Separating food from chickens coop saved them

[RoamandRoam]

I have had several chickens attacked in their pen despite what I have done. So, I saw a video of one of mine being attacked by the biggest possum on my night camera ever and it was heart breaking. She couldn’t get out to fly away. I also had a dog get one, so, I decided these are my pets and they are going to live that way. First, they get fed in our backyard with the dogs, no food in their sleeping area in front to attract other animals. Second, now my dogs protect them, our pit bull mix naps with them and stopped a hawk today. Third, they roost at night all over the place but always where they can fly to escape like my fence, trees etc. I haven’t lost one since. Oh, and my bad dog husky got torn up by some wild ones I got to mix in and now runs from them. And my favorite, Pepper cuddles and takes selfies

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. All will be fine until a Great Horned Owl locates them. A sturdy predator impervious coop is still essential for ultimate night time protection.

 

[cmom]

I agree with @sourland. My brother at one time let his stay free. The did have a barn they could go into but eventually coons picked them off. I had an owl kill several of mine. I have a couple of coops that are open on one side.

 

[flyin-lowe]

Most predators that are capable of killing a chicken are attracted to the chickens not their feed. So more then likely possums, skunks, foxes, raccoons,weasels, will still get into the the coop and kill them if they have a way in. So if their sleeping area is not fortified from these predators it can still happen. It could just be coincidence that you haven't lost any since moving their food out.

 

[centrarchid]

The dogs can be helpful. With my dogs in place and chickens roosting close to house, only the Great Horned Owl is a major issue and victims need to be small if owl has to fly off with catch. My brother can get away with about 30 chickens roosting in his apple orchard with minimal loss. Arrange does help spare considerable feed cost at small cost of loosing some birds. Sometimes having birds out can be a net gain. Sometimes