Want to let our chickens free range...

[vkp23]

We want to fence in a decent sized portion of our property to allow our chickens to free range. We do have a dog, but it's going to take some time to get her used to the idea that chickens are not food. We know we have some small foxes around here and a few "wild" kitties, (my husband killed one with the bow and arrow because he was beating up our cat) We also know there are two hawks that nest in the trees near by on the far end of our property. We know the chickens know to be affraid of the hawks and will sramble and hide when they see it. My main concern is keeping them safe from other wolly buggers that might eat them. the fencing we are planing on getting would keep them in and deter most preditors however we know it will not totally stop them. What are some cheap ideas for keeping them safe?

 

[cockadoodle]

How many chickens and how big of an area?

A couple of electric fence wires around the perimeter for land based critters is all I can think of. As far as keeping them safe from air based attacks.. I don't know of any cheap methods for larger areas aside from a good dog that you can really trust... I think if you really want to free range accross a fairly large area, you'll have to be ok with some losses or pay a ton to put in aviary netting over the whole thing. I'm sure someone else will chime in with better options.

Mark

 

[vkp23]

I think youre right on that. I mean we can set some traps along the fence and built a good sturdy house for them to go into and provide hiding places, but I think I may end up having to except that I may loose a few here and there. Once we teach the dog that the chickens are not food she will do great for protection. It's just going to take some time. She is a boxer/pit mix so she has the geenes for protecting masters property.

 

[lovemyprettybirds]

I'm learning that the only way to keep them truly safe is to stand constant guard over them. I've lost two to predators in the last month and I rarely let mine out. Additionally, it seems that many predators are worse in the evening hours, about an hour or so before time to roost. We just had a close call this evening with a determined hawk, but fortunately, we were with our chickens and were able to prevent any loss or harm. I don't think it's possible to allow them to fullly-free range without experiencing some loss. Unless, of course, you can afford the cost of protective barriers that cover both aerial and ground attacks. If you learn something different, please let me know the secret!

 

[saddina]

Have you considered a tractor during the day, and a coop at night? They would be pastured instead of free range, but safer for them, and they still have the beinfits of being free ranged.

 

[Judy]

Sounds to me like you have a good feel for what is involved. Yes, electric fence (wire on another fence) is great, and I was pleasantly surprised at the cost. Shiny metal things mounted about seem to help deter hawks: CD's, aluminum pie plates, etc. Try to mount them so they face up and can move a bit in the breeze. Apparently, this confuses them. I suspect that those shiny metallic pinwheels also help.

All I have is a sturdy fence with electric around a 75' X 75' yard for my 5+ month olds, and have not lost one. They are quite wary of the hawk that nests nearby, though, and go under cover when a shadow passes overhead. (Most of the time it is a bird that is harmless to them!) We hear an odd bark or yip at night sometimes. I figure it is the fox my neighbor saw in the woods near us recently, touching his nose to the wire. I hear coyotes in the distance at times, but have not seen one in 2+ years here.

I also have an older flock who are true free range, meaning they could walk the 7 miles to town and party if they wished. I did lose most of them to predators, no doubt fox. But I have not lost any of them for about 8 months, either. I don't know whether the ones left are smart, or my four dogs who roam the property are the reason, or both. Yes, the dogs have free access to them. They ignore the chickens but hunt and kill rats and mice.

 

[Buster52]

I have wrestled with some of the same issues (we have a lot of land predators in our area and many ginormous hawks) and here is what we have decided...

Electric poultry netting to keep out land predators. If you want to truly free range them, then you will have to just live with the hawks issue although I have seen people keep some of those monster size geese with their chickens to scare away hawks.

If you are really concerned about the hawks, then a tractor inside the electric poultry netting is a compromise you might want to consider.

The best deterrent for land based predators, though, is a really good dog.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Don't underestimate the hawks. I lost one last week, and then it tried again the next day. Luckily, I saw the 2nd time and scared it away.

 

[mylilchix]

How well do guinea fowl or geese work against hawks? Are they more of a good alarm system or will they round up the flock?

Thanks,
Sonja

 

[TheMatador]

Quote:
Can't speak to the geese but in my limited experience I've lost more guineas to predators than I have chickens. We'll see how I feel after these guys mature a bit but right now (12-14 weeks) they dont show much value in that department.