Chickens living free sharing the land with the predators

[Dita Orlik]

I am wondering if I am the only person who is trying to figure out how to have free chickens living in the nature with predators without killing or chasing away the predators but rather protecting the chickens and give them the environment to protect themselves. it's been over a year and a half ago since I got Easter egger chickens and build them my design Predator proof coop. I have just built the second coop for my Red Junglefowls about two month ago. No animal ever managed to get in besides my chickens, no mouse, raccoon, no owl, no hawk, only wasps make nests under the balcony. I got stung twice only and it was my fault. The second coop does not even have a run. I built a privacy wall, what is genius the way how to protect your chickens. they can go under that can fly over and it slows down any predator. I have a hawks is flying all over the sky after when one young hen got killed everyone learnt what not to do. I had to coyotes come 40 yards from the coop and I figured that problem as well and got lucky that chickens instead running away faced the predator and screamed for help, because they are already troopers, because they have all that freedom and they cooperate with my dogs and me. About 10 months ago one easter egger hen disappear, I think it was a stray dog because they stopped going for three months to my neighbour’s fence line. She was independent, and she would wander alone for hours sometimes. And one Red Junglefowl hen got killed by red tail when they did not know any better yet and it was my fault, they followed me on the pasture but I kept walking with my dogs as I was doing for two weeks straight so the routine and trust in me killed her. That was two months ago. if there is ANYONE interested or thinks the way I do did that we have no right to chase the wildlife away from where we live and doesn't take the easy way out on behalf of freedom of the animals/chickens please contact me, I would love you to share with me your idea of achieving that. Thank you and please if you have problems with predators and you don't wanna murder them watch my videos on YouTube, I am still learning my animals are still learning, but it is working!!

 

[Perris]

Mine live similarly: In coops safe at night, out free ranging dawn till dusk during the day. Predator losses have been very few and far between for years now, even of chicks: 0 out of 8 chicks lost this year, for example, despite free ranging with their broodies from hatch, with foxes, dogs, goshawks, owls and other predators in the vicinity.

As you say, the birds learn and get better at predator evasion, especially when broody-raised. And they are not trapped should a predator find them, so can scatter and hide very effectively.

What I have found, as the flock has grown (29 now), is that there is also safety in numbers. They form a tight group when they detect a threat, roos taking places on the perimeter, hens in between, and every time I've seen them form that formation, the threat has not materialised. I guess the predators left empty handed, to find easier targets elsewhere.

 

[Dita Orlik]

Mine live similarly: In coops safe at night, out free ranging dawn till dusk during the day. Predator losses have been very few and far between for years now, even of chicks: 0 out of 8 chicks lost this year, for example, despite free ranging with their broodies from hatch, with foxes, dogs, goshawks, owls and other predators in the vicinity.

As you say, the birds learn and get better at predator evasion, especially when broody-raised. And they are not trapped should a predator find them, so can scatter and hide very effectively.

What I have found, as the flock has grown (29 now), is that there is also safety in numbers. They form a tight group when they detect a threat, roos taking places on the perimeter, hens in between, and every time I've seen them form that formation, the threat has not materialised. I guess the predators left empty handed, to find easier targets elsewhere.

Is that on your place that rooster picture? The background vegetation is even thicker than what I have. The way to go. Do you have dogs to keep the predators away? That is exactly what I noticed, roaming chickens are hard to track, mine once they leave the coop, they don't come back till the evening. Actually having the chicken the run was a mistake by the first coop I build. How do you like my coop design? The coop up by themselves, safe.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I do rotational free ranging. Only a few close calls with a hawk, but haven't lost one yet, since my birds are very smart.

 

[Dita Orlik]

I do rotational free ranging. Only a few close calls with a hawk, but haven't lost one yet, since my birds are very smart.

What would happen if coyote or a stray dog would come? I see you have game chickens, I found out that Red Junglefowls Diego strain are no smarter than my easter eggers, but rather it depends on if they had enough time to learn before they would get killed. And if one gets killed or facing the death everybody learns pretty quickly. How do you like my coop, it is hundred percent predator proof (except the bear)?

 

[MysteryChicken]

What would happen if coyote or a stray dog would come? I see you have game chickens, I found out that Red Junglefowls Diego strain are no smarter than my easter eggers, but rather it depends on if they had enough time to learn before they would get killed. And if one gets killed or facing the death everybody learns pretty quickly. How do you like my coop, it is hundred percent predator proof (except the bear)?

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.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

My chickens free-range 24/7, sleep in trees, and share my land with predators. It's a pretty simple operation to get going in my opinion

The only essentials are using tough chicken breeds, and only camoflaged colors. My American Game, Red Junglefowl and Sumatra are all basically immortal and breed like rats. The AGF/RJF mutts are particularly problematic with how fast they multiply

In fact I've been trying hard this last year to reduce their numbers and introduce more egg/meat productive blood. It's almost impossible to catch any of my chickens

Here's some cursed Sumatra, AGF, RJF and Egyptian Fayoumi mutts in some trees. Don't ever get Fayoumi heh

 

[Dita Orlik]

My chickens free-range 24/7, sleep in trees, and share my land with predators. It's a pretty simple operation to get going in my opinion

The only essentials are using tough chicken breeds, and only camoflaged colors. My American Game, Red Junglefowl and Sumatra are all basically immortal and breed like rats. The AGF/RJF mutts are particularly problematic with how fast they multiply

In fact I've been trying hard this last year to reduce their numbers and introduce more egg/meat productive blood. It's almost impossible to catch any of my chickens

Here's some cursed Sumatra, AGF, RJF and Egyptian Fayoumi mutts in some trees. Don't ever get Fayoumi heh
View attachment 3982428

Haha…immortal is funny. Do you have foxes or coyotes? would they survive then?

 

[Dita Orlik]

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.

Because only one post holds it the edge of the balcony is 2.5’ minimum from it for the predator to use the hind legs to climb up. I watched videos how raccoon, cats and dogs can climb over and all need vertical support to push up even if they grab the edge with front feet. Also because of the small space between overhang roof and the balcony edge they can not land with all four even if they can jump up. That stops the owls to get there too. Let's say they would get up than they have to tear down the smart siding board, also my chickens have exit door. Because they have the overhang roof and the entrance is so camouflage, they are not on display and no one even tried yet. I had 3 owls coming for three months day and night and they never figured it out. I had a family of the raccoons in the tree what fell on my house and they never figured it out. So what do you think?

 

[Dita Orlik]

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.

There is a flaw!!! On the long side the 2 x 6s reaches all the way to the edge, so if the animal would lift up the feet to 4” under the edge it could brace itself.