Chickens wandering too far while free ranging.

[Guinea Goonie]

Chckens are kinda like a group of young boys that mom let out for the day. They wonder and wonder and stay focused on the group unti they get a good distance from home and then wonder how they got there. If they are jumping the fence then unfortunately you are going to have to be the fence police and train them to stay within this boundry. It may take a few tries, but they will eventually get the idea. Chickens can be "redirected", the roos do it all the time to the hens. Watch them sometimes and learn. You do not have to let them out for the entire day. The do tend to go to roost a night, so a late afternoon outing would probably do them.

 

[moms_pantry]

My brother would let my chickens out early in the morning, and they started going across the street and scratching the neighbors mulch. Not a good idea. I only let them out in the late afternoon so they don't have much time to wander very far. The more time they have, the farther they go. I haven't seen them across the street any more. My son was getting tired of going to chase the chickens home. lol

 

[annmarie]

I find that my chickens wander further this time of year, when the ground freezes and there's not much "good stuff" out there to eat. When I see them getting a little too adventurous, I step out the front or back door and call them and give them a treat when they get to me. This makes it easy to bring them closer, since it's gotten to the point now that they come running for the house as soon as they hear the door open.

 

[Msbear]

Excellent point, Annmarie. Teaching your chickens to come when called is very important. I say "chook, chook, chook, chook" and they all come a runnin. Give them treats when you call them and they'll learn to come.

This helps me when I catch them near the road or when I want them in their coop or when someone is pulling in the driveway.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Quote:
For a hot wire to work they have to touch the ground wire or the ground at the same time so no it wouldn't help.

I would clip one wing an keep them herded away from the fence. They will get the idea.

 

[Feral]

Quote:
For a hot wire to work they have to touch the ground wire or the ground at the same time so no it wouldn't help.

I would clip one wing an keep them herded away from the fence. They will get the idea.

That's pretty much what I was thinking....thanks for the confirmation.

 

[FLOWERPOT]

A couple of my chickens used to insist on going next door to the neighbors yard anytime they were out of the run, The neighbors are very nice people but have a beautifully landscaped yard they work in a lot, and the chickens were digging in the flowerbeds.
So, when I let them run around I would bring a spray bottle of water with me to watch them. 3 times getting sprayed was all it took for them to get the idea that it was not a fun place to be!!!

 

[cthrash1]

Just tell your neighbors they are getting their yards fertilized for free...

 

[cthrash1]

Quote:
Great idea with the spray bottle...I've done that to my Dutch roo before while introducing a new roo to the flock so he'd leave him alone. Sometimes it works and sometimes the Dutch just doesn't get the message and ends up soaked. Now my BR breaks up the fights.

Cindy

 

[HennysMom]

I let mine out in late afternoon to free range also, but I"m there with them (hawk issues, we have nesting pairs close by

) the poor darlings hear them "scream" and they freeze like nobody's business!

Funniest thing ever to see but I'd be heartbroken if one actually got them

I'm like Momma Hen tending to the flock - they're all cowered together or they run to me and huddle around my feet when they hear the hawks. Poor girls!

If you cant tend to them during the day - you can make a little portable pen for them using tubing, PVC pipe and netting. It should cost less than $50.00 to make such a thing (depending on how big and how many birds you have that is) - a 8 foot round pen can be done for about that price and is easily moved by one person. Its fully enclosed on all sides and the top but the bottom is open for them to "free range".

I know someone on here has done one, I've seen it...and I have a friend that has one as well.

Just another suggestion for you to consider