do chickens need to be free range

[awsomechickdude]

I don't think that I have the space for free ranging chickens. I was wondering if they needed to be free ranging.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
They don't need to free range. I have some who free range, and some who stay in a coop with a run.

They will LOVE to free range, but if space or safety is a problem, then it is better to keep them in the pen.

Meriah

 

[bubbazmommy]

It is not neccessary to free range. You would want to supplement their diet from what I understand. You can always give them grass/weed clippings, fresh veggies, treats, etc. It is nice if you can do it b/c they love it, but it just isn't possible in some situations. Have you considered a chicken tractor??

 

[Omran]

it is always better to free range the chickens for at leat one hour every day, it is not necessary, butdo it if you can, je happier the chicken and relaxed je better egg production yu get.

 

[hennypenny9]

I'm in the same situation as you. My property is less than 1/4 acre. Like everyone else said, they don't NEED to free range, but they love it. Anyway, my solution will be to only get a few chickens, and the largest possible enclosure. A movable enclosure might be ideal.

 

[jnjross]

need? no, want? not really
I tryed free range the first bunch they choose to be porch chickens not leaving till roost time.

they all have a very large run and guess where they stay, inside the coop! couch potatoes

 

[Clay In Iowa]

Some don't mind confinement others prefer free range.

Nothing needs to free range but in humans we called confined individuals prisoners.

 

[dftkarin]

It might depend on the breed too - I have old timey breeds (barred rocks, wyandotte) that are good at foraging for their own food and they certainly seem to enjoy time spent exploring and pecking at the ground and yard. I've read that there are breeds that have the ability to fend for themselves bred out of them - so might they not know what to do with themselves if allowed to free range?

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Whereas in contrast, I call my confined chickens "alive", which is sort of shorthand for "the ones that do NOT immediately get eaten by the vast number of predators we have around here"

Everybody's situation is different. There are plenty of happy-seeming chickens in the world in generously-sized coops and runs, when free ranging is for one reason or another not a good option.

Pat

 

[ametauss]

It also depends on your definition of "Free Range"....

I have 5 acres and I limit the chickens to the area around the barn; about 1/4 acre..... I call that free range.... It keeps them safe (sometimes) from the neighbors dog and gives them the ability to go where they like.... Next year I'm planning on expanding the area a bit since we will have baby goats and will need to separate the buck(s) from the does.... the chickens go where the goats go....