Need some advice on free ranging and predators

[Brianmelton]

Hello first post here. My name is Brian and I live in Fresno Ca. I have 19 chicks and 3 weeder geese (goslings). I am raising them at my home until they are big enough to be transferred to our fenced orchard. The plan is for them to help with the bugs and the weeds. So here is the dilemma. I cannot be there everyday as it’s across town. I can be there every couple days though. The property is fenced by a 9’ razor wire fence. Basically like a prison. I cannot find more then a 2”gap in any of the gates. I feel like it’s pretty secure to be able to let them free range. However in concerned about owls and hawks and maybe whatever else I cannot think of. Any suggestions on what to do as far as a coop? Is it necessary in this situation? Can animals dig under the fence? TIA
Attaching a pic of the fence.

 

[hayley3]

They definitely need a coop at night. If they go inside at night maybe the owls wouldn't find them.
But surely you have hawks too? They need bushes or some sort of cover.
All matter of predator will show up when they get a whiff of your chickens.
Also at what age did you plan on moving them there? Snakes can take baby chicks and goslings.
And then what kind of feeders/waterers (geese go through water really fast) what will you use that lasts for two days at a time?
It's a BIG risk to leave them alone for that long.

 

[centrarchid]

Chicken tractor time. Make it / them big and move them around. I do some remote chicken keeping; it is not best approach when things go wrong. Electrified poultry netting is something I would consider to keep ground predators out, assuming ground conducts electricity well enough.

Forage community that can be seen looks very poor in quantity and quality.

 

[Hidrainja4]

Without you being there, and you wanting them to eat bugs a tractor is the best option.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

What kind of chicks? I agree about the tractors. They can be easy to build or a pain the neck..depending on how big you go. If you keep them in the fence...add clutter. My hens love to make the clutter into nice cozy spaces and then they are more saf3 too. You definitely need a coop. That’s how these birds survive, plus their instinks driv3 them in at night, on their own. If you aren’t going to be there you’ll need to invest in one of th3 pop up coop doors...expensive, but fo4 your situation, it would be m6 choice. If the chock# are small, should the6 be in a brooder? How old are thes3 birds to be left on their own?

 

[50-45-1]

Hi Brian,
I am wondering what kind of orchard it is, what is grown there. Are there trees in this orchard?
Yes lots of things can dig under your chain link fence. I understand your goal is to have some natural weeding and bug control, but you must understand chickens are defenceless, and everything eats chickens.
Is there running water there?
How do you guarantee your poultry will not run out of water in 2 day stretches?
Just one stray dog that digs under the fence will put a quick end to all your time and expence.
A secure coop that is closed at night against preditors as small as a weasel and as large as a coyote or bob cat is necessary. During the day you can count on hawks eating your chickens.
The chicken tractor is an option, but it sounds to me like you are looking for something low maintence that you only have to check or visit every 2 or 3 days.
I dont know what that would look like.

 

[Brianmelton]

Fig trees and not your typical figs. There is plenty of weeds and bugs for the chicks and geese. There is running water and plan on using 5 gallon buckets . The property is a half acre and the property behind us has many chickens too. It’s a horse corral and not sure if they stay outside at night. I see them roaming all over the property. Chicks are about 5-6 weeks old as
Well as the 3 weeder geese. I’m thinking of a chicken run for them at night. However I won’t be able to close the door.

 

[Brianmelton]

Just read about the automated doors.
Sounds like something that could benefit me.

 

[NatJ]

Any suggestions on what to do as far as a coop? Is it necessary in this situation?

They need somewhere to go when it rains, somewhere to have shade from the sun, somewhere to sleep at night. A coop can provide all of these things, even if the door is always left open.

Trees can be good shade by day, chickens might sleep in them at night--but most trees are not very good shelter when there's a hard rain.

A coop can also provide protection from many kinds of predators, if the chickens are securely shut inside it. (This requires closing the door. One of those automatic doors could be a good choice.)

...concerned about owls and hawks...

Because owls attack from above, the chickens will be safer under a roof at night. Because hawks attack from above, the chickens will be safer under a roof or under trees in the daytime.

Can animals dig under the fence?

Probably.

And raccoons are known for being able to climb just about anything, probably including your fence.

I cannot be there everyday as it’s across town. I can be there every couple days though.

When you first move the birds there, try to stay for at least a bit and watch them--some kinds of problems show up very quickly (if they dump the water bucket by sitting on the edge, or walk through a hole in the fence that you had not noticed, or fly over the fence the first time they hear a strange sound.)

If you can check them every single day for the first few days, that will also help--that way any problems that happen during the first night will be noticed before the second night, and if they drank all the water up one day you will know to give them more for next time, and so forth.

It would be good to check them soon after the first rain, too--if the feeder leaks and all the feed is wet, you don't want to leave it that way for too long! Freshly wet feed is fine for them to eat, but most feeders don't work right with wet feed (it gets stuck where they cannot reach it), and wet feed will spoil if it sits around for too long.

 

[Brianmelton]

Thank you for that.