I am planning on letting my chickens free range a few hours each night. My question is...if I'm outside with them (very close by) are predators bold enough to swipe them or do I have to worry constantly? I'm just a nervous mommy that needs reassurance.
Predator question
If you are with them, the biggest risk would be a dog. Even hawks don't like someone around watching.
Good. I will get me a big whackin' stick in case a neighborhood dog comes around. Thanks.
I get home at 4 and let them out while I go in and do chores.. I come out to say hi and give them some grapes.. otherwise I only see to it that they are all in the run at sundown. 'round here most of the bad guys are out at nite. We are in a fenced in backyard -otherwise I'd be concerned about dogs...
some days I leave them out all day while I'm at work. the first few times I went home at lunch to check on them... nowadays i don't think about it so much..
A fenced in yard means nothing to dogs. We lost 30 birds this summer when three dogs dug under the fence.
Yup, better be nearby with that stick!
a stick don't mean much either.. i threw a frying pan at the one after my chickens hit him too but he didn't drop my chicken & he just came back 30 minutes later for a snack.
We've had coyotes & red foxes snatch them with people around also.
OMG...whats a girl to do beside buy a gun.