I prefer free ranging and think that it is the best for the chickens, however there are times when it is just not feasible. For example, I lived on the big island of Hawaii for awhile and it is impossible to free range there without eventually loosing your entire flock to the mongooses. They breed like rats, can get through holes and cracks like weasels, will eat anything (including chickens and eggs), and even though they are not much larger than minks, they can stand up to much larger animals like cats and medium sized dogs. I had to keep my chickens in 1/2" hardward cloth reinforced runs with the bottom covered in hardware cloth as well to keep them from digging into the runs. I've never lived in places like rural Alaska, but I suspect them may have some similar type problems with the large number of predators that live there. I would always prefer to free range and do when I am living where I can, but its better to have "cooped up" chickens than no chickens or dead chickens.
