[bucketman]

Hi All
Well the time has finally come me and the wife are moving north to Sutherland and the chucks are coming to. At the moment they have a big run in the veg patch 12ft*40ft so here the thing
 The place has 8 acres so could we just let them run wild and they would find there on way home of a night or should we build a big pen for them
 And does any one on this site know what predators we will have to look out for up there.
rob 

[Bionic]

Rob, I am far from an expert as I have only had my birds a few months but when I got them I kept them in for a week to make sure they knew where they lived. After that I let them out. They started by roaming the garden and then progressed to the field. We only have a couple of acres but they always know where to come back to at night.
Sally

[deepinthewoods]

yes build a temporary big pen and gradually let them out.
good luck, and congratulations!

[bucketman]

Thanks for getting back cant wait to move been looking forward to this for years already seen some post on this site from people who live there
rob

[Factotum]

what predators

Probably the usual - foxes, badgers and stoats, also pine martins, large birds of prey (Goldies?) and possibly wildcats - though I don't think they would usually choose to have chicken on their menu.

Good luck with your new venture.

Sue

[jaykay]

How exciting 

My chooks roam far and wide and come home at night. I'm lucky cos there aren't many foxes.

I'd second penning them to begin with so they learn where they live, maybe for a week, then let them out. If you get them accustomed to you calling them by scattering corn in the afternoon/evening, you can keep them from disappearing over the horizon to begin with. Start the call and corn while they're in their pen.

[bucketman]

what predators

Probably the usual - foxes, badgers and stoats, also pine martins, large birds of prey (Goldies?) and possibly wildcats - though I don't think they would usually choose to have chicken on their menu.

Good luck with your new venture.

Sue

Its just as well the chucks are well hard scouse chucks 
rob

[deepinthewoods]

harry-enfield Scousers in the pub

[bucketman]

LOL 

[HappyHippy]

Congratulations on your move  If you need somewhere to stop for a cuppa halfway, we're about 20 miles south of Glasgow on the M74 
You'll need to watch out for the most elusive and dangerous beastie of all - wild haggis's  (or is it Haggi ? Not sure of the plural  ) 
Nah, I'm kidding ! Buzzards might be interested, but we've got them round about us and never lost chooks to them - biggest threat foxes I'd say, much the same as anywhere else.
Karen 

[bucketman]

Thanks HappyHippy
But we feel guilty for locking the chucks up for the long drive. So we will pull in a couple of time and swap drivers eat and drink on the go
rob