Chickens living free sharing the land with the predators

[Dita Orlik]

I'm in the southeast. The chickens live mostly in a black titi swamp

Maybe. The local vegetation and predators have a lot to do with it I'm sure. I've heard that wild junglefowl have a symbiotic relationship with bamboo. It allows them to perch on a tall, thin pole that bends over as they sleep on it. If a predator attacks they simply fly away

My chickens all roost on black titi and yaupon. Thin trees that grow at crazy angles high off the ground. Maybe they're functionally similar enough to bamboo to keep chickens safe

I wouldn't want mine roosting in an oak tree or anything easy to climb

Wow that’s awesome, I never heard of it, thanks. I am googling it now.

 

[BDutch]

I'm glad to hear that your coop works for you. I personally prefer tree roosting. In over three years of tree roosting with a flock that ranges from 50-100 in number I have never lost a single chicken in a tree

An acquaintance of mine had 8 chickens and had a coop to start with. but the chickens preferred to sleep in the trees. She lives not far from where I live in the Netherlands. One day, a chicken disappeared. One after another got missing or killed, all within a year. She thought it were martens who killed her chickens.
Chickens are definitely not safe in trees where I live.

 

[Dita Orlik]

An acquaintance of mine had 8 chickens and had a coop to start with. but the chickens preferred to sleep in the trees. She lives not far from where I live in the Netherlands. One day, a chicken disappeared. One after another got missing or killed, all within a year. She thought it were martens who killed her chickens.
Chickens are definitely not safe in trees where I live.

I guess wherever are the domestic cats besides everything else I imagine is not safe. I think it gets down to how much you like your chicken.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

An acquaintance of mine had 8 chickens and had a coop to start with. but the chickens preferred to sleep in the trees. She lives not far from where I live in the Netherlands. One day, a chicken disappeared. One after another got missing or killed, all within a year. She thought it were martens who killed her chickens.
Chickens are definitely not safe in trees where I live.

I think with bamboo chickens could be safe anywhere, however lacking that there are likely wandering super-predators that could take them out. Bobcats are one such example

However for these a dog is sufficient to keep them away

 

[Doriss]

Dogs, or Coyotes haven't been a problem here. I've got a few San Diego Strain Red JungleFowl as well not just Gamefowl, though the Strain Cackle has was mixed with their Standard Old English.

I wouldn't say 100% predator proof as Raccoons, possums, & foxes all have the capability to climb, as well as cats, & Bob cats.

To deal with foxes and possibly cat-like predators, you need a very-steeply sloping coop roof similar to those found in areas of heavy snowfall. You can also excavate a trench round the coop and fill with concrete in which to hold the chicken wire. Stops 'em digging under.