Keeping Chickens Free Range

[OrganicFarmWife]

 
If you're in the US, you have weasels.

I believe you are correct but I haven't heard of anyone having trouble with them around here and hope I don't

I think it depends strongly on what other predators you have. I too do not have a large problem with weasles. They are probably out there but not in large enough numbers to be a problem for me (I still try to protect against them) I do however have a huge coyote and raccoon population, too many.

 

[Attila the Hen]

I have very small property (less than 1acre) and it is all fenced in. Not that the fence is really secure but with the addition of 2dogs who take their jobs seriously, most predators stay away. I have seen a coyote twice outside the fence. One was poised to attack but the fence was there. Another time all the birds were outside the fence and one was in their midst. I scared the coyote off both times.

I live in a forest so there is lots of natural protection.

 

[ZORRO3061]

I have very small property (less than 1acre) and it is all fenced in. Not that the fence is really secure but with the addition of 2dogs who take their jobs seriously, most predators stay away. I have seen a coyote twice outside the fence. One was poised to attack but the fence was there. Another time all the birds were outside the fence and one was in their midst. I scared the coyote off both times.

I live in a forest so there is lots of natural protection.

My land is slightly bigger than yours, half open land and half tropical rain forest. In my case the danger comes from the forest - the wildcats.


Still building the house


You mentioned dogs, Are they friendly to your chicks?

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

My dogs are, and they are the main reason I can let my chickens freerange and leave occasionally. It requires a good dog, but if you get one they are invaluable.

 

[vpatt]

My dog died and we are in the edge of 30,000 acres of national forest. All kinds of predators in our forest, butright now it is the foxes causing the trouble.

 

[duluthralphie]

My dogs are, and they are the main reason I can let my chickens freerange and leave occasionally. It requires a good dog, but if you get one they are invaluable.

I agree,,NOW if my stupid one would just learn to leave eggs alone!

 

[Attila the Hen]

My land is slightly bigger than yours, half open land and half tropical rain forest. In my case the danger comes from the forest - the wildcats.


Still building the house


You mentioned dogs, Are they friendly to your chicks?

Your land looks beautiful. I've seen documentaries on Brazil and it is an amazing place from what I can tell. I didn't realize you had many of the same animals we do further north
I have had several dogs who mostly ignore the chickens. The exception is one I have now who once in a great while has killed a bird. Wondered if it was because the bird was injured or sick. Most of the time this dog ignores the chickens and in fact they all hang out together. Very odd.
Neither of the dogs are aggressive in nature. They do bark and that is what matters. Of course you would want a dog that could hold its own with the wildcats. We're talking wildcats not feral cats - right?

 

[ZORRO3061]

Your land looks beautiful. I've seen documentaries on Brazil and it is an amazing place from what I can tell. I didn't realize you had many of the same animals we do further north
I have had several dogs who mostly ignore the chickens. The exception is one I have now who once in a great while has killed a bird. Wondered if it was because the bird was injured or sick. Most of the time this dog ignores the chickens and in fact they all hang out together. Very odd.
Neither of the dogs are aggressive in nature. They do bark and that is what matters. Of course you would want a dog that could hold its own with the wildcats. We're talking wildcats not feral cats - right?

Yes,I think I will need a good dog. Some barking should work. I was afraid that the dog could kill the hens

These are the cats comming from the bushes
What we call Woods Cat (gato do mato): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oncilla
What we call Jaguatirica (small Jaguar): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocelot

 

[duluthralphie]

My land is slightly bigger than yours, half open land and half tropical rain forest. In my case the danger comes from the forest - the wildcats.


Still building the house


You mentioned dogs, Are they friendly to your chicks?

Thanks for the pictures! Is that flowers on that large tree?

Great looking place.

 

[ZORRO3061]

Your land looks beautiful. I've seen documentaries on Brazil and it is an amazing place from what I can tell. I didn't realize you had many of the same animals we do further north
I have had several dogs who mostly ignore the chickens. The exception is one I have now who once in a great while has killed a bird. Wondered if it was because the bird was injured or sick. Most of the time this dog ignores the chickens and in fact they all hang out together. Very odd.
Neither of the dogs are aggressive in nature. They do bark and that is what matters. Of course you would want a dog that could hold its own with the wildcats. We're talking wildcats not feral cats - right?

Yes, I will need a dog.Some barking will do ! I was just afraid that the dog killed the hens, but it seems that you and others had a good experience.

and also yes, no feral cats
The Gato do Mato (Cat of the Bushes)

And Juaguatirica (small Jaguar)