It is difficult to imagine anything more idealistic than the sight of happy chickens scratching around a farmyard carefree. In reality, free-ranging isn't always as easy as it may seem, but it has a number of benefits that make it worthwhile.
Nevertheless, free-ranging requires more than just leaving your birds outside and wishing for the best. As you free-range your flock, you will need to be well prepared to ensure an enjoyable experience.
If that's the definition of "free-range chickens", then virtually every chicken keeper has them, doesn't it? The more common answer among those who raise chickens on a smaller scale is that free-range chickens are allowed to roam wherever they want to.
Thus, you will not have to buy as much food to feed your flock during the months where insects and vegetation are plenty. You save money and they find tasty food. Everyone is pleased!
Your birds will be less able to forage in winter, so you will have to buy more feed. Free-ranging should nonetheless reduce your feed costs when bugs & grass and are plentiful.
To keep an eye on your chickens, a watchdog might be another option. If you are planning to incorporate either of these into your farm, do enough research to ensure your choice is right for you and your flock.
If you have a vegetable garden, consider fencing it off to prevent chickens from destroying your vegetables. You can also create a chicken garden to keep the chickens merry.
If you want your hens to lay eggs where you want them to, fake eggs can be your best friend. Put fake eggs in nest boxes so they know where to lay their eggs. Also, place a few fake eggs in a hidden nest you find that is convenient for you!
The truth is hens will carry on laying in a nest that they believe is undiscovered. A hen will seek out a new nest to hide eggs when her hidden nests are repeatedly emptied.
Nevertheless, free-ranging requires more than just leaving your birds outside and wishing for the best. As you free-range your flock, you will need to be well prepared to ensure an enjoyable experience.
Definition of Free-Range Chickens
Exactly what is free-ranging? That depends on who you ask. USDA defines a free-range chicken as one that has access to the outdoors.If that's the definition of "free-range chickens", then virtually every chicken keeper has them, doesn't it? The more common answer among those who raise chickens on a smaller scale is that free-range chickens are allowed to roam wherever they want to.
Benefits of free-ranging
1. Diet
Based on how well they do in such conditions, it's likely that chickens were made to forage for their own food. If given the chance, chickens will happily scratch and peck all day long.2. Cost-Effective
The longer your chickens spend foraging for food, the less they will eat of the food in the feeder.Thus, you will not have to buy as much food to feed your flock during the months where insects and vegetation are plenty. You save money and they find tasty food. Everyone is pleased!
Your birds will be less able to forage in winter, so you will have to buy more feed. Free-ranging should nonetheless reduce your feed costs when bugs & grass and are plentiful.
3. Pastured Products
The fact that pastured animals produce tastier products is reason enough for people to spend more for pastured products. You and your family will enjoy free-range eggs not only because they are more marketable, but also because they taste better.4. Happy Chickens
Trying to chase that one chicken that keeps escaping the run gets quite tiring. So what do you do? Remove the run and allow your birds to roam free. Your birds will be very happy, and you might even notice that they are producing more eggs.5. Insect Control
Chickens might not seem like an effective insect control tool, but they can be. They get a kick out of eating creepy crawlies you'd rather not have around.6. Natural Fertilizer
A large amount of chicken manure cannot be used as fertilizer without allowing it to rest for 6 months before using. You can, however, let your chickens fertilize your garden with fresh manure if you allow them to roam freely.
Drawbacks of free-ranging
1. Predators
Chickens that are free-ranging the whole day are at a higher risk of predator attacks. Free-ranging flocks are especially vulnerable to attacks from roaming dogs and aerial predators.2. Landscaping & Gardens
You likely grow things that chickens love destructing if you are a homesteader. Your chickens will enjoy scratching up dirt and your fresh flowers, herbs, and vegetables, whether in flower pots or gardens.3. Hidden Eggs
Egg-laying chickens are always searching for a safe place to lay their eggs. Despite this, their definitions of a safe space don't always match ours. It is not uncommon for hens to leave protected nesting boxes in search of hiding places, which results in daily egg searches and lost eggs.Managing a Free-Range flock
1. Roosting
Some chickens may get the notion that the coop isn't the safest place to sleep when there is an entire world to roost. Make sure you teach strong roosting habits to your birds from the start. When young birds are placed on roosts at night, they will learn where the ideal roosting places are.2. Ensuring Safety
Precautions can be taken to help safeguard your birds from predators. You should think of keeping a rooster who will watch over your flock and alert them if anything goes wrong.To keep an eye on your chickens, a watchdog might be another option. If you are planning to incorporate either of these into your farm, do enough research to ensure your choice is right for you and your flock.
3. Garden and Landscape Protection
The rest of your homestead will also need to be protected if you opt to free-range your chickens.If you have a vegetable garden, consider fencing it off to prevent chickens from destroying your vegetables. You can also create a chicken garden to keep the chickens merry.
4. Egg Collection
It seems chickens are always trying to make their devoted owners' jobs as hard as possible. A few things can be done to make things less tiresome for yourself when it comes to hidden nests.If you want your hens to lay eggs where you want them to, fake eggs can be your best friend. Put fake eggs in nest boxes so they know where to lay their eggs. Also, place a few fake eggs in a hidden nest you find that is convenient for you!
The truth is hens will carry on laying in a nest that they believe is undiscovered. A hen will seek out a new nest to hide eggs when her hidden nests are repeatedly emptied.
Selecting Free-Ranging Breeds
While selecting chickens for free-range, there are a few factors to consider. For free-range chickens to thrive, they must possess good vision, strong foraging instincts, be aware of danger, and be well colored to blend in with their surroundings.
Some breeds like Polishes & Houdans, which have large crests over their eyes, have poor vision. Because they cannot see what's coming for them, birds with low vision are way more susceptible to predator attacks.
Due to strong instincts such as their desire to forage and awareness of predators, heritage breeds are generally the best suited to free-ranging. Breeds that are newer and more commercialized are bred just for production and lack the instincts of older breeds.
When it comes to camouflage, chickens with certain feather patterns will have a better chance of surviving. Free-ranging a white chicken has different results from free-ranging a brown chicken with white speckles.
Poultry nets are only semi-permanent, meaning you can move them to fresh grass whenever necessary if you have a lot of room to move your flock. Plus your flock should be safe from predators with the help of electric fencing.
Some breeds like Polishes & Houdans, which have large crests over their eyes, have poor vision. Because they cannot see what's coming for them, birds with low vision are way more susceptible to predator attacks.
Due to strong instincts such as their desire to forage and awareness of predators, heritage breeds are generally the best suited to free-ranging. Breeds that are newer and more commercialized are bred just for production and lack the instincts of older breeds.
When it comes to camouflage, chickens with certain feather patterns will have a better chance of surviving. Free-ranging a white chicken has different results from free-ranging a brown chicken with white speckles.
5 Excellent Free-Ranging Breeds
1. Speckled Sussex
A variety of reasons make Speckled Sussex chickens suitable for free-ranging. These beautiful birds have feathers that provide excellent camouflage so that they can forage safely. It does a good job foraging and looking out for dangers as far as instincts are concerned.2. Buckeye
As a heritage breed, Buckeye chickens have deep-rooted foraging instincts, which makes them ideal for finding food on their own. Furthermore, Buckeyes are less noticeable when free-ranging due to their dark brown color.3. Plymouth Rock
The Plymouth Rock, or specifically the Barred Rock, is a much-loved breed for more reasons than just its ability to roam freely. In addition to excellent egg layer characteristics, these chickens are also friendly and wary of hazards that could hurt them while free-ranging.4. Egyptian Fayoumi
It's not the friendliest chicken around, but Egyptian Fayoumis' flightiness is hugely advantageous in avoiding predators. Wits & camouflage enable Egyptian Fayoumis to stay safe while foraging.5. Welsummer
The versatility of the Welsummer makes it a worthwhile breed to have for more reasons than one. The egg basket of any family will be spiced up with the lovely eggs laid by this gorgeous free ranger.Alternatives to Free-Ranging
While free-ranging has many advantages, it is not always ideal. There is a possibility that you will decide that the disadvantages or the current circumstances don't justify letting your flock roam freely. Every chicken keeper will have a different setup, so if free-ranging isn't for you, there might be some other options.1. Electric Netting
Electrical poultry netting offers a practical way to provide free-range living conditions for your birds, without allowing them to roam freely. You can purchase various lengths of poultry netting and connect them together to enlarge your birds' run.Poultry nets are only semi-permanent, meaning you can move them to fresh grass whenever necessary if you have a lot of room to move your flock. Plus your flock should be safe from predators with the help of electric fencing.
