Do your free range?

[allanimals21]

I've always wanted to let mine free range....I got them at a 1 1/2 and I've had them about 1 1/2. I was wondering if I let them loose would they stay around? They don't really appriciate me so much but I was wondering if they were like my other birds. Home is Home?

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Depends on where you live?
They can tend to roam a bit, but lots of folks do free range their peafowl after several months of acclimation to you and their feed source. Any of the blues/mutations are good about it, greens will usually be gone..

 

[allanimals21]

I have a pied male and 1 blue india hen and a black shoulder hen. I live in minnesota. We have 50 acres but border a development. I just don't want them to wander off to far.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

50 acres, you should be fine. I have 130, but have a development on one side as well, but all our free range critters stick around. People with lots of close neighbors, or living in or near towns, should watch them, but sounds like you should be just fine. Open the gate and let them out on their own, dont force them or they my take flight. Just let them ease out, and keep plenty of feed around for them, and all should be fine.
Aubrey

 

[farmgal2]

keep us informed on how this works out, please. I have an interest in pursuing this idea also.
Thanx

 

[Kev]

I'm on only one acre(and jealous of your 50 and 130!). Through the years have had various free rangers, mostly chicks and yearlings.

Many were reasonably good at staying on my one acre but also many do hop the fence into the next door neighbor's yard.. does not help she feeds the feral cats(peafowl love cat food)..

Most of the "wanderers" seemed to wander over maybe 3 or 4 acres, so I think 50 acres is pretty safe, although do not be surprised if a very few do happen to wander very far. Also depends on the set up.. if the pens or holding pen for eventual free range birds are very close to the development, like within 3-4 acres of it, it is possible they may give them a visit.. especially if there is no barrier between them or the barrier is a solid wall or a wood fence between your lot and their backyards.

If your house and the animal pens are on the side farthest from development I would not worry much about it except for possible predators and dogs allowed to roam loose.

 

[Buff Hooligans]

I myself free-range, but I don't allow my chickens to free-range. I love them too much.

 

[Lady in Blue]

I tried it!!!!! Loved that they were able to roam around. However, I didn't think about females nesting and being somethings morning meal. I also have had issues with stray dogs and neighbors that don't understand why I am so mad. I recently just completed a flight pen for all the above reasons. The 2 females that were still free ranging are not the happiest girls in the bunch, but are starting to atleast look at me again. (It was cool to have them up in the trees, but atleast I know where they are all at)

Hope this helps,

Sheri

 

[Hoosiermomma]

Quote:

Mine free range and they are only on a little over two acres. On occasion the kids will go out and have to round them up but for the most part they stick around.

 

[allanimals21]

I'm not sure when I am gonna try this...I'm very nervous. My plan was to had raise some of their young to let free range...but I woulr really like them to enjoy the outdoors themselves.