Backyard Chickens - Free Range Troubleshooting

[ChickenMomma4310]

Hi! I am new to chickens and seeking some advice on raising our backyard chickens. We have about .5 acre yard and neighbors on all sides. I really want our chickens to get plenty of fresh air, grass, access to bugs and plants etc., so we have allowed them to free range in the day while we are home. Overall, it is going okay, but there are a few issues I’m trying to troubleshoot. 1) They are pooping all over our patio and driveway, and that is starting to get frustrating. 2) They are also starting to scratch and dig and essentially ruin some of our landscaping/flowers which my husband is upset about because he enjoys our landscaping that he worked hard on. 3) Also, they sometimes get in the neighbors’ yards and I don’t want to upset anyone.

They currently have a small chicken coop/run, and I am wondering if anyone has any experience or suggestions on portable runs that we could move them into daily… something that can move around and still allow them to “free range” but within limits. I have seen some options online, but I am wondering how we would get them from the coop to the portable run?

I am sad because I love letting them free range. They seem so happy and my kids and I love interacting with them. Has anyone else had this experience?

Any suggestions are very appreciated!!!

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Do you have pics of your current setup? How many chickens?

I have used the Rent-A-Coop and Premier1 moveable fencing with success (I think Premier1 is better, but it is pricey to get a larger size - I ordered 2x 68' to get the size pen I wanted):

Rent-A-Coop: https://rentacoop.com/collections/fencing/products/multi-use-pet-boundary-fencing-1

Premier1: https://www.premier1supplies.com/poultry/fencing.php?fence_id=155

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I use Premier1, the non-electric version. It’s great. We move it around every few weeks.

 

[ChickenMomma4310]

Thank you so much for your reply! We have 7 chickens. Here is our coop and small run they are in now. We love them!! I wish they could just have free roam in an ideal world.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

You could easily put either of the moveable fences I linked around that whole setup and give 7 chickens plenty of space to free range(ish) in it.

The Rent-A-Coop fence is $200 for 100ft.

Or you could get 2 of the 68' Premier1 fences (136 ft total) for $268.

Both options are fairly easy to set up and move around into whatever sort of configuration you want!

 

[Penpal]

I have the electric netting. You could get one and see how you like it before adding a second. With 7 chickens even just one unit is going to seem like acreage compared to that little run. You don't have to plug it in, but you may need to at some point, so you always have that option.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

I have the 168’ Premier electric netting for predator protection around my mobile coop holding 9 roosters, and it is a lot of free range space! If you have neighbors and those neighbors have dogs, invest in the electric netting. It will save relationships when Fido learns that chickens are fun to chase and catch (kill). Your children clearly adore the chickens

 

[OneLostHen]

I use Premier1, the non-electric version. It’s great. We move it around every few weeks.

How do you keep the chickens from hopping over the fence? Do you have a roof over it of some sort?

 

[gtxcreations]

I had a similar situation as well, dealing with poop right by our back door (chickens hung out there when bored), damaging my vegetable garden, and rearranging my landscaping and causing our lawn to recede. The way I handled it is setting up a welded wire free range area by the coop/run to keep the chickens contained during the day. I let them out to the main yard later in the day so they had enough time to scratch and search for bugs before returning to the coop when it got dark, leaving no time to hang out on our patio to leave a lot of poop. I fenced in my vegetable garden and any plants I didn't want damaged. The chickens still mess up the landscape some, but not nearly to the extent they used to when they had all day.

Welded wire I used, fixed by T-posts, trees, and other structures: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/countyline-welded-wire-14g-2-x-4-mesh-4-ftx-100-ft-2268032

I had one flyer that would fly in and out at will, but generally stayed with the flock during the day. If that is an issue, clipping the wing will keep the hen from flying out. Hope this helps!

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
I agree about buying fencing to manage them better, and the electrified poultry netting from Premier1 is a really good choice for you. Fencing is absolutely necessary, for your patio, the neighbors, and the safety of your birds!
As you've learned, chickens dig holes, eat plants, and poop everywhere, so just for these reasons, keeping them out of trouble is best.
And everyone loves chicken!!! Predators abound everywhere, including neighborhood pet dogs, and wild critters that you might not realize are there.
Also, please add your approximate location to your profile, it helps us to make recommendations. I think your cute coop could us some changes too.
Mary