How do people free-range their chickens??!!!?

[Angela Thomson]

I lost two hens last week! My best layer was one of them. I had been letting them free range since it rained and their coop was muddy. (I am fixing that)
Not sure what got them, but this morning I found this pile of feathers on the ground. PLUCKED feathers, and no blood anywhere near. What does that?

 

[Farmgirl1878]

I lost two hens last week! My best layer was one of them. I had been letting them free range since it rained and their coop was muddy. (I am fixing that)
Not sure what got them, but this morning I found this pile of feathers on the ground. PLUCKED feathers, and no blood anywhere near. What does that?View attachment 1549363

Hawks generally “pluck” their kill before eating it.

 

[Angela Thomson]

Hawks generally “pluck” their kill before eating it.

Well, crap. I had crows eating my eggs and put up a fake dead crow to get them away. The hawks stayed away when the crows were there. Looks like I need to get my crows back!

 

[Kathy Sistare]

We have a mixed flock of fourteen birds. We let them out in the evening for 1-2 hours, supervised. We have hawks, coyotes, foxes, and owls. They are so docile, except with each other, sometimes that they would be dead in a heartbeat. We have lost birds to heat, and one that we think must have just had a heart attack when she came into laying. I don't plan on feeding the wildlife with my chickens!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I lost two hens last week! My best layer was one of them. I had been letting them free range since it rained and their coop was muddy. (I am fixing that)
Not sure what got them, but this morning I found this pile of feathers on the ground. PLUCKED feathers, and no blood anywhere near. What does that?View attachment 1549363

So sorry about your girls! Canids and bobcats also pluck feathers. We found piles of feathers and no blood after a hen was taken; shear pattern, scat and tracks indicated coyote.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

We have been in a constant state of flux with free ranging. We used to free range often while home, until our favorite hen was taken by a coyote. Then started staking our not chicken-safe dog at the border of prairie/woods, with a muzzle on! Note that I was always right there, only feet away from the dog, who was there happily eating treats, as an alarm/deterrent for coyotes. That actually worked well and got the birds out for an hour a few times a week, until a Cooper’s hawk came out of nowhere and went for a hen. Also turned ducks out in the am, escorted to our pond, then escorted back to coop in pm. That worked until they started deciding to come to coop at midday while I am at work, presenting an unsafe situation... next, Turned our guineas out to free range and expected losses, but none after three weeks! Unfortunately, the guineas also attack our free range chickens and ducks, so no free ranging for them; I’m now reducing the guinea flock to see if that helps... Since we are attached to all of our poultry, any loss is a big, emotional deal.

 

[Mrs White]

I only let my chickens free range when I am home. We have cattle and horses and when they are out they tend to stay close to them. My gelding is a very messy guy so the chickens love him! I have a rooster who does a pretty good job keeping an eye out, but things happen and I still loose a hen from time to time. Last Sunday I lost my favorite Americauna Wheezie. Not sure what happened to her, she just wasn't there when everyone came in to roost at night. I don't really think there are any secrets, just luck.

 

[BantammChick]

I free-range my chickens. Hawks get them sometimes. But most nights they return to the coop safely.

 

[HeavensHens88]

Sorry about all your losses.
In my twelve years of raising chickens, I've never lost a single bird while free-ranging.
My secret?
I stay out there with them. And I make sure I know where I can find the majority of them at any given time (which is quite the task when you've got a 50+ member flock, but I do it.) But that doesn't mean I don't misplace them temporarily...or for hours. There's been close calls. V e r y close calls.
If you can't be vigilant to that insane extent, there's going to be casualties. When I'm not home, they go back to their pens.
But that's unrealistic for people with long days- of course you're not going to want to keep them penned for ten hours straight, especially if it's a small area. Chickens move to unwise areas, and there's always something lurking. It's unfortunate, especially if it's a favorite that doesn't escape fiendish jaws- but it's a part of backyard chicken cultivation.

 

[CherriesBrood]

I have dealt and still deal with a hawk problem. Sadly we have lost many chickens over the years due to these predators. The problem actually got so bad that we have had a hawk nest on our property for two years and the parents come back every year to hatch and raise their young. As many suggestions that are out there I think the only effective ones are just diligently keeping an eye or ear out for any type of ruckus any time you let them free range, and the other one would be a chicken guard dog to watch over the chickens when you can’t.
I would love to get others advice or input on this.