Define “free range”

[KimbosKluckers]

Get a bucket and put some treats in it that will rattle. Maybe corn, cheerios, or sunflower seeds, whatever rattles. A couple of times a day feed them some treats while rattling the bucket. Chant something like "Here, Chicky Chick" or "Chick, Chick, Chicky" so they get used to it as a call. Before too long they should start running to you whenever they see the bucket, here your chant, or hear you rattling the bucket. They'll probably run to you and become a nuisance anytime they see you, even without that stuff.

Don't overfeed them when you treat them. Leave them wanting more. And be consistent. Don't use the bucket or chant unless you are treating them.

Got it. I’ve been chanting “heyyy chick chicks” since they were 3 days old and they do come running even without treats so that might just work. Mainly because once they have the acreage to roam, they may be spread out more or not hear me. Thank you.
Oh yes they have become a nuisance…flock my ankles every time I enter the yard

 

[McChooky]

MY coops next to the woods but they have a large fenced yard and the coop and runs predator proof.Something snagged 2 a couple months ago so they won't go far now

 

[KimbosKluckers]

MY coops next to the woods but they have a large fenced yard and the coop and runs predator proof.Something snagged 2 a couple months ago so they won't go far now

Aww sorry to hear that!

 

[tlcmurphy]

It depends if you would have to be quarantined, but regardless, surely! We have a spare bedroom in the basement with a full bathroom.

See No Touch?

 

[McChooky]

Aww sorry to hear that!

Thank you!

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

I consider free-range to mean a flock is free to roam where they will outdoors in an area that encapsulates their entire territory. For most flocks, that’s 2 acres. So supposed you have 10 acres with a 8 ft high deer fence around it. Within those 10 acres the chickens can go where they want, but they stay entirely on 2 acres. That’s likely going to be free range in my mind. It doesn’t matter that they can’t leave the 10 acres. They wouldn’t likely be leaving the 10 acres whether its fenced or not.

 

[123RedBeard]

And the fencing on the above mentioned 10 acre fenced parcel will stop a lot of four legged critters ... Especially if it has electric on it!

 

[Tonyroo]

Is free range strictly no boundaries or fences whatsoever? When you see “free range” chickens, eggs etc… or is there a minimum acreage? Mine have a coop and run but during the day I open the run to a fairly big yard (130’x100’ approximately). We are fencing in our 2 acres this month and they may be able to forage there, is that free range?

To me, free range is unsupervised chickens foraging in a LARGE area on there own. Whether there be a border fence or open space.

 

[KimbosKluckers]

Thanks for all the opinions. Mine are pretty much the same it seems.

 

[McChooky]

I consider free-range to mean a flock is free to roam where they will outdoors in an area that encapsulates their entire territory. For most flocks, that’s 2 acres. So supposed you have 10 acres with a 8 ft high deer fence around it. Within those 10 acres the chickens can go where they want, but they stay entirely on 2 acres. That’s likely going to be free range in my mind. It doesn’t matter that they can’t leave the 10 acres. They wouldn’t likely be leaving the 10 acres whether its fenced or not.

You're right!