the downside of free ranging

[Lenka]

So today we've experienced the first free range loss to my flock. I let my girls out this morning at around 5:30 am. There was nothing amiss when I went out, everything was normal- no one acting weird at all. My big girls are completely free range in the horse fields (chicks are surrounded by fencing though) and not even 30 min out, I heard this great commotion outside. ran out, and the girls are scattered every where and one was missing . They've gone almost 4 days being completely free range and nothing getting them.. but I guess the fencing is gonna have to go back up and they will get free range only later in the day when the stupid coyote or whatnot wouldn't be out... bummed

 

[bobbi-j]

So today we've experienced the first free range loss to my flock. I let my girls out this morning at around 5:30 am. There was nothing amiss when I went out, everything was normal- no one acting weird at all. My big girls are completely free range in the horse fields (chicks are surrounded by fencing though) and not even 30 min out, I heard this great commotion outside. ran out, and the girls are scattered every where and one was missing . They've gone almost 4 days being completely free range and nothing getting them.. but I guess the fencing is gonna have to go back up and they will get free range only later in the day when the stupid coyote or whatnot wouldn't be out... bummed

I hate to break it to you, but coyotes will be out no matter what time of day. I had one (or more, I don't know because I was not home) take 4 or 5 in the middle of the day last year. That's the first loss we've suffered while free ranging in about 3 years. This year I had a raccoon get inside my coop while my laying hens were outside, and killed my mama hen as she protected her 5 babies. About a week later one of the orphans disappeared. Things seem to have settled down for now, though.

 

[keesmom]

So today we've experienced the first free range loss to my flock. I let my girls out this morning at around 5:30 am. There was nothing amiss when I went out, everything was normal- no one acting weird at all. My big girls are completely free range in the horse fields (chicks are surrounded by fencing though) and not even 30 min out, I heard this great commotion outside. ran out, and the girls are scattered every where and one was missing . They've gone almost 4 days being completely free range and nothing getting them.. but I guess the fencing is gonna have to go back up and they will get free range only later in the day when the stupid coyote or whatnot wouldn't be out... bummed

Coyotes and foxes do hunt by day if they have young to feed. In our first year of having chickens (14 years ago) we lost 3 to a fox a noon. We didn't realize there was a den nearby with 6 kits. Fast forward to 2 years ago we lost an entire flock of 12 to coyotes at 10 am. Since then I no longer allow free ranging. Hawks are a daily concern.

 

[new2chickes]

I've lost 14 this year to foxes and I'm livid. We're setting out traps, and I have a couple guns ready. I'm putting up some electric fencing the poultry kind that war they can kind of free range with some sort of protection. I'm hoping that will help.