Cruel to not let them free range?

[HeatherLynn]

I don't think its cruel if done right. Honestly I have 2 that have free ranged with the others and I will continue to let them but I have newer ones from this year who have never free ranged since everything seems out to kill them. Honestly I fully expect my 2 free rangers to try to escape into the bantam pen at some point. Especially when the new fancy bantam quarters are built this spring.

You do what you have to in order to keep them safe. Then you take that safety and try to make it as comfortable for them as you can. I put up hanging treats for my confined ones to play with all the time. Variety and attention seems to make up for the lack of foraging.

 

[freemotion]

Two words: Chicken tractor.

 

[Ema]

I've got too many predators in this area to let them free range even now with all the snow we got its not safe. To me it would be cruel to allow them to free range knowing that they would be attacked in an instant.

I built their coop and run with that in mind. I spread straw and hay in the run to allow them to scratch around plus we throw their boss and scratch out there every morning, and they are happy as can be, in summer I get lots of fresh grass and different weeds/flowers they like and fill a few buckets to bring in to them and they get real excited when they see it...lol.... Their coop is quite spacious for them so they have lots of room to do as they please. in the coming spring we are building a chicken tractor, I can't wait till we can get started on it and even more until its done. I have lots of land so I know they can have loads of fresh yummy natural greens that they love and I will no longer have to collect it for them.

 

[abhaya]

my silkies do not free range. it is simply too dangerous for them. i have a ast flowing dtream on my property as well as many hawks in the area. i have a large run for them and give them lots of greens and vegies to pick at. they are happy and healthy and dont have to run for there lives all day

 

[fiberart57]

You need to do what you can to keep them safe but can you do both? Is there a time in the evening, within an hour of their bedtime that you can let them out but hang out in the yard with them? Even free ranging for a little while keeps them in good shape.

Some chickens, mine included, can be brought back into their run with treats or scratch. This way, if I need to confine them during the day, like for a service worker, then I can call them in. Perhaps they could run around when you're out with them.

In addition, Lowes and/or Home Depot, sells a plastic chicken fencing that's movable that perhaps you could set up under something like a tree or so.

I've heard of people handing CDs out in the sun to distract raptors, but I've never tried it. Also, there's the possibility of hanging bird netting in various places.

Having said all this, I do agree that safety is a top priority. Perhaps there's some ideas in the Predators and Pests section.
Mary

 

[Beekissed]

Though I can't bear to see anything in a cage or kennel, if I didn't have my good dog to protect the chickens, I wouldn't dream of free ranging. Free ranging is a healthier lifestyle for any animal but not if they are systematically picked off or traumatized by neighborhood dogs or foxes.

I had to put down my best old dog this year and my younger dog, though good against wild predators, would probably allow a stray dog to come right on in the fence and kill any bird it wanted. Because of that loss, I will be getting rid of most of my chickens, if not all, in the spring. Good dogs are extremely hard to come by but are invaluable if you want to free range your chickens or sheep on pasture.

 

[easttxchick]

Quote:
Absolutely agree!
We've had hawks galore and one actually tried to grab one of my birds with me about 2 feet away about a week ago...they've been closed in the run since then and are VERY unhappy(and they have a HUGE run).

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Absolutely agree!
We've had hawks galore and one actually tried to grab one of my birds with me about 2 feet away about a week ago...they've been closed in the run since then and are VERY unhappy(and they have a HUGE run).

Yup.. i've gone back and forth with letting them out of their run and keeping them penned (because of hawks)..
And every day that they are penned up they sit at the gate yelling and getting all frantic for me to let them out.
Its a hard choice...
Now..if i hadnt started to let them out..i would be fine. Cause they wouldnt know the difference,...
But since they have been allowed freedom..its HARD to take that away from them. Because they ARE unhappy being penned up again... its very sad to watch.

 

[terrilhb]

Not to sound dumb but what is a chicken tractor? I am new to raising chickens. Thanks

 

[Beekissed]

It is a mobile frame(with wheels or skids), with wire encasement, that allows one to move it daily to fresh forage. Some folks just build a cooplike structure right onto this so that the whole coop and wire run can be moved daily. Google chicken tractors and you can get all sorts of pics and plans on how to build one on the cheap. I used to have one made from PVC and used wheels from old lawnmowers.