Scared to let my first flock out!

[lovesfarms]

It's really hard to protect them unsupervised. As much as they like to be out running around, everything wants the chicken.Least expected, they aren't safe from people either. A 13 yr old boy was standing beside my chicken cage a couple years ago holding a leash, watching my 8 WK old chicks (in the yard). Where was the dog? Inside the cage, every last chick was dead and the boy was watching him eat them. How did the dog get in? I didn't see it happen but he didn't get in by himself. The boy never said a word, his parents reimbursed me. It was then I realized by penning them in,I set a death trap- had they been free ranging, they could have gotten away. My husband said I didn't cry.. Of course not, I was in disbelief!

 

[Ggg]

New flock owner... my babes are about 4 weeks, so they will be moving out of the house soon, and into their coop. My husband has built an amazingly strong run and coop (concrete floor and all), but lately I’ve been hearing more stories from people saying fox and other predators have been attacking them during the day time while they’re out free ranging. At this rate, I’ll never let them out if I’m not there! I don’t want anything to happen to them! Any tips or tricks to prevent daytime attacks? We live a mile from a town, and have houses around. Have seen only cats, beavers, and we’ve only heard a fisher cat once at night. But I’m sure there are fox and raccoons! Ahhhhh please ease my mind!

My opinion you should never let them out while you’re not there but remember your worst predator is going to be a loose dog and most predators are faster than you so while being there is helpful it’s still dangerous.