Nervous about letting my chickens free range

[mkeawsh]

If you are worried about animals getting to them, then maybe you should follow the advice of letting them out for like an hour before dark if you are out there with them. That way they will go in at dark and you wont have to worry about rounding them up if you need to leave for some reason. They wont have time to leave the yard because they wont get a chance to wander too far before it gets dark.

Good suggestion. I leave mine out in the morning if I know I am not going any where and they are out all day. In the past six years I have lost approximately a dozen to hawks (even my fave - Ugly), another half a dozen to coyotes and just as many to raccoons. I loved them all since I incubated them in my incubator in the bathtub, brooded all of them in my living room. But, they are just so happy free-ranging and when I don't let them out they are really upset and bawking profusely, so I justify letting them out with the chance of them getting taken because they are just so contented to be out, I could not deprive them. I appreciate them immensely and if something happens, I know that it is all part of letting them free-range.

 

[Terrik]

My girls have a nice run and coop. A couple months ago I decided that they needed to get out once and awhile but I didn't want them to be out without me home. So weekends, if I'm around they get out most of the day. I do lock them up a couple of times so the dogs can use the yard also. But everyday when my son gets home from school he lets the girls out also. That way they get a hour or so to roam around and enjoy the grass and I don't have to worry about them.

 

[Theocons123]

I need help with my chickens because i want to free range them. At the moment I keep four large chickens. They live in a coop attached to a 2mx2mx3m homemade enclosure, but they have eaten all the plants in that area and are not satisfied with the grass and weed cuttings i give them. I have two cats that like to catch birds, blue tits. They sometimes bring in a dead rabbit or mouse. I have two dogs, one that is grumpy and barks at magpies and birds and sometimes sniffs around my girls and one that is scared of other foreign animals. I let them out under my supervision earlier today and they looked so happy. It was only for ten minutes and I locked the dogs inside and hissed at my cats when they came near. Does anyone have any solution to letting them free range without supervision in the day (so that the dogs and cats can be let out as well?)
Thanks, Theo