chicks free range already

[chickflick]

Oh yes, my chickens don't care whose yard they go in. Wouldn't be too bad except the neighbor to the left of me is a real jerk. If the chickens go to the right, the neighbors don't care.... I just have to look out every now and then and check where they are. I have a hockey stick, whick makes a great herding stick, and just herd them back to my yard.

 

[Iluvmychickens]

I let all my chickens free range all day only because my husband is retired and home most of the time.

When we want them to go into the coop all we have to say is Go Home Go Home Babies and one by one they head to the coop. And people say chickens are stupid. I beg to differ!!!


DeeDee

 

[Portia]

My chicks have been free ranging for about 2 weeks now, they are nearing 9 weeks old. I only let them out in my 24x24' fenced garden before that b/c I was acclimating my dogs to having the chickens in the yard & working on finishing up my coop. My yard is 3/4+ acre fully fenced, but there are plenty of gaps beneath that they could scoot under if they were inclined. I've found that, where they will range the entire yard they mainly stay down on the end by their coop for a couple reasons: their coop is there as is all their primary shelter and a small patch of 'woods' with lots of leaf litter to scritch in. They seem to gravitate to places where they can quickly take cover. The other day one of my welsummers scooted under the fence & quickly had a fit as soon as she realized she could not get back to the flock. She started screaming and all the others stayed close to her on the other side of the fence. A storm was brewing and I couldn't figure out why they didn't go back into their coop, then I heard the welsummer. As soon as I brought her back into the fenced yard they all ran for the coop. They are flock creatures and in my case stay close to eachother and their 'home' as long as there is ample cover, food and interesting places to explore. When one gets separated, just listen and you'll find it quickly.
Sorry so long, but that's my experience.

 

[donnap1967]

My chicks are 7 weeks old and I am still trying to get my husband to let me make me a coop. I have a fenced in yard but I always sit outside with them because I was afraid of hawks getting them.

When you let them free range isn't that a danger? ...or are there no hawks in your area. I could leave them out much longer periods of time if I didn't have to sit out there with them.

 

[Portia]

Yes. In fact we have a resident pair that is nesting in our forest. We usually have a late winter mixed flock (that has now paired off, but the pairs appear) that show up on our front lawn for a mid morning bug & seed feast. When they fail to appear it is usually because one of the hawks is up in one of the trees on the edge of our yard. However, we have had no problems with the chickens in the back yard. I attribute this to a couple of things: we have 2 dogs that also free range in the fenced yard where the chickens range, second there is plenty of food in the surrounding woods and fields to feed this family and more, I specifically chose large breeds with colorings that do not stand out but rather blend in, finally, there is a lot of cover for the birds...under the deck, in the woods, under pine trees and rhododendrons...so they can easily hide. We are realistic though, and know that a strike could occur at any time no matter what the precautions.