No more free range

[PopoMyers]

I had a flock of 12 hens and one rooster that I was letting out of their run every day to free-range. All was going well until a preditor, I suspect a coyote, killed one so now there are 11 plus the rooster. Any suggestions on how and what to provide to supplement their regular feed and scratch now that they can no longer forage? I'm wary now about letting them out anymore and they so loved it! But it's sad to lose one. I know meal worms are great, I just have no idea how much to prove 12 birds.

Almost the same situation here as well. Partly my fault, I forgot to let them back into their run/coop after my trees were pruned and I had locked them in the garden. Next morning only found 7 of 8... Also saw a coyote come into my yard 2x within a few days. They no longer free range, but do have a generous run, with aviary netting, and a moveable pen so they can help mow and fertilize the grass.

 

[PopoMyers]

Sorry to hear that you lost one of your girls. When a mink got into one of my coops and killed three hens, then returned the next day to take out a runner duck drake, I got so paranoid that I was afraid not only to free range, but to even go to bed at night for fear the killer would return. I left my windows open in the dead of an Iowa winter and slept on the sofa so I could hear any disturbance.

Eventually, I started to relax more, installed a lot more hardware cloth, worked much harder NOT to forget to close every coop door every time, and started letting the poultry out to free range again. But, I am almost always at home and can see what's going on all the time. I hope you find a way for them to be safe and you to feel that they're safe again.

I've heard some people have lost poultry to the silent and fast predators that can attack even while you are diligent, like owls, eagles, and coyotes who can jump a 4-5' fence.