Already started. We have a coop about ready, my wife has experience, we're semi-rural, about set. Only thing, I want them free range and I'm not sure about the wildlife.

Haven't seen a fox in ages. The local coyotes don't come in here, yet, but a massive new development is pushing them out of their comfort zone. Plenty of raptors it seems. But hell, I can afford everything but a ton of fencing, of any kind.

What to do? Just run out with the 20-gauge and start blasting at 3AM when shit goes sideways?!

I need to post on the chicken comm.

[–] ApathyTree@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

My primary plan is to hatch extra and expect some losses. Wildlife needs to eat, too, and I can’t fault it for doing so, even if it’s inconvenient for me.

However I’ll also employ roosters, which are annoying but do great protecting the flock (even sacrificing themselves to save their ladies). If you can’t/won’t have roosters for whatever reason, a couple geese will help as well, or you can add them to the roostered flock for extra protection, I believe.

Personally, the only way I’d ever shoot something going after my flock would be if it’s a threat to the enclosed run/coop where they stay at night and in bad weather. Or if they were habitual about raiding my flock.

But chickens should be in a coop at night so as long as you have one critters can’t get into, you probably won’t have too many losses.

[–] Jake_Farm@sopuli.xyz 2 points 9 hours ago

Peacocks can chase off predators.