When to let bantams join in free ranging

[EllieandOlive]

I have 10 bantams of mixed breeds. They are all about 8 weeks old, but obviously very small still. They currently stay in a coop. The rest of my standard size chickens free range all day and go to a second coop at night on their own. I do not have an outdoor covered area, only the coops are covered. We recently discovered hawks are an issue here. They don't bother my full sized chickens but did pick off all of a mama hen's chicks in 2 days when she first brought them outside.

So, I am wondering if it will ever be safe for my bantams to free range since they are small birds?

I have put strings up and some reflective tape up around their coop area but they like to roam all over our 2 acres so that's only effective near the coops obviously. Haven't had hawks bother us since the baby chicks were snatched.

Planning to make a small covered run off the bantam stall (my coops are in old horse stalls), but I really love for my birds to free range. Just not at their own guaranteed death sentence.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I've read that bantams do tend to be picked off first. A predator is able to just swoop down and grab the bird without really landing. My bantams stay in a covered run unless I'm out with them and then still I recently learned the hard way that being out with your flock doesn't necessarily guarantee their safety. I wish you the best
I believe @Folly's place has bantams and @JacinLarkwell @RoostersAreAwesome @tn_artist

I just tagged the first few folks that came to my mind and they're all awesome!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I have 4 bantam hens between two flocks and several very small standard hens as well between both. We actually have only lost standard large fowl and ducks to ariel predators oddly enough, but we've only lost a few, and not in a few years, knock on wood. Mainly just worry about land predators

However we have lost plenty of quail and chicks to magpies and crows

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Sorry, I don’t have much advice to offer. Before I moved, free ranging my bantams was pretty safe. Now, I’m afraid they’ll get caught by hawks, so I only let them out when I can supervise. Though bantams are more vulnerable because they’re smaller, they’re also usually faster than large fowl, though that does depend on the breed.

 

[BDutch]

I have very small bantams and probably have lost just one to a buzzerd in 6+ years. Hawks don’t come here very often. The one that was lost was the one that wasn’t as quick and flighty as the others.
You need lots of hiding places to keep them safe from arial predators. And bushes, trees or constructions to jump on for the ground hunters.

About the 8 week old chicks. Don’t let them free range without supervision. Cats and rats are a hazard for them too.
To start free ranging: best an hour /2 hours before sunset. They will go to the coop again by themselves. Or make a temporary fence to keep the chicks near to the coop until they are at least 3 months old.

 

[Folly's place]

Most of our losses to hawks have been our bantams, or occasionally a young standard bird. here we have Cooper's hawks (most losses), Red Tailed, and Red Shouldered hawks, and rare eagles.
We learned! One bird gone or found killed, and everyone stays in their safe coop/ covered run for at least two weeks, or longer, until that hawk gives up and moves on. It is absolutely necessary to have a large enough coop and safe run for those times!!!
Free ranging is always a risk, and our worst losses have been to ground predators. Once, ten hens to a fox, and then our own dog, when the fence failed, 28 birds, both during the day, within an hour or so.
Over many years, I think raptors are a risk to one bird at a time, and if the flock is in after that one attack, things settle down. Until the next time, but again, not many birds all at once.
Canines, wild or domestic, will kill everyone all at once, and are a daytime risk too.
Mary

 

[EllieandOlive]

Most of our losses to hawks have been our bantams, or occasionally a young standard bird. here we have Cooper's hawks (most losses), Red Tailed, and Red Shouldered hawks, and rare eagles.
We learned! One bird gone or found killed, and everyone stays in their safe coop/ covered run for at least two weeks, or longer, until that hawk gives up and moves on. It is absolutely necessary to have a large enough coop and safe run for those times!!!
Free ranging is always a risk, and our worst losses have been to ground predators. Once, ten hens to a fox, and then our own dog, when the fence failed, 28 birds, both during the day, within an hour or so.
Over many years, I think raptors are a risk to one bird at a time, and if the flock is in after that one attack, things settle down. Until the next time, but again, not many birds all at once.
Canines, wild or domestic, will kill everyone all at once, and are a daytime risk too.
Mary

We've had some issues with neighborhood dogs too, but it helps that our property is fully fenced. I am really looking forward to getting our covered run installed! This weekend or next, as soon as my husband has time! Yay! Our 'coops' are two side by side horse stalls with chicken wire on the windows that are about 12x14ft each. I have the baby birds in one stall and the adults in the other. But I only have 6 adult birds. I also have about 15 ducks that go into whatever stall they want each night.

 

[Folly's place]

Upgrade that chicken wire to hardware cloth, soonest!
Mary