Planning a Semi-Free range flock

[Mrs. K]

Another option for cover is to plant shrubs and perennials (preferably native so they are suited to your area) and plant them thickly.

A lot of predators will use shrubs and perennials to sneak up on chickens, just saying.

 

[McChooky]

oh, and Mother Of Chaos, you just introduced a plant to me that I have fallen in love with. Forsythia, yellow is my favorite color... And my husband just said to find a sapling we can find and plant it it may be a little late for that but I digress.

Spring is the easiest time to plant them(if you're good at planting cuttings)

 

[McChooky]

In reference to the coyotes and other larger ground predators, we have that yard fenced all the way around with the 2" x 4" wire fence because of the dogs (almost done getting it affixed along the bottom of the house around the skirting too because we have an escape artist) nature is nature, and I'm aware predators will do their thing. Heck, I already accept that the local rat snakes and racers will get some eggs occasionally, I'm not worried about it. I'm mostly worried about getting started.

While working on a new fence and fixing a bad water leak my dog got out multiple times over a 4 day period. He hasn't got out since it was all fixed.I haven't covered the lines yet

 

[Appalachickens]

A lot of predators will use shrubs and perennials to sneak up on chickens, just saying.

Predators also break into coops. I understand there are risks, but I don’t have an interest in having chickens confined full-time to a coop/run. I want them to be able to forage out and about and I can tell they’re having a blast. And after all, I still get in a car even though there is a risk of having an MVA. Life is, by it’s nature, risky.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Here’s one way to think of it: where I live NOT free-ranging is like throwing away food and, consequently, money. I started this flock with three free chickens then spent roughly $20/pullet on ten pullets. I spend $20 on feed every month. With a flock this size kept in a run I was spending $28 on feed every two weeks. Even if I bump that down to my current feed price I have halved my feed costs by free-ranging. I have lost one five-week old pullet (probably to a stray cat). I did not lose my entire flock because the rest of them were able to use the available cover to escape. You can argue that had that pullet been in a run I would not have lost it. I would argue that had it been more predator-savvy I would not have lost it. But it didn’t stick with the flock and was slower to develop. So maybe that cat did me a favor. But it did not return and clean out all the pullets. So once my chickens start reproducing themselves I will be ahead financially thanks to feeding them the diet they evolved to eat instead of locking them up with nothing but commercial feed and scraps. You have to do what works for YOU and that advice goes for most things chicken. The breeds you choose, your environment and your predator deterrents are all variables you will have to use to come up with a solution that works for you.

 

[McChooky]

Like the title says, I'm preparing for a semi- free range flock. I want to get a mixed flock going (we want about four ducks and six chicks and one or two geese ultimately) (geese for flock protection) here, I have attached a pick of a large fenced yard that we set up for the dogs years ago. We're training the dogs as guardians but they go in and out of the house so we want the goose to protect. The hard part RN is getting things set up. View attachment 4140009
I know this fence won't keep in smaller chickens or baby birds, which is why we want to raise the youngsters on/in the porch (it's not set up completely the way we want, and it's a bit cluttered rn) please note that the brooding area is going to shortly be altered for safety, but it gives the idea we're going for. Where the kennel is, were planning on nesting boxes instead for hens and such to care for their own babies. (Please note that the ducklings are... no longer in the picture but that's the best pic I have of it right now.)View attachment 4140010View attachment 4140011
I have a local chicken breeder getting me some chicks to raise up from a large chicken breed (I don't remember which)

My husband and I are considering getting a bird run to put in the yard to put the young birds in until they're ready to run the yard fully but it seems they use normal chicken wire which won't be very durable and predators can get into easily. Or getting a temporary coop. We can't afford a huge dollar sign but I digress. Short of bringing the birds inside, any suggestions? Possibly advice on what product stay away from?

Also note, I've never kept birds before. Snakes, rats, mice, dogs, cats, even horses, yes. But no birds before.

This is a easy structure made using cattle panels. He's using it as a green house but it would make a great coop