Coopless and I let my chickens free range the neighborhood

[Melky]

I respectfully disagree.
The OP is absolutely free ranging. Those who let their flocks out in their fenced in anywhere are just allowing access to a larger area.
When I free ranged my birds went wherever they wanted. Up the road, down the road, across the road. You get the picture. If they can, they will leave the property.

I know that is the chickens propensity if owners allow it but I agree with others your pets belong only on your property. Including cats and dogs or anything else an owner chooses to own. Otherwise they are just pests to others and cause destruction that no one wants. You should assume that anyone wants you to contain your pets to your property. Just common courtesy. While I have pets on my property, I do not let them roam elsewhere.

 

[aart]

This might have something to do with the OP's decision to go coopless:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...t-like-my-coop-what-am-i-doing-wrong.1291453/

I suspect your experiment will be short lived. Just because you haven't seen a raccoon doesn't mean you don't have them. If you are in the US you have likely have coons, foxes coyotes, hawks and dogs just for starters. You were lucky they escaped the dog once. At some point they won't.

Your neighbors may like them less if they get into a garden and tear up all their plants, or leave their calling card all over a walkway or deck.

Ditto Dat!^^^

 

[Ladybird CA]

Lol my mom's neighbour's game hen would fly into our yard, they stopped letting her do that when my mom kept the eggs she would lay.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

My hypothesis for your experiment is that your chickens will not survive. Is it worth it????

Please reconsider and keep your flock safe and sheltered.

 

[twendt]

I don't think this is such a good idea. Personally, I love my girls too much to let them fend for themselves. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night! My girls have red combs even though they've been "cooped up" lately (their choice) because of all the snow we have....they hate walking in snow. I built my coop with a large run knowing this, otherwise, when the weather is nice, they have full run of my enclosed garden. I built their coop inside my garden. I give them spring salad mix, fresh ears of corn, meal worms and high quality layer feed. They know when I get home from work and get cranky if I don't visit them and bring them treats after I change out my scrubs!! I am gifted with wonderful brown eggs daily , even in winter. I would never let my chickens run around my neighbor's yards. That's like letting your dog run around unsupervised in the neighborhood

 

[WindingRoad]

Seems to me that this type of behavior might possibly change the chicken keeping laws around the area. Some laws that many responsible keepers probably worked hard for.

 

[twendt]

Couldn't have said it better!

 

[Al Capon]

Has to be trolling..

 

[Fishkeeper]

So, you have two chickens that you neglect aside from feeding?

Keep them confined. If they seem like they aren't happy with that, that means they need more enrichment, not more space. Enrichment comes in the form of things to scratch in, things to eat, things to peck, basically everything that they would find free-ranging. Just throw in some weeds and novel foods on a regular basis, give them a few things to hop on, and they should be happy. Chickens are not complicated creatures.

When you own an animal, it is your responsibility to keep it confined to a place where it will be safe. Cats, dogs, chickens, anything. With the possible solo exception of homing pigeons and the understanding of the risk to them.

What happens if a stray dog goes after one of your birds? If someone sees them, thinks they're strays, and decides to have a chicken stew? If a raccoon -and there ARE raccoons in the area, I guarantee it- finds them? Raccoons live in big cities packed with skyscrapers, they're amazingly adaptable to humans, they ARE in your area no matter if you're near an urban area. What about a fox fox? If a possum comes up while they're too sound asleep to be aware? Do you have hawks in the area? Owls? What happens when your neighbor steps on a hidden egg for the fifth time and decides to pick up a pellet gun? When one goes broody too far away from food and her health suffers for it?

Besides that, you're going to have a hard time getting close enough to inspect them for disease on a regular basis. The more ground they cover, the more birds they encounter, the higher their chances of catching at least one disease. Forget trying to treat them for mites when you have no idea where they're getting the mites.

In short, you're being irresponsible, and your birds are going to suffer. Confine them, and bring the enrichment to them. It's much safer, and runs much less risk of bothering any of your neighbors.

 

[aart]

Has to be trolling..

Could be... but did you read their other thread? Pretty committed there.