Would it be ok to....

[gritsar]

One thing I'd like to add. I just came in from taking our two dogs on their "pee walk". Normally the dogs, an irish wolfhound mix and a border collie, are kept inside the fenced yard. At least once a week or more if it has rained, I take the dogs for a long walk around the area that my chickens frequent. Being dogs they pee on every interesting scent they find. It may help to keep predators at bay, it might not; but it doesn't hurt.
The coyotes have already tangled with my irish wolfhound once. I don't think they're anxious to repeat the experience.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I agree. You didn't say how old your boys are, but could all of you go out for awhile as a family thing and let the birds out together? As long as you’re all out there I don't think any predators will come around. I have a fenced in yard for my birds to keep them out of my gardens. A while back I lost one of my older hens to a predator, a neighborhood dog I think, as there were dog like prints next to my birds body. Now I have electric wires around the outside of my fenced in area. I did get a possum trying to dig under. When it screamed after touching the wire, I got my gun and shot it as I figured it would come back. There are pictures on my BYC Page.

 

[Jolyn]

My boys are 5 and 8!! We did go out as a family and watch four of the girls in the back yard. They loved it!!!! My cat left them alone. My little poodle mix did chase one through the fence but he was only playing.

I will post some pics as soon as i get them down loaded.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

You might try the first round of free-ranging pretty late in the day. At dusk they will all go back to the coop so you don't have the trauma of trying to round them all back up. From experience let me say that it's worse than trying to herd angry cats.

Good luck! I love looking out and watching mine putz around the yard. Do you have a rooster to help you keep an eye out for predators?