"Take me out!"

[Coturnix Quail]

Hey, I have a question. So, I have six 6 month old hens that are my pets, and 5 meat birds. (Considering keeping 2.) So, every day, whenever they hear the door to my backyard open, they all come running to the end of the coop, closest to the door. I get it? They're excited to see me? I open the door to the coop, and a bunch of hens try coming out. ??? I don't know? But now, I take them out everyday, although, sometimes, I might miss one or two days. I put them in the garden, (with a fence because they like to wander) and I usually sit with them, sit outside, or I do other chores for my other outside birds. But, this whole garden thing can't be permanent because I have hawks, foxes, raccoons, skunks... So, my question is.. What can I do about it? Are they getting too bored in the coop?

 

[Birdinhand]

letting them out is so fun, I know what you mean and yes, it's risky but maybe worth it anyway, you have to decide. If you let them out only on occasion and only when you are out there, there is *less* likelihood that they will get predated. do keep in mind that birds of pray will sometimes swoop in even if you are there, right in front of you. I focus on making the coop and covered run an adequate size to fulfill their needs without free ranging and then do it anyway on occasion. you can add fascinators like a swing, other features inside, like a cabbage feeder, dusting area etc to help keep them occupied, but frankly, they love to peck and scratch and they will do it anywhere there is space. they are fine being confined.

 

[andreanar]

Do they have any access to a run? Or you just keep them in their coop all the time? I wouldn't think that they would be happy cooped up all the time. You can put netting up to keep birds out of the garden when the chickens are out. If you are outside with them, I wouldn't worry about predators. They should go into their coop at dusk.
Maybe you should think about building them a run, a place they can hang out, forage for greens and bugs, but that is safe from predators. I free range, Yes, they wander away, but they come back toward evening to get locked in their coop for the night. I take a chance with predators getting them, because I believe their lives are happier being able to run free.

 

[Coturnix Quail]

letting them out is so fun, I know what you mean and yes, it's risky but maybe worth it anyway, you have to decide. If you let them out only on occasion and only when you are out there, there is *less* likelihood that they will get predated. do keep in mind that birds of pray will sometimes swoop in even if you are there, right in front of you. I focus on making the coop and covered run an adequate size to fulfill their needs without free ranging and then do it anyway on occasion. you can add fascinators like a swing, other features inside, like a cabbage feeder, dusting area etc to help keep them occupied, but frankly, they love to peck and scratch and they will do it anywhere there is space. they are fine being confined.

Thanks! But what really makes me nervous is the fact that the hawks scream to each other while they're out.. I don't think they're desperate enough to eat them right in front of me? I did once make a swing, but they don't like it! I would LOVE letting them in the garden/free ranging, but I just don't feel like taking the chance.. Everything around my house is dangerous! I mean, I live right next to a forest, a road, and a bunch of predators. Plus, I'm super protective of my flock, so if I were to leave them alone outside of the coop, I would be REALLLY worried. But, I'll try some of the suggestions that you recommended. Thanks again!

 

[Coturnix Quail]

Do they have any access to a run? Or you just keep them in their coop all the time? I wouldn't think that they would be happy cooped up all the time. You can put netting up to keep birds out of the garden when the chickens are out. If you are outside with them, I wouldn't worry about predators. They should go into their coop at dusk.
Maybe you should think about building them a run, a place they can hang out, forage for greens and bugs, but that is safe from predators. I free range, Yes, they wander away, but they come back toward evening to get locked in their coop for the night. I take a chance with predators getting them, because I believe their lives are happier being able to run free.

Yes, they do have a run. Just net would keep them out?? Can't they rip through? The thing is.. The gardens a few feet away from the coop/run.. That is true, but, I know, any chance these predators get, they'll take it.. Sometimes the fox comes by in the day, and it ALWAYS comes at night, trying to find a way in. I've also seen it with some of it's babies.. So, I'm sure she'd like some chicken..

 

[Birdinhand]

not to freak you out, but you can do a little youtube search on daytime hawk attacks and see that they do indeed get up the gumption to attack while you are there, at your feet even. hawks, foxes and other vermin get so single focussed that they barely seem to notice you in the heat of attack. I have a fox literally run across my feet chasing one of my chickens when I was young and lived on a farm, it was quite an eye opener, and truth be told it's relatively rare, well, until it's not.

 

[Natalie783]

To make sure a fox doesn't dig under the fence, you could dig a trench under the fence and maybe put some wood, fencing, or something else (Idk what you would put under it tbh) to put in the trench so when if the fox tries to dig under the fence, they'll hit the barrier and can't get in.

 

[andreanar]

The netting would keep out just the hawks.

 

[Patinas]

There are definitely pros and cons to letting a flock free range. I let mine free range daily for about 4 hours before their bedtime and they absolutely love it!

They only get to free range if I'm home to keep an eye on them and if it's not raining hard since all they do is sit on the covered patio when it's raining so I figure they can sit in their run on rainy days.

Obviously the biggest con to free ranging is predators. I've lost one hen this season and I believe a coyote got her because I was never able to find any sign of her, she simply disappeared one afternoon.

I personally have decided the pros of letting them free range far outweighs the cons. My flock gets so excited when I come to open the run gate. They seem so content when they are out dust bathing, scratching for goodies, sun bathing and eating grass. I also believe it is really healthy for their mental state too. Foraging is what they do best so I could never leave them locked up in the run their whole lives.

I have no issues with 19 hens with fighting or aggressive pecking at each other and while they have a big run (12 x 20), I think the fact that they get to run around outside also helps keep the peace.

I also think getting plenty of access to fresh grass is a good thing. I've noticed my flock spends the last 1-2 hours that they are out ranging just eating grass before bed. They do this after their dust/sun bathing, getting their treats, exploring the yard and scratching as they go they until finally settle down to the business of eating grass.

The two big cons on my list are exposure to predators and poop all over the place but like I said, the pure joy they exhibit while free ranging outweighs the risk in my book. It's definitely a decision of personal choice to let them range or not range and different areas have higher/lower predator loads so that should most definitely come into consideration when making the decision to range or not.

 

[Coturnix Quail]

not to freak you out, but you can do a little youtube search on daytime hawk attacks and see that they do indeed get up the gumption to attack while you are there, at your feet even. hawks, foxes and other vermin get so single focussed that they barely seem to notice you in the heat of attack. I have a fox literally run across my feet chasing one of my chickens when I was young and lived on a farm, it was quite an eye opener, and truth be told it's relatively rare, well, until it's not.

Wow.. That must've been a scary experience.. I did search them up, but wouldn't the chickens hide/run? Also, did a little research, hawks are enemies with crows and owls?? I have crows around here that scream all the time.. I also hear crows are pretty smart and I also saw this one video of this person who fed crows and they brought small things to her as gifts! Maybe I could form and alliance with them? I DON'T KNOW!

To make sure a fox doesn't dig under the fence, you could dig a trench under the fence and maybe put some wood, fencing, or something else (Idk what you would put under it tbh) to put in the trench so when if the fox tries to dig under the fence, they'll hit the barrier and can't get in.

Good idea. I use this method for my coop/run. I put around a foot of wood along the sides so it can't dig, but just to be clear, the garden is dirt, but after the fence theres like a stone patio.

The netting would keep out just the hawks.

Oh. I thought they could rip through it. Do you think heavier predators like the fox or raccoon would climb on top?

There are definitely pros and cons to letting a flock free range. I let mine free range daily for about 4 hours before their bedtime and they absolutely love it!

They only get to free range if I'm home to keep an eye on them and if it's not raining hard since all they do is sit on the covered patio when it's raining so I figure they can sit in their run on rainy days.

Obviously the biggest con to free ranging is predators. I've lost one hen this season and I believe a coyote got her because I was never able to find any sign of her, she simply disappeared one afternoon.

I personally have decided the pros of letting them free range far outweighs the cons. My flock gets so excited when I come to open the run gate. They seem so content when they are out dust bathing, scratching for goodies, sun bathing and eating grass. I also believe it is really healthy for their mental state too. Foraging is what they do best so I could never leave them locked up in the run their whole lives.

I have no issues with 19 hens with fighting or aggressive pecking at each other and while they have a big run (12 x 20), I think the fact that they get to run around outside also helps keep the peace.

I also think getting plenty of access to fresh grass is a good thing. I've noticed my flock spends the last 1-2 hours that they are out ranging just eating grass before bed. They do this after their dust/sun bathing, getting their treats, exploring the yard and scratching as they go they until finally settle down to the business of eating grass.

The two big cons on my list are exposure to predators and poop all over the place but like I said, the pure joy they exhibit while free ranging outweighs the risk in my book. It's definitely a decision of personal choice to let them range or not range and different areas have higher/lower predator loads so that should most definitely come into consideration when making the decision to range or not.

Yeah, they love running around and foraging, but I don't think I would be able to let them free range because I just saw the eight hawks circling around the coop.. Yeah, they love grass! Whenever I mow my lawn, I always give it to them, and they gobble it up completely in a few hours. I would LOVE to let them free range.. But I feel like it would be too much of a risk. I might just try to fix up the garden for them.. Thank you for the advice, I'll see what else I can do to make my flock happy.