Afraid to Free Range

[mamascarlett]

I'm still a newbie at this. Started my little flock in March, my girls are getting bigger now. I know of course my girls would love to free range. We have plenty of acreage for them. With all our coyotes, foxes, hawks, I am nervous. For starters, I'm thinking of letting them be outside for several hours while I'm doing outside or downstairs work and can keep an eye on them, them put them back in the run after that.
My biggest question is, will they take off and run away? So far I've let out a couple at a time and they come when I call them. I'm hoping they continue this behavior once they're all outside. And getting them back inside concerns me...Thanks for bearing with me! Any tips appreciated.

 

[nursesusanb]

Mine have only free ranged. We have lost 2 in the past three months to a predator, you have to be willing to risk loss.
They always find their way back to the coop at dusk without problem. We do however have ample overhead coverage and shrubs to keep them safe. If I had open fields I may have built a large run.

It is like watching chicken TV seeing them wander the yard. They end up pooping on the deck which I could do without!

 

[mamascarlett]

Thank you!
I let them all out the past 2 days and monitored them all closely. Fortunately our lab is VERY gentle with them and uninterested and he will help keep some predators away I believe.
They went into the coop easily every time I called them or shooed them in.

 

[SilkieNation]

Thank you!
I let them all out the past 2 days and monitored them all closely. Fortunately our lab is VERY gentle with them and uninterested and he will help keep some predators away I believe.
They went into the coop easily every time I called them or shooed them in.

Free ranging is a risk, like nursesusanb said. Some people take it and some don't. Chickens are definitely happiest free ranging and it is so nice to have them wandering around. I don't let mine because I have a small flock and am very attached to all of them. It would kill me to lose one to a predator. I let mine out when I'm right there, watching, particularly for hawks as they are the greatest threat on my property. When I first got chickens, I did let them free range, until an unsuccessful hawk attack scared me out of that practice. A big run is a good thing, covered with some netting or something for hawk protection and with some objects, a leaf pile, etc. for them to entertain themselves with.

 

[Papagena]

We free range ours, but it's all about evaluating risk. For me, the chickens are happier and I'd rather take the risk of losing one from time to time than keep them in a run where I feel they won't be as happy. For others, it would be far too devastating to lose one so they keep them in a larger run, reducing risk of predation. It's all about what you are comfortable risking.

 

[mamascarlett]

Update on my free range debacle-Its been over a month and my girls are happy full time free rangers. Thus far, all safe and sound. The dog helps to patrol things. We have some large boxwoods and they use them as a 'coop' to go in and out of for protection. I've seen hawks circling a few times and the girls let out a loud cry and they all run under the boxwoods for protection. Other than the poop on my driveway, and my back porch LOL, I love having them free range. If I'm going to be gone all day, I do opt to keep them in the coop since I can't be around to monitor. They go in the coop on their own just fine around sunset.
So far so good. Other than my ruined hostas and like I said, poopy porch.

 

[Toddrick]

I get great joy watching my birds free range. I thought I might get bored watching them, but it's been a year and a half, and I still can watch them for hours. Unfortunately, with winter coming they will probably be cooped up a lot soon, but it has been a fantastic summer for them. They are very happy.

The good thing about chicken poo, unlike dog poo and even duck poo, is that it seems to wash away in the rain very easily, leaving almost no trace. The cecal poos can be stinky though, so I try to throw bread to them off the deck.

 

[CLSranch]

Nice thoughts. I've seen someone take a camper shell or you could build something away from the coop. Open on both ends but they can run under it when a hawk or eagle is above. I also like to keep traps out for coons and possums. It seems that they come in heavy in the spring and fall here, and do not stop until I get a few. Or they will come back almost every night.

 

[lilmillefleur]

i have had chickens over the summer for about 3 years and have never had any problems

but then again they are out for only 40 mins on saturdays