Really watch for predators now

[Mrs. K]

I have had chickens for years. And I have unfortunately fed more than what I consider my fair share of predators. On the prairies of SD, I have the most trouble with coyotes, and coons. We do have a lot of hawks and eagles, bald and golden, but I have never seen one get one of my birds. So I tend to agree with PimsGarden.

Coyotes tend to get mine in the daylight - they just disappear. Maybe a small pile of feathers. Coons tend to get in at night, and just tear them apart. You come down to carnage everywhere.

They always seem to get your favorite. It can be so disheartening.

I have tried a lot of fencing. I currently have a chain link fence lined with chicken wire, with an L shaped skirt. The top is chain link to linked together with pig nose rings. This is so tight, that if I locked you in it, you would have a pretty difficult time escaping.

My problem is in the spring and summer, I love to let them out. Let them scratch and peck and be chickens. Not that they don't do that in my run, it is just the green grass, fresh bugs and berries.

It is a tough dilemma. Now not so much, the bugs are drying up, and so is the grass and berries. A few days, and they are content to stay in the run.

You can get away with free ranging...well, until you can't.

Mrs K

 

[SueT]

I used to let my flock free range until 5 yrs ago when there were hawk incidents. Now that I have 2 flocks I'm thinking of letting the older flock of 10 out to range as they are more expendable. All are 4+ years, not laying well. We have had too many ticks, to the point where I contracted a tick borne allergy called alpha-gal. I would really like the chickens to work on the ticks. Some may give their lives in this mission, but it's an important one.

 

[PimsGarden]

I have had chickens for years. And I have unfortunately fed more than what I consider my fair share of predators. On the prairies of SD, I have the most trouble with coyotes, and coons. We do have a lot of hawks and eagles, bald and golden, but I have never seen one get one of my birds. So I tend to agree with PimsGarden.

Coyotes tend to get mine in the daylight - they just disappear. Maybe a small pile of feathers. Coons tend to get in at night, and just tear them apart. You come down to carnage everywhere.

They always seem to get your favorite. It can be so disheartening.

I have tried a lot of fencing. I currently have a chain link fence lined with chicken wire, with an L shaped skirt. The top is chain link to linked together with pig nose rings. This is so tight, that if I locked you in it, you would have a pretty difficult time escaping.

My problem is in the spring and summer, I love to let them out. Let them scratch and peck and be chickens. Not that they don't do that in my run, it is just the green grass, fresh bugs and berries.

It is a tough dilemma. Now not so much, the bugs are drying up, and so is the grass and berries. A few days, and they are content to stay in the run.

You can get away with free ranging...well, until you can't.

Mrs K

I used to let my flock free range until 5 yrs ago when there were hawk incidents. Now that I have 2 flocks I'm thinking of letting the older flock of 10 out to range as they are more expendable. All are 4+ years, not laying well. We have had too many ticks, to the point where I contracted a tick borne allergy called alpha-gal. I would really like the chickens to work on the ticks. Some may give their lives in this mission, but it's an important one.

Good luck on your quest

Sounds like a good idea!

 

[DragonflyAcres]

So sorry for your loss!

 

[bmurphy349]

Sorry for your loss. Even a good run doesn’t promise no loss. Lost a young hen (no roosters) when something scared her enough she tried to run thru the fence. Broke her neck. 2nd time that has happened. :/

 

[ChicNmom]

They always seem to get your favorite. It can be so disheartening.

So true. Last Friday a coyote took my all time favorite new hen. Out of 2 bared rocks one was a boy. I had dreams of little Rocky's and Hennifers in the spring. I don't think I've ever had a loss hurt this bad.

Very discouraging.

We take a lot of precautions but the coyote found a gap in the security.

I guess Long Johns wasn't a huge loss but it sucks when you lose a good young hen that you really like. So sad.

 

[SueT]

I let my flock out today for the first time in 5 years, to eat the ticks that carry alpha-gal. There are only 3 in this older flock who have ever been out before. They stayed together and didn't go far, except the 8 year old who doesn't like the others. After a couple hours, they went back in. So I closed up again. Two hens had laid their eggs in the nest box while the others were out. They knew what to do. So far, so good.
There is a younger flock that remains confined.

 

[Henpecked Dad]

I live in rough country. Neighbors are miles away and without a doubt, we have predators. I am pretty sure it was young coyotes. Today, I lost my rooster Long Johns, and a hen. Long John was too big for an eagle or a hawk. Dang it. Have not had a loss in a long time. I don't let them out at the same time each day. Sometimes I don't let them out at all. Sometimes most of the day.

Now, I will go into lock down. I will stay in lock down for probably 3 weeks. This is why, while it is nice to free range, let them out and scratch and peck, predators and weather, will keep you locked up, and that is why one needs to have a coop and run that will fit the flock 24/7.

Dang it. Long Johns was on my cull list, but not the year old hen. Dang it. Now I have to rethink that whole plan.

Mrs K

I have lost 2 of my cream legbars in the last week. Tell me please..Since we live on 11 acres of woods; and since our chickens are free range, how can we protect them? I get so attached to my girls that I cry for every loss. So far in 3 years, we've lost 5 hens. That's about 25 days of grieving. I'm afraid to go out to the coop every day.

 

[SueT]

I have lost 2 of my cream legbars in the last week. Tell me please..Since we live on 11 acres of woods; and since our chickens are free range, how can we protect them? I get so attached to my girls that I cry for every loss. So far in 3 years, we've lost 5 hens. That's about 25 days of grieving. I'm afraid to go out to the coop every day.

Get a guardian dog?

 

[Mrs. K]

range, how can we protect them? I get so

I have had chickens for years, I have tried numerous tricks, what has worked for me is totally in closed coop/run large enough to go into lock down.

To be honest, if you free range all of the time, I am amazed you have not been wiped out. When predators find me they come back.

Mrs k