules and can peak to 9.

You have a bigger charger than mine - my "30 mi" charger idles at 2 joules. Thus far, its stopped everything. Thankfully, FL has small "everything".

 

[Mtn Cur]

You have a bigger charger than mine - my "30 mi" charger idles at 2 joules. Thus far, its stopped everything. Thankfully, FL has small "everything".

Mine is rated at 100 miles/ 300 acres but I didn't look at either of those numbers when buying. BTW I only own just slightly over 5 acres.

https://www.patriotglobal.com/products/energizer/pmx600?scc=us&src=al

I've had good service from this brand so far. If anyone is in the market

 

[Brooks_]

I open the coops into the semi-secure run as early as 4 am. 7 at the latest.

 

[The Moonshiner]

When I had a lot of birds free ranging where they weren't locked up at all I probably lost the most birds from a hour before sunrise to sunrise.

 

[cherrynberry]

I leave for work very early, and have been opening the pop door for the girls as I leave. These days, they're still snoozing, and don't even come out when their door opens; sunrise is about a half hour to 45 minutes away. The coop opens directly into my backyard (I'm in a suburban area, with 50'x100' lots). I know raccoons, foxes, possums, coyotes, and skunks also live in the area. My question is, are nighttime predators still skulking about just before dawn, or do you think my girls will be ok? What time do you open your coops/let your chickens out to free range?

I open my coop at around 8:00am. Used to be a steady 6:30-7:00am, but I have been sleeping later and waking up later recently.

The only times I have spot bobcats are during early mornings. I have not seen one in a while. Hawks come in at around noon and afternoon (2:00pm and 12:00pm). This was during summer, by the way. During fall and winter, I hardly see them at all.

I free range and have never had a loss to bobcats or coyotes in the few years they have been free ranging. I did loose one bird from a hawk though. That was during winter. As for the coyotes, I only hear them at night and have yet to see one. I had a skunk in my coop once. I think I scareed him and he never came back. Saw him at a little past 5:00pm during winter. Luckily, we lost no birds to him.

I record the time and date that I see a predator. My neighbors help report sightings too. There was a mountain lion spotting in the early morning by one of my neighbors, but that was near the valley. Its definitely important to keep your eyes peeled. I am lucky enough to be able to stay home and watch my birds though.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I know raccoons, foxes, possums, coyotes, and skunks also live in the area. My question is, are nighttime predators still skulking about just before dawn, or do you think my girls will be ok? What time do you open your coops/let your chickens out to free range?

All of the predators you mentioned can be out any time of the day or night. Anyone who free ranges must be prepared for losses.

When I free range, which is not often, I let my hens out a few hours before their bedtime, so they stay near the coop and go inside by themselves. I am home and keep an eye on them during that time.

 

[Folly's place]

Having a very safe coop and run is going to save your birds at night. When they are free ranging, if you can, daytime predators that move slowly, like opossums and raccoons, aren't much of a risk, except for chicks (then cats too).
Raptors and canines, large and small, have been our worst daytime predators. We don't have large wild cats, and nearly never a bear or cougar in this area.
Electric fencing is your friend!
Our birds go out at different times, sometimes 8am, more often in early afternoon. I have some hope that this lack of a morning schedule helps a bit, at least against morning predators.
Mary

 

[AntiqueB]

When I had a lot of birds free ranging where they weren't locked up at all I probably lost the most birds from a hour before sunrise to sunrise.

This is what I'm afraid of!

 

[GC-Raptor]

My question is, are nighttime predators still skulking about just before dawn, or do you think my girls will be ok? What time do you open your coops/let your chickens out to free range?

I see most land predators at my local from sunset till sunrise.

I see them after I open coops and turn on lights at 5 am.

Notice Bobcat at gate.
I open coops inside pens at 5 am year round. I leave for work at 5:15.

I've seen predators after sunrise and before sunset in person and on cameras.

I've let my chickens out an hour before sunset daily for 4 years. I lost 4 hens while Free Ranging. Most recent was October 27, 2021, I suspect the Bobcat.
I've lost to Fox, Coopers Hawk and Bobcat.

I also have Raccoons on Camera, but not many. Coyotes and Bobcat eat them.

I haven't let my chickens free range since last month. I'm putting up 200 feet of welded wire fence around pens to let them semi-free range an hour before sunset. GC