Do you free range your chickens?

[NagemTX]

I free range in a 3/4 acre fenced in because neighbors like free range their dogs. Even then one got under my fence and got one of my chickens. Funny thing, it was a small dog and my two cats that basicly live with the chickens helped a young rooster run the dog off.

 

[centrarchid]

I free-range many of my chickens and all the young ones. Acreage I own is about 18 acres. I have had predator / dog issues in the past although largely corrected like at no time since I was a kid when we had far more acreage and far more dogs.

Now I have fenced in a area of about 8.5 acres and have two dogs running loose with chickens 24/7. The chickens have cover patches scattered about for daytime cover. Roosters are out to repel hawks that target smaller chickens and hens. Area is not conducive to Red-tailed Hawks otherwise preferring small rodents. Chickens have a very much dog protected area to retreat to at night where dogs interfere even with owls going after chickens roosting in trees. Dogs that are not mine can't get passed fence and if they did they run risk of my dogs at least beating them up real good. Dog actions good enough to keep coyotes and foxes out, especially when chickens give alarm for predators.

I've had difficulties keeping free-range without using the holistic approach described above that has layers of protection.

 

[TimonHens]

Ugh. Our very favorite banty got hawked in the range! I sense a spring of netting and roofing solutions.

 

[Wot The Flock]

They started spending the whole day hidden in brush and acting completely terrified. It breaks my heart to pen them. I feel so guilty about putting them in such a small place compared to the whole yard they had before but I don’t know what else to do...

You are not thinking like a prey critter. Safety is better than potential danger. They actually feel happier when they feel secure, rather than unlimited ranging.

Solution, expand your penned area. Particularly if you have no rooster.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

I do short supervised free range sessions when I have the time.

 

[Wot The Flock]

One I’m worried they won’t come back (silly I know). Two I’m worried about predators.

The #1 you don't need to worry about (once settled to your coop and area), but #2 is the big worry.

It should only take a day or two, before chickens know where 'home' is, and will return to roost. Help them by teaching them.

Foxes on the other hand, know the temperature they will hunt during the day (assuming your chickens are already secure at night). In winter, foxes will hunt during the day. I read a sad tale on another forum where the new chicken owner was proud of the free-ranging, only to loose all the small flock at 3pm on a winter afternoon several months later.

Then, the air threat. In Australia, generally eagles - who will even take small dogs/cats, anything under 10kg. So yes, 3-4kg chickens, an easy eagle snack. Unfortunately.

For me, when I am not about, they are in the run (covered with shade cloth over fox-proof steel mesh). So that would be the eagle and fox threat under control. But being Australia, where all wildlife wants to kill you, snake proofing is also required. I focus on the chicken shed being mouse/rat proof, but the yard is not.

They only 'free range' (limited range, to a backyard area) when I am around, even though a rural area. Other than that, they have the run, any one loss would be a heartbreak, because they are my pets.

It is all very much a personal decision, just how attached you are to your birds. For me, I am deeply attached, so no loss is acceptable.

Some people worry about 'lack of range', but as long as that protected space is good for the number of birds, they will actually be happier being 'safe' than being long range, particularly without a rooster to alert them. Remember, they are a prey animal, so they know everyone and everything wants to eat them!

To prove the point about 'safety'. At the rear of the chicken ranging area is a thin wire mesh fence, outlooking a paddock (4'/ 1.2m). To the side, a 6'/1.8m fence to the rose garden and lawn area. Guess which one my alpha constantly goes over? And nobody has figured out to go over the short farm fence, around the tall fence, and into the same area.

What I am going to do is, rather than building a higher net fence (and wing clipping), I am going to panel off that boundary with corflute/corex fencing, 1.2m high. I figure, as a prey animal, they will not jump into the 'unknown' - plus they cannot see the motivation for getting to that area. Wish me luck, hope my theory is correct.

 

[50-140]

I tried free ranging my birds a few years ago, coyotes decimated them. I put 60 feet of fence around my coop. Now I just have owls and hawks to deal with. I had to do it not just for the birds, I don't need coyotes coming in a q quick meal and going after my dog either. I've got 3K acres of National forest behind me and all the critters in it which think my property is their's.

 

[cincyfarmgirl]

So I’ve been terrified to let my girls free range for many reasons. One I’m worried they won’t come back (silly I know). Two I’m worried about predators. We live on about 25 acres so lots of possibilities. We have had issues with our neighbors young dogs jumping the fence so they are my main concern besides cats. Most other predators come out at night. Thoughts? Am I nuts? My family thinks I’m over thinking it. PSA they have a big outdoor area and we have 20 chickens.
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I find I have happier chickens and egg production is better if they free range but because of the dangers of predators primarily coyotes I have to limit that. I usually let them free range when I am out and about tending the garden or taking care of task around the barn and also when my dogs can be out and about with me so that they can alert me if there is some predator nearby. I used to let the chickens free range all day long but they were being picked off and attracting brazen predators, so I’ve limited their free ranging since the beginning of 2020 - not due to the Covid pandemic - but because it seem to be they were being picked off by predators. Egg production has fallen also during this period of time. I relate it to the fact that they’re not free ranging quite as much. But there might be other reasons for low egg production and in fact I’m going to be switching feed to try to address that issue. They don’t really like the pellets; maybe I should go to crumbles.

 

[cincyfarmgirl]

I find I have happier chickens and egg production is better if they free range but because of the dangers of predators primarily coyotes I have to limit that. I usually let them free range when I am out and about tending the garden or taking care of task around the barn and also when my dogs can be out and about with me so that they can alert me if there is some predator nearby. I used to let the chickens free range all day long but they were being picked off and attracting brazen predators, so I’ve limited their free ranging since the beginning of 2020 - not due to the Covid pandemic - but because it seem to be they were being picked off by predators. Egg production has fallen also during this period of time. I relate it to the fact that they’re not free ranging quite as much. But there might be other reasons for low egg production and in fact I’m going to be switching feed to try to address that issue. They don’t really like the pellets; maybe I should go to crumbles.

And yes predators like coyotes and raccoons would usually be hunting at dawn dusk and the raccoons at night time but I found coyotes brazenly attacking my chickens at noon and 2 PM during broad daylight. Once they find out that yours are a good source of food they keep returning.

 

[Maddcatter]

I live on 20 acres, and my chickens have the run of those acres most days, but they have a coop and run to go into at night. I am also home most days. I also have ducks in my flock, and cats that protect my chickens (I'm working on training my dogs to do it too, but that's a slow process). I also live in Texas and have shot the various predators on my property when needed.

It's very much a your choice based on your situation thing.

I also have to fence off any area that I don't want them to get into.

... Tbf I also have trained my chickens to come when called so I can lock them in in the middle of the day when needed. (This was easy, just took some time. Use a standardized call and treats, mine are addicted to spinach)