Coopless and I let my chickens free range the neighborhood

[HenHouse4Life]

"It would seem reasonable in this case to extend this to all and any animals ‘owned’ by someone."

I agree with that statement Shad. If it's my dog, cat, horse, cow, goat, chicken, whatever...the animal belongs on my property. It is not a neighbor's responsibility to protect my animal or their property from my animal.

I'm not outraged at all...I just figured if the OP wants to discuss his experiment, he's open to opinions.

X2

 

[Suzi18]

Don't confuse my shock and amazement with outrage. And Shad.....I have cats(indoor) ,dogs, rabbits and chickens....none of which roam anywhere but my house or yard.

 

[pintail_drake2004]

This doesn't sound like a good idea to me. What happens in a hen goes broody and someone tried to move her and they get pecked? You could be held liable. I don't trust people, and I sure as heck wouldn't give them a reason to possibly sue.

 

[1cock2hens]

@OP, I see posts all the time where people see chickens that are wandering and decide they need to "rescued", there is a chance someone might see your chickens walking around unsupervised and attempt to "rescue" them. I wouldnt take that chance

PS. In my neck of the woods if a random chicken gets into my garden someone is having chicken for dinner

 

[DobieLover]

I agree with both @Shadrach and @N F C . Your animals are your responsibility. I don't allow my cat outside. I could. No laws against it. But cats kill more wildlife than almost any other domestic pet. Not to mention I was frequently the gradening victim of my neighbors cats using my mulch for their litter box.
I don't let my dogs run free on my neighbors property. I do let them off leash but they are on remote collars and have learned to listen to me no matter how far they've gone or they will suffer the consequences.
All this blathering on the OPs thread is to point out responsible pet ownership. Regardless of what the neighbors said, one or more DON'T want chickens on their property. Or soon won't after they track chicken s##t into the house a few times, or find their flowers eaten, or their carefully manicured mulch scratched far and wide.
The OP is clearly okay with the increased threat of predation. The chickens I'm quite sure are much happier and healthier. That should be a given without conducting such an experiment at the expense of the neighborhood.

 

[Melky]

I think we need to clarify free range. Free range means on your own fenced in property even if they do not have a fenced in run area. I would also make them go in at night for predator protection and not release into free range till most of eggs delivered for the day so you don’t have eggs all over the yard. If my neighbors chickens like my yard frequently, I would probably adopt the chicken and take the eggs thinking they are not caring enough for them if leaving them to wander about. I agree You are really taking risks with the dogs. They may lay in wait for opportune moment. Good Luck!

 

[NNYchick]

I can see it from both sides. One morning I saw Neighbor A chickens across the street eating the fallen birdseed In neighbor B front lawn and the rooster was crowing right next to the bedroom window at 5am. I thought oh dear here comes the chicken complaints. Nope a few days later I saw neighbor B out feeding them veggies scraps and chatting with chickens so she is encouraging them to come over. So her neighbors may truly enjoy having the chickens over. However OP you should have a plan to contain the chickens should they start becoming a nuisance and you have just been lucky as far a predators, neighbor A has lost her part of her flock every year for the last 4 years to predators.

 

[DobieLover]

I think we need to clarify free range. Free range means on your own fenced in property even if they do not have a fenced in run area. I would also make them go in at night for predator protection and not release into free range till most of eggs delivered for the day so you don’t have eggs all over the yard. If my neighbors chickens like my yard frequently, I would probably adopt the chicken and take the eggs thinking they are not caring enough for them if leaving them to wander about. I agree You are really taking risks with the dogs. They may lay in wait for opportune moment. Good Luck!

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.

ETA: I no longer free range as I feared for my flocks safety because of the places they frequented. They are now confined to a 1/4 acre electrified pen that they routinely escaped until a 3-day wing clipping fest put an end to it. But not before the neighbors dog killed one of my EE girls on day 3.

 

[Melky]

I can see it from both sides. One morning I saw Neighbor A chickens across the street eating the fallen birdseed In neighbor B front lawn and the rooster was crowing right next to the bedroom window at 5am. I thought oh dear here comes the chicken complaints. Nope a few days later I saw neighbor B out feeding them veggies scraps and chatting with chickens so she is encouraging them to come over. So her neighbors may truly enjoy having the chickens over. However OP you should have a plan to contain the chickens should they start becoming a nuisance and you have just been lucky as far a predators, neighbor A has lost her part of her flock every year for the last 4 years to predators.

Definitely a cost you don’t want to have.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I totally agree with taking responsibility for your animals. I live in a semi-rural area and there are quite a few of my neighbors that keep chickens. One neighbor pretty much did the same with her chickens, letting them free range the neighborhood. That meant mostly my yard and one other neighbor's yard. I can't imagine how much chicken poo accumulated in their front yard (they spent very little time in their owner's yard). I even witnessed the chickens stopping traffic. But the alleged consensus was the neighbors didn't mind? Yes we did, however this is New England and we are too polite to say something negative. I'm a transplant so I called animal control and that reigned them in. She still them free range for a short period of time everyday and she is still losing chickens to predators once a month. I don't think she understands that the monthly free chicken dinner is encouraging the predators to hang around for their next meal.