Cruel to not let them free range?

[muscovy94]

Hey everyone I have silkies and oegbs in a large chicken pen and i let them free range everyday. Well a few days ago a HUGE hawk killed my FAVORITE silkie hen (he couldn't have taken one of the oegb roos

) Anyway, My silkie flock consists of 5 hens and 2 roos (the roos DO NOT fight. They are like bff, lol) And i am going to build them a separate pen just for the silkies and it will be 10x10. I'm gonnna keep the oegbs in the original pen and continue letting them free range (i don't want to, but the pen has a concrete floor so i kinda have to let them free range

) So would it be cruel to not the silkies free range anymore? I just really don't want to lose anymore birds.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I think it depends on how many silkies you will put in your 10 x 10 pen. If they aren't crowded, get treats and attention, and greens handed to them sometimes by you, I think they would be fine (and ALIVE).

My silkies were SO relieved to be put in a pen with a chicken wire top recently. They are visibly more relaxed. We have many hawks. But I do let them out when I am watching them.

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

Mine think it is cruel not to let them free range.

Because I had to travel while hawks were about, my friend, and a chicken, helped me put a net over the coop & pen .

They complained a lot, but the net kept them in the pen. I was able to protect them from the hawks, but not the weather .

 

[Hottchick]

Mine can't free range. 2 found a way out of the pen and my dog killed them. If they have what they need, it's not cruel. Is it better to let them get picked off one by one or live in a pen? It's a choice.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I stopped letting mine free range when someone accidentally let one of the dogs out and it attacked my favorite hen. I couldn't believe how upset I was...I really didn't think I'd get THAT upset over it. Well, I'd rather keep them safe. They are chickens after all, not rocket scientists. I give mine treats and occasionally spread straw in the run for them to scratch around in. It's been fun trying different ways to enrich their little lives. I think they're just as happy and I'm happier because I know they're safe. Just for the fun of it, here's a pic of my hen's wounds about ten days ago and her today with her new little jacket on.
Macie

 

[PepsNick]

If they have the right amount of sq. feet per bird than I wouldn't worry. Assuming the pen is outdoors- so a run, correct?

 

[Luvroos]

I did allow my silkies to free range and since the hawks of many breeds are around I have caged them in a 10x10 also with a sun screen on top in addition to the weather protecting tarps. They don't like it but, I'd rather them be safe than sorry. I have not lost but, 1 standard chick to a predator and have many that free range. I don't free range my bantam cochins either since they are not as quick as my oeg's.

 

[HorizonSon]

I'm a firm believer that the cornerstone to any free range flock is a good LF rooster of some kind.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:

 

[redhen]

Well..heres the way i feel...
If your hens are not used to being able to free range... then no... its not really cruel to keep them in a run.( By run..i mean a GOOD sized run.)

But if your birds are used to free ranging..then..yeah..its kinda mean to take that away from them and put them in a sterile/boring enviroment.
Just my opinion...