We've started our adventure last week and now have a brooder filled with 41 chicks (doing great btw!) and are nearing completion of a new permanent coop for the "kids." We took a walk on our property today and discovered a huge fox den less than 100 yards away from the coop. We had seen mama fox numerous times in the past weeks in the early morning either coming or going from the area and believe she has some hungry kits. To add the the worry - there is a pair of nesting red-tailed hawks about 300 yards away. Now, we've raised chickens before - about 8 years ago, but they were only raised over the summer as meat-birds. Never had a problem with predators getting in the run then. Our intentions for our little girls is to have them free-range (over about 3 acres of lawn/yard/garden) during the day and coop-up at night to roost...keeping them year-round as egg layers. The coop is built with a concrete floor and steel siding. I feel pretty confident nothing is getting in at night (although - should we be putting hardware cloth over the window screens?). We plan on limiting the chicks' time outdoors until they are a bit more substantial in size. We've got Buffs, Wyandottes, RIR, Ameraucanas, and Austalorps. I'd rather not have the chickens in a run nor do i want to "take-out" the foxes & hope they won't be an issue. The hawks I worry about a bit more since they are daytime feeders. "Guard" dogs are out of the question since we had german shepherds and border collies in the past who get overprotective and chase EVERYthing on the property -deer, rabbits, skunks, etc...not to mention our son is allergic. Instead we've got a protective indoor/outdoor cat who goes up against the foxes & coon and is tough as nails. Coon & possum I don't care for and have ways to take care of them.
Am I rightfully worried? Am I delusional to think the fox shouldn't be an issue? (I'm new to the free-ranging thing - growing up we always had chickens in runs and coops.) Any insight would be appreciated! ( I love the tons of info on this site!!)
Am I rightfully worried? Am I delusional to think the fox shouldn't be an issue? (I'm new to the free-ranging thing - growing up we always had chickens in runs and coops.) Any insight would be appreciated! ( I love the tons of info on this site!!)