WHEN IS IT SAFE FOR HENS TO FREE RANGE?

[mritti]

I have 5 chicks and I am starting to think about allowing them to free range in my back yard when they are full grown. We have some big hawks that fly over our property and we see quite a bit in the tall trees next to our yard. The chicks will have a nice size protected run, but I was hoping to let them wander around when I am working in the garden with the dogs (very gentle labradors). I bought an owl for the top of their coop and I would only allow them to free range when I was in the yard with them, but knowing there are hawks, is that too risky? Welcome any thoughts.

 

[centrarchid]

Always. Never. Depends. When I am home and watching out with chickens, always. If a predator comes in, I do not stand there and watch, rather I run predator off before it makes run on chickens. You have to be alert for that and seeing not always good enough to work. I get a lot of help from songbirds helping me "see". Reality I experience is must focus on other issues so chicken tractors are part of my game. Chickens are in tractors for much of day and tractors moved about.

For hawks and adult standard sized chickens, just let chickens free-range let in day when you are present. Hawks of greatest concern with adult chickens are Red-tailed Hawks here. Coopers Hawks usually a problem only outside of hawk breeding season and those hawks prefer smaller chickens, and flocks without a rooster that fights back.

Foxes and dogs are likely to be bigger problem if your dogs are not alert and willing to engage the problematic canids.

 

[Shadrach]

I have 5 chicks and I am starting to think about allowing them to free range in my back yard when they are full grown. We have some big hawks that fly over our property and we see quite a bit in the tall trees next to our yard. The chicks will have a nice size protected run, but I was hoping to let them wander around when I am working in the garden with the dogs (very gentle labradors). I bought an owl for the top of their coop and I would only allow them to free range when I was in the yard with them, but knowing there are hawks, is that too risky? Welcome any thoughts.

It's never safe and this is the most important thing one has to realize and accept if you free range.
A dog can help but unless the dog is prepared to take on other dogs, foxes and ground predators it will only act as a partially deterrent.
The same applies to you being out with the chickens. It helps but a smart weasel for example you will not see until it's too late, if at all.
A rooster should at least spot the predators you won't and give a warning call to his hens.
After that it's a question of what type of cover is available close by.
Cover is in the end the best solution for defending chickens when free ranging. What a hawk can't see it won't attempt a strike at. What a dog can't get into, or under will help keep your chickens alive.
Dense bushes, bamboo clumps, structures and even fences can provide good cover.

 

[mritti]

this is really helpful, thank you. I don't have a rooster but we do have a good amount of bushes, but ultimately, it will always be a risk.