Will roosters always alert his hens?

[cmom]

I did catch and eliminate the predators that killed my birds.

 

[cmom]

In a perfect world, right? I agree with you completely & thought the same. The bad experiences will be the learning curve for these youngsters. I have a new flock coming in soon, they will get the opportunity to learn from the the current gang. My chooks do the “frozen in place“ thing too but mainly while inside their run. I hope to never lose one of my babies, I would be so heartbroken!

You will loose a bird eventually. Not many chicken owners never loose a bird at some point in time. It will be a learning experience for you too.

 

[rumbleBee_STi]

It will happen sooner or later. I went for a few year then a fox got some of the birds. I also had a coyote and bobcat kill some birds. Once your birds are discovered it will be just a matter of time. For me it was when my most favorite bird was taken by a fox during the middle of the day when I was out working on the coops and ever since my birds stay in their nice large protected pens. I was devastated. I have lost some birds to hawks and owls. Now I have electric wires around my coops and pens, concrete under the gates and heavy duty netting covering all of the pens. Again, good luck and have fun.

How awful. We had a fox(es) earlier in the spring, maybe. Their screaming was unsettling. I’m sure it’s going to happen one day, I just hate to envision it. Just reading the horror stories on here about people’s most beloved chicken being massacred it was taken by a raptor as they watch in utter disbelief makes me cry imagining it. We will be reinforcing our coops here soon so...
I’m having a blast though! I’ve been clinically diagnosed with depression for almost 11 years now..... who needs service dogs when you have chickens?!

 

[keesmom]

How awful. We had a fox(es) earlier in the spring, maybe. Their screaming was unsettling. I’m sure it’s going to happen one day, I just hate to envision it. Just reading the horror stories on here about people’s most beloved chicken being massacred it was taken by a raptor as they watch in utter disbelief makes me cry imagining it. We will be reinforcing our coops here soon so...
I’m having a blast though! I’ve been clinically diagnosed with depression for almost 11 years now..... who needs service dogs when you have chickens?!

If you don't want to lose any to predators then an enforced coop and enclosed run is the way to go. That fox can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Free ranging is great, until it isn't.

 

[Naser]

Once I saw my rooster leading the flock following a big red fox across the fence

 

[rumbleBee_STi]

Once I saw my rooster leading the flock following a big red fox across the fence

Lmfao that shouldn’t be funny, but it is. Sounds like the type of animals I usually end up with. I’m just hoping Mr. Hei Hei doesn’t lead his ladies to their doom. Having 12 ladies all to yourself though.... it might be understandable.