Open Air hutch and free range plans

[ChickInDelight]

Loudoun County is the foxhunting capital of the world. People around here keep chickens just to feed foxes. I eat chicken myself.

I am hoping the lovely yard birds can free range in my fenced yard during the day, and be cooped up only at night. I am an advocate of a short life of freedom over a long life of confinement. I live that way, and so do all of my pets.

There is a chance these chickens will be eaten.

 

[chickenlickin8]

You don't seem concerned for the welfare of the chickens....why have them? My hens live very comfortably in a coop 12ft long X 4ft wide...all the time! Safe and sound, not running for their lives. Are you trying to feed and encourage the foxes?

 

[tarragon]

Quote:
I provide my chickens with a safe coop to sleep in at night, an enclosed run to keep them safe when I can't be around, and they free range when I am home and can somewhat keep an eye on them. There is a really big territory between "confinement" and "fox bait". And for the record, I eat chicken too. But that doesn't mean I want to invite the local raccoons to come munch down on the chicks I've just spent 8 weeks raising. May I ask why you bought the chickens? Are they to be raised as meat birds or as layers? Or are they just lawn decorations? I guess I'm still just confused about what you are asking. Yes, you can free range your chickens, but they should still be provided with a safe place to get a nights sleep without keeping an eye open for a fox. And they shouldn't have to wait for winter to get a good night's sleep.

 

[ChickInDelight]

The purpose of the chickens is to eat bugs in the gardens and lawn while providing decoration and amusement. They have a safe place at night. I live on a very large farm in the country, so there is a good chance that predators may get them.

At this point the feral cats on the farm seem to be the biggest threat. If I lose one to predators, it is likely I will give the survivors to a neighbor that has a spacious run for his birds of various feather.

 

[TomGallopavo]

How about Guineafowl then?

 

[WestKnollAmy]

This is what I have for a quad of Sizzles. I lock them up in the hutch at night and they are out in the pen during the day. they sleep in it fine and eat and drink underneath it.
I would not have this set up if I did not have a great LGD. I have become slack in a lot of my concerns since I got the LGD. She has been fantastic but not totally fool proof.

This is just a suggestion with something you can do with what you have. I do have plywood and roofing over this old dog X-pen for shade and to deter any hawks. But again, I lock them up at night to keep the silent and deadly owls from killing them. Without a LGD I would not risk my birds.

 

[ChickInDelight]

I live in a circa 1760 home. The original part is stone. That means, the 4 - 6 foot rat snakes that live in the basement have been living there longer than I have. Their babies climb the register pipes into the upper floors, but the cats play them to death. The snakes are quite welcome since I refuse to live with mice. I am hoping that the chicks are all ready too big to be of interest to the snakes, but since I usually have a cat atop the hutch, I can't worry too much.

Red hawks hunt constantly and local tales include stories of them picking up small dogs.

Since I have a doggy door for my pets, my son once entered the kitchen to find a family of racoons pinicing around the trash can.

Red fox was imported into the area in the 1930's and has never had to be replenished. Foxhunting is still splendid sport here in Virginia. The big reds that live in the woods a few yards from my house are magnificent.

While everyone talks of getting rid of the feral cats so that they don't infect our pets with disease, nobody acutally takes action agains them.

While the list of predators in my yard is uch larger, I reference only the ones listed on this site that seem to have taste for chicken. My ducks will prey upon life in the pond. The chickens are intended to prey on bugs in the yard.

Predators are a large part of my natural world. Since I would rather be killed than confined, I keep my pets and stock quite the same.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Here is a photo head on. You can see where rabbits and Guinea Pigs chewed it. Still works great for my little birds as a temporary home.

 

[CrazyFowlFreak]

Well Chickendelight, looks like you have it all figured out, you don't need our opinions or experience then. Good luck, you'll need it.

 

[ChickInDelight]

Crazy Chicken Lady - I really like that hutch. I am guessing from the heart-shaped latch that you bought it.

You are more south than I am. Do you use that in the winter? I think I could use something like that and put plexi-glass over the front and add the heat lamp on cold nights. Does that sound reasonable?