The good foraging for the year is soon to be over until the spring season, though October is the best foraging month of the year here, IMO. The birds are packing in grass seeds, clover, bugs and grubs galore while the temps are still warm in the day.
The migratory hawks are moving through, so this starts a dangerous ranging time. The month of September had us getting raided at dusk and early morning by a local great horned owl pair but they seem to have moved on. They pretty much cleared the meadow of our resident rabbits, most of the squirrels and a good many of my young cockerels, not to mention injuring two of my older hens unto death, though the dogs foiled their getaway for three of the birds...Ben sustained a cut on his face in that melee. That was the worst aerial predation I've sustained in any flock of mine in the past 40 yrs.
God replaced my missing flock members, though, with a gift of birds out of left field as my sister decided to get out of chickens. She gave me 17 birds, mostly older and nonlaying hens that I can put in a jar for winter soups but among those are 5 soon to be POL Black Australorps that will replenish my layers that have been taken this season.
God is good that way and He works in truly mysterious ways. I had started to get a little anxious with the level of predation on the flock this year, wondering if I would have enough birds for meat and also enough hens to take through the winter and for laying, but He soon reminded me to trust in Him and be anxious for nothing. And so I did.... and He blessed me with just what I was needing...meat for the winter and replacement layers. I love how my Father provides for me...it's always interesting and amazing how He works it all out!
