Contained free ranging

[taxmoms]

We had the problem of losing free range chickens. Our solution is our www.ChickenSanctuary.com we now have 20 breeds in 20 Chicken Sanctuaries with 170 chickens and have not lost a chicken since we starting building them two year ago.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Oh no! There is a dog next door and some cats - I would feel guilty.

As long as they stay next door where they belong, nothing to feel guilty about..... if they are on your pretty and touch the fence still nothing to feel guilty about because that shock may u have just saved your birds

 

[Gmochizuki]

i took a while for my first accidental chicken to get use to staying in the yard.
and then it would only roost in some bushes. it taught the others i eventually got to roost in the bushes. from their roosting spot they could easily go over the fence, but due to an unfortunate mis-adventure lead the soon to be deceased rooster, they no longer feel the need to be out side of the yard. they use to follow me out of the gate if i happen to be working out side. but another problem with loose dogs now keeps them inside even with an open gate.

 

[Gmochizuki]

DOGS AND CATS! all the more reason to keep them out. I think you would feel guilty should the dogs eat your chickens and you had not put up the fence....

Good luck

Gary

don't seem to have a problem with my cats and adults chickens. i think one of my cats when left out over night was sleeping in the nest box.
not too trusting with young chicks.
watch out for wild life, opossums and foxes. also owls and other big birds.

 

[ehoneybee]

We had the problem of losing free range chickens. Our solution is our www.ChickenSanctuary.com we now have 20 breeds in 20 Chicken Sanctuaries with 170 chickens and have not lost a chicken since we starting building them two year ago.

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This is nice. Is it moveable? I want something I can move around the yard as needed.

 

[Dayrel]

I'd recommend a chicken tractor. I have one for my three girls and it has already proven it's worth. Many chicken tractors contain a small coop and run. That is good for small flocks. As you get more or if you have a fixed coop, you may want to have just a run for the chicken tractor to allow them controlled free-ranging during the day. Check out BYC's Coops articles (under Tractor Coops) for ideas.