Keeping Chickens Free Range

[Debby27]

Duluthralphie, I agree...it never hurts to minimize the problems.

Freefeather, I am sorry, but for a year we had no problems with the fox population until now. We free ranged our girls from the time they were 2-4 months old. No problems with hawks (which we have ALOT of), we have 2 feral cats that we can pet and they are/were wary of the girls (we only 1 original left). We've had foxes here before and never a problem (of course we didn't have chickies either) and I know it was my fault for letting them out on a dreary drizzly day and it will be a long time before I forgive myself for that. The first girl was taken right out of the coop. We have plenty of rabbits, squirrels and mice around here for fox to feed on. But she/he decided to go for take out and that's where she/he made their mistake. I abhor killing anything, but when it comes after my pets, food, etc......I will take whatever measures I can to stop it.

 

[slordaz]

something we do is there is a trailer out in the corral for garbage and a compost pile farther out in the pasture so they are pretty far away from the house and coop,as we have to take the garbage to the landfill, the chicks and ducks are more interested in grass and bugs and stay away from it but that seems to keep the wild cats, birds other animals away from the coop as they are far enough away the duck,rooster or dog don't raise an alarm unless they do come in closer.

We have had 3 week old chicks out free ranging with the older ones 2-3 month olds and the ducks without issue, only one one time one of the friendlier wild cats that goes up to my friend porch if hunting was bad that day he knows she will feed him. poor thing was terrified being chased by the duck, rooster and the Boxer, the other chicks actually circled around the little ones and let the big guys run it off while they slowly moved the little chicks back to their run area as that was closest place for them.

these are a few ideas that might work for helping keep your flock a little safer too

 

[dpenning]

Duluthralphie, I agree...it never hurts to minimize the problems.

Freefeather, I am sorry, but for a year we had no problems with the fox population until now. We free ranged our girls from the time they were 2-4 months old. No problems with hawks (which we have ALOT of), we have 2 feral cats that we can pet and they are/were wary of the girls (we only 1 original left). We've had foxes here before and never a problem (of course we didn't have chickies either) and I know it was my fault for letting them out on a dreary drizzly day and it will be a long time before I forgive myself for that. The first girl was taken right out of the coop. We have plenty of rabbits, squirrels and mice around here for fox to feed on. But she/he decided to go for take out and that's where she/he made their mistake. I abhor killing anything, but when it comes after my pets, food, etc......I will take whatever measures I can to stop it.

What does a dreary drizzly day have to do with anything? I lost my 4 layers a few weeks ago, and it was during a stormy morning, after the pop door opened at about 7:15 but before I went out for the morning about 8. I was stunned that it would happen when the weather was so crummy. Is this some weather thing I should know about?

 

[Debby27]

dpenning, IMO and from what I have read about predators, they like when it's dusk, dawn or cloudy rainy weather. They can sneak about that much better...my raccoons only come out at nite....the fox I don't see at all until it thinks no one can see it....ie...rainy, drizzly weather..(when it took my 2 girls I had just been outside so it was watching till I went back in) they are opportunists & hunters ........unless it's just passing thru and then it will lope across the treeline and it's gone.....and there are dogs that will go after in any weather....

 

[duluthralphie]

What does a dreary drizzly day have to do with anything? I lost my 4 layers a few weeks ago, and it was during a stormy morning, after the pop door opened at about 7:15 but before I went out for the morning about 8. I was stunned that it would happen when the weather was so crummy. Is this some weather thing I should know about?

I agree with Debby27, I know this is only anecdotal evidence and as such carries little weighed. But I have always lost my birds at either dusk or dawn on days that are overcast or slightly drizzly.

I have a temporary solution to my weasel problem while I am in Florida and unable to trap the little..... Hmmm...... Thinking.... Bugger,, yeah that's the word I wanted (cough cough)...


My wife has moved our younger dog to the coop for watchdog duties. She is performing them well, but seems to mix the couch and TV at night.


I am going to move things around if I ever get out of the tropical ........ Another word for non=paradise.....Hmmmm Anyways this heat and humidity is not good on us northern boys.... But even moving things around is a temporary fix. I do not have the resources to make a run weasel proof, if it can even be done. ( I have around a 100 birds now so 20 feet of hardware cloth will not work. Last summer it was eagles, this year weasels. Oh well it happens and I am not going to stop free ranging over a few deaths, I would rather have them die free than live locked up.

 

[wildcrafted]

How interesting. It was also a rainy, grey and drizzly day when a predator took one of my grown hens and injured another. We have never had a problem otherwise and they normally stay in the coop on rainy days. I just let them out because it was the first day we didn't have two feet of snow on the ground. I felt so guilty but also knew it was a risk when I chose to free-range. Luckily the injured one survived and is raising some babies out in the coop as we speak.

 

[duluthralphie]

How interesting. It was also a rainy, grey and drizzly day when a predator took one of my grown hens and injured another. We have never had a problem otherwise and they normally stay in the coop on rainy days. I just let them out because it was the first day we didn't have two feet of snow on the ground. I felt so guilty but also knew it was a risk when I chose to free-range. Luckily the injured one survived and is raising some babies out in the coop as we speak.

Where do you live that you have 2 ft of snow in June? Even in Minnesota we are normally down to under a foot this time of year.

 

[dekel18042]

What does a dreary drizzly day have to do with anything? I lost my 4 layers a few weeks ago, and it was during a stormy morning, after the pop door opened at about 7:15 but before I went out for the morning about 8. I was stunned that it would happen when the weather was so crummy. Is this some weather thing I should know about?

We had free ranged for over a year with no problems and no losses. Then a year ago March 31 was cold, drizzly, and grey. I was away with two of the dogs and because of the weather my husband holed up inside with the third (and largest dog). Normally we tend to be in and out all the time. I came home to find two hens missing, and that was our introduction to foxes.
Whoops. meant March 31.

 

[duluthralphie]

We had free ranged for over a year with no problems and no losses. Then a year ago March 32 was cold, drizzly, and grey. I was away with two of the dogs and because of the weather my husband holed up inside with the third (and largest dog). Normally we tend to be in and out all the time. I came home to find two hens missing, and that was our introduction to foxes.

Sounds like here, Every March 32 is unbearably cold and ugly.

 

[Tikkijane]

I agree with Debby27, I know this is only anecdotal evidence and as such carries little weighed. But I have always lost my birds  at either dusk or dawn on days that are overcast or slightly drizzly.

I have a temporary solution to my weasel problem while I am in Florida and unable to trap the little..... Hmmm...... Thinking.... Bugger,, yeah that's the word I wanted (cough cough)...


My wife has moved our younger dog to the coop for watchdog duties. She is performing them well, but seems to mix the couch and TV at night. 


I am going to move things around if I ever get out of the tropical ........  Another word for non=paradise.....Hmmmm    Anyways this heat and humidity is not good on us northern boys....  But even moving things around is a temporary fix.  I do not have the resources to make a run weasel proof, if it can even be done.  ( I have around a 100 birds now so 20 feet of hardware cloth will not work.    Last summer it was eagles, this year weasels. Oh well it happens and I am not going to stop free ranging over a few deaths,  I would rather have them die free than live locked up.

I've had 3 predator losses- two to a hawk at the same time, and a fox. Both were in the middle of the day and sunny. For whatever it's worth. On drizzly days, my kids seem to take cover more- up by the house, under the coops, in the shelter, barn, etc.