Keeping Chickens Free Range

[duluthralphie]

This is actually the first loss of this type,

Most of mine have been day time losses this year. I am not sure a coon could climb 20 feet on nylon netting. It would be hard for them. I am not saying it is not coon. I am saying to me this says Owl.

It had to be late night or early morning when it happened, I found it at 7:30 am.

This one does not hurt all that bad, it was just a guinea hen. I have had coon deaths before where they pull the head through the wire and eat whatever they can get out. This is different.

I have everything under cover right now, as I am getting birds accustomed to their winter quarters.


I have two dogs roaming most hours. I should have heard noise or the dogs had it been a coon. Whatever it is I have taken measures and will take more. I hope your right and it is a coon. I can kill them, I can't kill an owl/howk/eagle without looking at living in a jail for a while.

 

[lindalouly]

Choosing to free range is a risk and you have to weigh the pros and cons of your set up and be ok with losses. My birds free range but have a fence around the 1/2 acre yard they are allowed to free range. They have plenty of low hanging trees for coverage. Multiple food and water stations and guard dogs. They put themselves to bed in our coop every night at the same time which happens to be when my dogs go to bed (with me) for me this works but I can see myself enclosing them in a run if I had clear unfenced piece of land without dogs... Circumstances make a difference. Not to mention I keep my birds inside until they are 10 weeks old and are bigger to prevent aerial preditors. Good luck everyone.

 

[Pork Pie]

I have only kept my new hens in the coop for two nights and then let them out. never had an issue with them knowing where bedtime is to be spent.

 

[duluthralphie]

I start free ranging at about 3-4 weeks of age, except for CX's which I start free ranging earlier. If you a 1/2 acre fenced area is considered free ranging then I start at a week old.

I still have a heat lamp on them in a brooder/tractor contraption I made which I lock them in at night, but during the day (decent days not cold rainy ones) I let them roam a fenced area.

At 3-4 weeks they have no fences and can go wherever they want. They normally stay in an area of 2-5 acres around the buildings.

 

[Papagena]

Can I successfully free range hens during the day without a rooster? We have been doing it fine with a rooster, but he's become terribly aggressive with me so he's about to go to freezer camp. Will my hens be safe? Or do I need a new roo?

 

[katatonic123]

@Papagena I think the top hen usually acts like a roo if there is no roo present. I stress think!

 

[Debby27]

@Papagena I think the top hen usually acts like a roo if there is no roo present. I stress think!

yeah we have a hen who is acting like a Roo or was till 2 sundays ago...and then she ran head over tail for cover when the fox grabbed one and came back for #2.....just depends on how much you want your hens,....let them get out there and see how they do....just be aware...a fox/coyote/hawk/dogs/etc... can get them if they aren't fast! You can do like we are right now and block out an hour or 2 to let them out for some ranging and leg stretching.....we just got 3 new ones....(Thank you emorems0

) so we are being very wary until we find this fox......

 

[Papagena]

My main concern is the hens not watching for predators because they're used to the rooster doing it for them. I think they would adapt quickly since our top hen is really with-it, but I hope it wouldn't require losing a hen for them to learn

 

[Debby27]

My main concern is the hens not watching for predators because they're used to the rooster doing it for them. I think they would adapt quickly since our top hen is really with-it, but I hope it wouldn't require losing a hen for them to learn

well again....i would take inventory of your predators and let them out for a bit and watch them. I turned my back for 10mins and when i turned around the ******* fox had one and running across the yard with it! Just saying...be aware, with a rooster watching them all this time, i'm pretty sure once a predator realizes there's not a Roo around anymore he'll be that much more brazen.

 

[keesmom]

My main concern is the hens not watching for predators because they're used to the rooster doing it for them. I think they would adapt quickly since our top hen is really with-it, but I hope it wouldn't require losing a hen for them to learn

If you free range you are going to lose a bird at some point. I've lost pullets and hens in a female only flock, and I have lost just as many birds in a flock guarded by multiple males. Our hawks are extremely determined (Cooper's, goshawk, rarely redtail), as are the foxes and coyotes. I had a tiny Cooper's hawk take out a 9 lb rooster, and I've had entire flocks wiped out by a mama fox or pack of coyotes in the middle of the day. Luckily the other local predators are more nocturnal.