Gee, I am kind of surprised at all the negative answers. All of my spare chickens, those not in breeding pens, wander my yard and free range. We live here in GA by a lake and have all the same predators you have. The only ones of the free rangers that I have lost, were killed because they wandered in the reach of my dog. When I first let them out of their pens, some come back and look for food from me and I give them some, but eventually they don't come looking for it, they find their own. I have several different breeds free ranging and all seem to do equally as well. I don't lock mine up at night, they find safe places themselves to roost.
I think Dominiques would be a good choice too but I also have a welsummer roo who runs the yard here and he is a great forager and big bird besides. I personally think it can be done quite easily. Let your birds out a little at a time, feed them at first and eventually (mine took maybe a couple months) they will be fine on their own.
I think Dominiques would be a good choice too but I also have a welsummer roo who runs the yard here and he is a great forager and big bird besides. I personally think it can be done quite easily. Let your birds out a little at a time, feed them at first and eventually (mine took maybe a couple months) they will be fine on their own.
