Should I let my chickens free-range in a neighborhood?

enola said:

Yes, the general consensus is you should build a fence. If I had time I would go back through this thread and count how many times you have been told this.......

One thing you NEED to understand about chickens????? If there is somewhere you DON'T want them to go, THAT is where they are going to spend all their time. That is what chickens DO !!!

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So true!!!!!

I used the welded wire 3 ft and a funky pallet type gate to keep them off of my porch and gardens. Chickens did an awesome job in the winter, clearing and weeding, but the plants needed a chance to get a start before I let them back at it to keep the weeds and bugs down. I love that they do this work. I hate weeding, I'd much rather rake mulch back into the beds than pull weeds.


And as for herding chickens....Herding and catching a free range chicken is not easy. And stressful for the chickens too. All of mine Run at me the instant I open the slider or gate, but they do not want to be picked up. And as soon as you walk away, they will wander back to where THEY want to be.

One more thing to keep in mind, they need a safe coop at night. especially with the creek, you have night time predators that will discover your chickens.

As people have said, welded wire is pretty inexpensive and the fiberglass stakes, make it nice to create an area that is not a square or rectangle to fit any area you like.


Good Luck, you will get alot of enjoyment from your new pets!

I usually let my chickens out roaming around the yard in the late afternoon. They will all go back to the run in the evening, have some dinner, and put themselves to bed inside the coop. This evening, I decided to test them to see if I close the door to the run, but leave the big coop cleaning door open, would they know to fly into the coop directly from the big front door. Well, one tried, but did not fly high enough to make the 4' height, landed right back down to the ground. Then all of them just stood in front of the run door patiently waiting. When I purposely ignored them, they did something that they have never done before: all of them walked up the stairs to my patio door and just waited outside the house for me to take notice. All right, you win. So I guess they know where "home" is and how to get their owner to pay attention.

Ha Ha Haa! Smart enough to come get you, but not smart enough to go through the opening.

It must 've just been too tricky, easier to "get help" from that tall thing with the food! Because you can make things happen!


Or they wanted to snuggle.