I learned the hard way not to free range. I live way out in the country. There are many predators out here - hawks, foxes, weasels, bears and, worst of all, neighbors' dogs allowed to wander around. It's pretty devastating to find a flock of 10 hens and the poor rooster who tried to defend them all killed by a dog or other predators. They now stay in their fence with an electric fence around and outside of that.