Keeping Free Range Chickens Safe...is it ever possible?

[DuckDuckSook]

Hello there!

I am reaching out for some advice, tips, solutions, etc. I currently have 5 chickens (we lost one yesterday to a fox in broad daylight) who live in a shed coop and a 10x10 fully protected run. However, I only like keeping them in the run when I'm at work or on foggy/rainy days. I prefer allowing our hens to free range. However, after yesterday, I'm afraid to do so. We have the chickens coop/run in a fenced-in acre of our property that also houses our three sheep. The chickens have been flying over our four foot fence and free ranging further into the other 2 acres we have. The chicken that got gobbled up yesterday by the fox had been outside the sheep yard perimeter fence by only a few feet. My question is this: Is there really any way to keep free ranging chickens safe? We've thought about clipping their wings so that they will at least stay within the fenced area with the sheep. But, I'm not convinced that the fox won't find a way in there and get them anyway. We've entertained the idea of adopting an LGD to patrol our acreage all day long and keep an eye out for predators. However, I don't really want to reach out to dog breeders and would love to find a rescue dog to fulfill this purpose. Our 8lb. chiweenie rescue is great as a watchdog when she is outside with us, but she doesn't really like to be outdoors for very long. What has worked or not worked for you? Do you have a best practice that might help in our situation too? Any and all input is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[CluckerFamily]

I have two dogs, a rooster, neighbors that will eliminate the predators that aren't illegal to shoot. This seems to be working for me.

 

[mcdze]

when you run into problems you just have to deal with them as they come ... firstly flying over a fence isnt common behavior for most chicken 'breeds' ive had .. i dont know your setup but chickens generally cant tolerate direct sun and will seek cooler pastures so to speak if you dont have any cover in the sheep pen ... so you may need to rethink your whole setup to be more conducive to happy free roamers .. a fox is a problem though for sure .. i'd have my .17hmr all dialed in for that sitiation lol .. until then losses come with the teritory for free roamers .. you weigh the benefits .. feed is 'alot' less and egg production is pretty high .. i usually keep 5 or so layers myself, and if all 5 make it a year thats a good year .. if i lose more than a couple im pretty perturbed and im on the warpath for whatever it is ...but .. i rethink my strategy first with the birds themselves ..

 

[RedLionChooks]

Hello there!

I am reaching out for some advice, tips, solutions, etc. I currently have 5 chickens (we lost one yesterday to a fox in broad daylight) who live in a shed coop and a 10x10 fully protected run. However, I only like keeping them in the run when I'm at work or on foggy/rainy days. I prefer allowing our hens to free range. However, after yesterday, I'm afraid to do so. We have the chickens coop/run in a fenced-in acre of our property that also houses our three sheep. The chickens have been flying over our four foot fence and free ranging further into the other 2 acres we have. The chicken that got gobbled up yesterday by the fox had been outside the sheep yard perimeter fence by only a few feet. My question is this: Is there really any way to keep free ranging chickens safe? We've thought about clipping their wings so that they will at least stay within the fenced area with the sheep. But, I'm not convinced that the fox won't find a way in there and get them anyway. We've entertained the idea of adopting an LGD to patrol our acreage all day long and keep an eye out for predators. However, I don't really want to reach out to dog breeders and would love to find a rescue dog to fulfill this purpose. Our 8lb. chiweenie rescue is great as a watchdog when she is outside with us, but she doesn't really like to be outdoors for very long. What has worked or not worked for you? Do you have a best practice that might help in our situation too? Any and all input is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

GIven that poultry are on the bottom of the food chain, there is always a chance they will succumb to predators. In my limited experience, we let our birds range around in the fenced portion of our property (about an acre) only when we are out with them 3 hours per day (split between mid morning after lay, and late afternoon / evening before roost). Our rooster is very good at keeping a watchful, and alerting to anything out of sorts. His presence and noise disrupts many attempts at a surprise attack. I listen for him to tell me what is what in the yard. I come running when I know the rooster has detected a threat, and I run off fox, raccoon, birds of prey, and a neighbor's free range cat. And we have a dog who marks the perimeter. But I think you will hear from many on this forum that there is no way to range birds without the risk of loss. The best I can think to do for our flock of 11 is to minimize the risk. Rooster, dog, supervise, repeat. Even then, we expect losses. The birds would rather range and risk predation, than be cooped up 24 / 7. They told me.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I have a Sheltie that keeps coyotes away and 2 good roosters. And by "good," I mean NOT human aggressive and polite to the hens, plus they keep an eye out for hawks. We free-range only for a couple of hours in the afternoon and our losses to predators are very low. No neighbors, so no dogs. Half our flock are Black Australorp and I believe they look enough like crows that they also deter hawks though I can't prove it. Good luck!

 

[Biring]

Some breeds of chicken are more suited to free-ranging than others. If you can, maybe add a couple of Hamburghs to you flock to act as lookouts to let your other chickens know if there are any other predators about.

 

[Matejka]

I free ranged my 8 birds. Everyday, from dawn to dusk, no major issues. Then life got complicated, partner fell, sprained arm and cracked ribs. After caring for him 24/7 for a week, I was tired and decided to leave flock cooped in run so I would have 1 less worry.looked out and checked birds til noon then again around 2. Nap, went to gather eggs at 5. Total carnage, dog had broken thru wire in run. 6 dead. Dog got remaining 2 the next day. We do the best we can. You decide what is best for your flock and for you. Good luck

 

[DuckDuckSook]

GIven that poultry are on the bottom of the food chain, there is always a chance they will succumb to predators. In my limited experience, we let our birds range around in the fenced portion of our property (about an acre) only when we are out with them 3 hours per day (split between mid morning after lay, and late afternoon / evening before roost). Our rooster is very good at keeping a watchful, and alerting to anything out of sorts. His presence and noise disrupts many attempts at a surprise attack. I listen for him to tell me what is what in the yard. I come running when I know the rooster has detected a threat, and I run off fox, raccoon, birds of prey, and a neighbor's free range cat. And we have a dog who marks the perimeter. But I think you will hear from many on this forum that there is no way to range birds without the risk of loss. The best I can think to do for our flock of 11 is to minimize the risk. Rooster, dog, supervise, repeat. Even then, we expect losses. The birds would rather range and risk predation, than be cooped up 24 / 7. They told me.

What kind of dog do you have? Did you have to train them to keep the chickens safe?

 

[DuckDuckSook]

when you run into problems you just have to deal with them as they come ... firstly flying over a fence isnt common behavior for most chicken 'breeds' ive had .. i dont know your setup but chickens generally cant tolerate direct sun and will seek cooler pastures so to speak if you dont have any cover in the sheep pen ... so you may need to rethink your whole setup to be more conducive to happy free roamers .. a fox is a problem though for sure .. i'd have my .17hmr all dialed in for that sitiation lol .. until then losses come with the teritory for free roamers .. you weigh the benefits .. feed is 'alot' less and egg production is pretty high .. i usually keep 5 or so layers myself, and if all 5 make it a year thats a good year .. if i lose more than a couple im pretty perturbed and im on the warpath for whatever it is ...but .. i rethink my strategy first with the birds themselves ..

The sheep pen is lined with many trees. 3/4 of the area is in the shade and 1/4 is in the sun. The chickens seem to just like to fly up to the top of the fence and jump over. I suppose it's the old saying, "The grass is always greener..." I don't know. They know how to get back over the fence and sometimes just go back and forth. I wish they would just stay in there since I know it is safer, but aside from clipping their wings so they can't get themselves up over the fence, there isn't much I can do in that area. The are explorers I guess. My chickens are Black Stars and Red Sex Linked. They are pretty big birds so it's crazy to me that they can get over the fence.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

I have two dogs, a rooster, neighbors that will eliminate the predators that aren't illegal to shoot. This seems to be working for me.

What kind of dogs do you have? Did you have to train them to guard the chickens?