The High Price of Free Range
Our ducks finding things to eat.
We prefer to raise our animals in as natural a state as possible. All of our animals are given areas in which to roam and forage for themselves. Some of our animals are completely free-range. They can go where they please to find the best food sources for themselves. I believe that this is the most natural environment for these animals. I also know that this process produces healthy meat, deep yellow egg yolks, etc., but there are downsides. There is a high price for free range animals.
Our ducks are completely self-sufficient. We do not feed them at all. They waddle down to a neighbor’s pond a few hundred yards away and feed all day. My little boys especially like to watch them bury their heads underwater and see their feathered behinds stick straight up into the air. The ducks would grow tired of the water and walk home eating insects the whole way.
Our chickens have a fenced-in area in which to roam, but they also find ways out of the pen. We find them on our front porch, out by the road, in my garden area, etc. They go where the insects are the thickest and easiest to catch. Our yard has few grasshoppers because the hens have done such a thorough job, but go outside the fence and it almost reminds me of the plague in Egypt because the grasshoppers are so numerous. Seemingly thousands jump out ahead of your walking feet. Therefore, I know that the chickens are growing fat at their all you can eat buffet.
We have two rabbits that we have let out into the chicken yard to live a more free-range life versus being stuck in a rabbit hutch all day. We like to watch them hop over the green grass while they nibble tender shoots of grass. They have done very well for themselves in the months that they have been cage-free.
At night the ducks came up to our house to sleep. The chickens roost in their chicken coop. The bunnies huddled together in a tunnel they built underground. And, we slept soundly in our house.
I have enjoyed observing the animals in a more natural environment. We have been able to cut back on chores and our feed bill. This free-range arrangement was really working out for everyone involved this summer.
After months of no problems, something or somethings decided to attack our happy farm. In a matter of days, we lost a rabbit, our rooster, two hens, and all of six of our ducks. I don’t want to go into detail, but from the signs left I know that two different types of animals attacked our animals. One of our problems is a domesticated dog, I believe. The other more serious problem is definitely a wild animal or group of wild animals.
We are sad, but we always knew that losing your animals is a risk, especially when you allow them to be free-range. It does not make me want to stop my free-range program, but we can help protect our animals better. Honestly, we grew lax after months of no incidents.
First, the chickens need to be locked up in their chicken coop overnight so that nothing can enter the building. We stopped doing this at night because it has been so hot. Then we need to check our fences again for any signs of entry or exit. Good fences help keep your animals safe while still providing ample room and grass for our animals. The rabbit will be much safer with some boundaries.
We consider the ducks are our biggest loss. We lost ever single one of them. My husband is now looking for plans to build a floating duck house. This will help give them protection during the night. If you have built one, we would appreciate any advice you could give us. Email me or leave a comment.
If you are planning to raise your own food, know the risks. Research and common sense tell you that free-range animals are going to provide you with healthier meat and products like eggs. I believe the benefits of free-range animals outweigh the risks, but you have to decide that for yourself. Don’t get overly confident. Provide as safe an environment as you can. If you don’t, your animals will pay a high price for being free-range.
Many people that have not lived in the country or do not raise livestock have a hard time realizing that as land stewards and livestock owners we have a responsibility to manage the wildlife around us. Sometimes we have to control the predators as the natural balance in this country was changed long ago. I have recently had to start controlling raccoons on our property as they have multiplied to out of control numbers and are destroying other wildlife as well as property. No matter how much we like the predators and other wildlife somestimes we must step up and solve the problems ourselves.
http://wildedtx.blogspot.com/2010/08/catching-texas-deer-feeder-bandits.html
Wild Ed’s Texas Outdoors
So sorry you lost your animals! You have my sympathy.
I am so sorry for your loss. We have fenced off an extension to our chicken coop that is also covered with chain link. Our chickens have an inside roost and an outside roost. They use whichever they need for the weather. They are closed in to this pen at night and let out every morning to free range so the predators can not get to them. We also do this for our goats since they are pygmy goats. We have a donkey but depending on the pack of coyotes that comes into our yard she may not be able to protect all of them. It just makes her job easier. Taking care of the animals like this requires extra time on our part and can be inconvenient at times but we have not lost one as yet. I do not have ducks so I can not give you any suggestions there but we do have guineas. The guineas roost on the fence right outside the barn and the donkey takes care of them.
Lara,
I’m sorry to hear of your losses. My newly married son just went through the same thing and I wanted to kick him because he knew he lived where the predators were much more prevalent. He was devastated to lose so many hens that he had hatched himself.
We use movable pens a lot. For our chickens, rabbit, and pigs. We also have a goat in our chicken yard and I believe she deters predators. Lastly, we had a collie which was the BEST farm dog ever. He not only guarded from all animal predators, he guarded the children as well. We are hoping to replace him in the spring.
Thank you all for your kind words. Many ranchers around us have donkeys to protect their cattle or goats; however, we have not found it necessary as of yet. We just grew too comfortable in our little haven. We knew better, but sometimes you have to learn lessons the hard way.
Thank you for all of your suggestions, too.
Lara
Living on a farm or ranch you really have to get used to seeing animals die. Sorry about your ducks.
At night we chained our border collie inside or to the side of the chicken pen outside and never had a problem after that. She let the chicks brood in her fur at night. The other border collie we chained to my vegetable garden fence at night. Never a problem there, either.
When we went out of town for a couple of days we didn’t tie the dogs up there but there was so much of there smell around nothing dared trespass!
I train my Border collies for herding, so my ducks are very a valuable asset to me. I ended up getting geese and electric wireing the fence bottom. I haven’t lost one since. My mini horse protects the sheep and chickens.
Tonya,
Is that electronet fencing for poultry that you use? My husband and I are interested in raising pastured chickens to the public down the road and are looking into this type of fence. I was just wondering what you could tell me about it.
Thanks,
Lara
Lara,
No, just the yellow single strand type wire. I have not used it personally but, my fellow flock owners have informed me the poultry netting sold by premier-1 works great.
Thanks,
Tonya