To Free Range or not? Need advice!

[Two Creeks Farm]

There is always a chance a hawk will do the deed, people dont really worry them, but they should be fine. They will go right for your flower beds or gardens so be ready LOL!

 

[bryan99705]

Quote:
I'm not going to lie and say they will never be attacked but your being there is not a 100% guarenteed total deterrant to a hawk, fox, or coyote but it will make a attack unlikely given you're fenced, especially if your birds are "Chick Chick" trained and tend to hang near you just in case you're hiding a treat. The choice is yours but I would knowing how much my birds love to chase bugs

 

[sallihennipenni]

Thank you- bryan99705. I really appreciate you taking the time to add your thoughts. I can't imagine living in the North Pole! I read your page and am amazed at the kinds of predators you guys are up against! Makes my problem with a few racoons seem like nothing!

Thanks again.

And to Dobieslady1 - Good luck. Sounds like you're in the same place as me.....wondering about free ranging. I didn't end up taking my "girls" out today. Was gone the greater part of the day and the weather here wasn't that great. Hopefully soon though. I'm anxious to give it a try. I think I'll only let them out though when I'm outside too......since we have no dog as a protector. Guess that would be me.

 

[BantamoftheOpera]

I only free range when they are supervised or for brief periods of time when I run in the house to get something. I would love to do it all the time, but we live on a very busy route and I don't want to find out if the chickens can cross the road and make it! I say let them free range with you. You won't be sorry!

 

[sallihennipenni]

Hey, to Two Creeks Farm-

Speaking of things getting in your flower beds. Here's what I woke up to see this morning. She's laying her eggs.....in the landscaping in our front yard! She has 20 acres in which she could go and here's where she picked.

We've seen this snapping turtle for the last 3 Springs....right around this same time. She'll travel quite a distance to find a spot soft enough to lay her eggs. After she finished this trip, we watched her go back to the pond. Figured she was done. Several hours later when I came home I was surprised to see her at the bottom of our driveway which is a very far distance from the pond. (Maybe couple hundred yard?) So she's had a busy day today!

 

[Lyon3mchics]

Thank you for the jar idea! Love it. I too live with on a few acres of land. I love to have my girls out with me - but worry about fox and coyote - ect. (we see fox during the day) I do let my girls out for an hour or two if I am out there working. I usually have to get some bread and coax them back to the yard if they go too far into the woods.

 

[benjoycei]

I'd go with a very secure fenced run

 

[juliawitt]

Mine only free range when we can watch them. Occassionally we might run in the house for a minute, but we try to always have an eye on them. I have a small red coffe can (plastic) which they know has scratch in it. I start shaking and calling, "here chook, chook" and they run and fly for the coop. Once in a while one will be difficult and I have to get the "red broom of power" which is obviously a red broom which I use to direct who ever is being unruly, but I rarely have to do that. (I don't hit them ever, I just point it and sweep at them). Besides predators, I watch them because my garden is a huge source of entertainment for them.....good for them, but hard on my plants. Chickens are so funny, having them out while we do our chores make chores more fun.

 

[juliawitt]

Oh, one more thing. I am not a good shot, but we do occasionally see predators. My husband can pick them off, me not so much. We have found that my small purse tazer, a small pink self defense model make a noise that dogs etc. just HATE. All I have to do is hit the button, it makes the ZZZT noise and everything bad runs off. The girls look at me funny.......but stand still to listen. Works like a charm.

 

[Mattemma]

We have a fenced yard that is less than an acre. I have noticed the hens/roo keep close to their coop. They have their scratching spot,dusting hole,and chill out shade areas.Aside from dogs other wild animal attacks will be less common. I planted bushes all over the yard for cover from the flying predators.

When I give treats I go,'Peep peep peep" and those chickens shoot out of bushes all over and come running.Even Jack Sparrow the rooster!. Do a *call* every time you give treats.