Chickens crossing the road

[ambrosia79]

We have 3 acres of yard for my 12 chickens to roam. They are about 17 weeks old and have been free ranging during the day for about a month. They have pretty much stuck to less than an acre of our yard. We live in the country, but close to a main road. Not a lot of traffic, but people go pretty fast (60mph plus). We have one neighbor across the road. I don't want them crossing because of the chance of being hit by a car and I don't want them destroying the neighbors flower beds. I had hoped that 3 acres was enough to keep them roaming over there, but two of them did it today and the others were going to follow if I didn't hurry and chase them back. We can move the coop to the back of our property with the hopes they will explore more of the yard and stay farther away from the road. Do you think this will help? Or will they just eventually get to the road no matter what? We don't have a run for them right now, but maybe that's the only option. Any ideas of other ways to discourage crossing the road while still allowing free range?

 

[centrarchid]

How and where are you feeding them?

 

[RedDrgn]

Unless you keep them in a run or put a fence up along the property boundary you don't want them to cross, they will eventually cross from time to time.

We have 6 chickens who have 2/3 acre to roam. Prior to throwing a roo in with the 5 hens, the girls would scatter EVERYWHERE, either singly or in pairs or whatever they felt like and be all over the yard and adjacent roads (our property is triangular and little traveled, low speed dirt roads run along two of the boundaries). When we added the roo, we spent time out with him in the yard and shepherding him along boundaries to make sure he knew the property. While that has done WONDERS in keeping the flock together when they are out as well as keeping them off of the roads 95% of the time, sometimes they still get it in their heads to seek new adventure and head into the road or the adjacent neighbor's property, so if we leave them entirely to their business, they do this 1-2 times per week and we have them out 3-10 hours/day. It's not the roo that will do it, either. It's always one of two hens who will lead the charge and then the rest follow.

 

[ambrosia79]

How and where are you feeding them?

They have food and water in their coop at all times and I just leave the door open for them to access it all day. I refill their food and water each day when it's time to go back in the coop.

 

[centrarchid]

They have food and water in their coop at all times and I just leave the door open for them to access it all day. I refill their food and water each day when it's time to go back in the coop.

Can you provide a diagram showing house, coop, road and potential patches of cover? You can make diagram in something in most word processing programs and those used to make presentations. Otherwise a detailed written description will do. Pictures of vegetation in particular would be helpful as well.

I can greatly impact my birds ranging habits so long as flock size does not exceed carrying capacity of area I want foraged. A lawn made up only well mowed grass will not be your friend. Otherwise 3 acres should be more than adequate.

 

[4 the Birds]

Fence! Only a fence will set a boundary perimeter for your birds and predators. Not fool proof but it will take care of wandering chickens and easy predator attacks. Netting on poles is better than nothing. Even if you have hundreds of acres, without fencing a stray dog or coyote can wipe out your flock. That would be more of a concern than the roads.

 

[centrarchid]

Sometimes defining perimeter is not needed for keeping birds where desired if acreage is adequate. Fence definitely helps with predator management but if your birds are like mine the fence is very easy to fly over and with paddock like 4 the Birds has, mine can over entire paddock including fencing on both sides.

 

[moetrout]

It's only natural for a chicken to want to "get to the other side"!

.....can't believe nobody said that yet!

 

[ambrosia79]

Can you provide a diagram showing house, coop, road and potential patches of cover? You can make diagram in something in most word processing programs and those used to make presentations. Otherwise a detailed written description will do. Pictures of vegetation in particular would be helpful as well.

I can greatly impact my birds ranging habits so long as flock size does not exceed carrying capacity of area I want foraged. A lawn made up only well mowed grass will not be your friend. Otherwise 3 acres should be more than adequate.

I could, but it will take me a while. But, yes, we do have 3 acres of well mowed grass. The perimeter of the property on 3 sides is basically a tree line with some brush/wild berries and some old fencing that has a few spots where the deer have knocked it down. There are a few trees on the road frontage, but no fence. They love to go under a huge forsythia bush we have that is right beside the coop, but toward the road. We have a few large trees on the property. They also love a patch of lilacs in our front yard (also near the road). For the time being, I have just shortened the time they are out to free range. Instead of out from 9 am till 9 pm, they are out from about 6 pm -9pm. I can keep a better eye on them during that time. I think we are going to build a run for them before fall.

 

[centrarchid]

Run will be good. Based on description, you have preferred cover / loafing areas next to road. Long-term I would plant bushes / brambles like blackberries in backyard away from road in patches. The patches need to be large enough to accommodate birds and spaced out enough so birds not able to occupy more than one at a time. This would provide distinct loafing areas. To shift balance from existing tree cover along front yard, place feeding stations or scratch near planted cover in back yard near but not within patches.