Does anyone else Free Range?

[Bogtown Chick]

Are you guys home all day? Or leave them out when you're gone?

I let them out of the coop in the morning. Go to work. Come home for Lunch and visit them wherever they're at (usually within chicken ear shot) they come running to see what's on the lunch menu for spoiled chickens. Then I go back to work. Come back home in the evening and we all set on the deck or in the middle of the lawn in the "clover-spot"until it's roosting time and they meander back to the coop one by one and I tuck them in and close the pop-door for the night.

 

[janieannie]

I free range my chickens, but can't let them all out at the same time. I have large pens around my coops, so they can go in or out as they choose.

 

[3chickchicks]

Are you guys home all day? Or leave them out when you're gone?

Mine are out all day whether or not I'm home.

 

[Hooligans7]

(snip)... they come running to see what's on the lunch menu for spoiled chickens." (snip)

Funny. Yep, we're regarded as food and treat dispensers. It doesn't matter what I have in my hands — axes, mauls, shovels — they still follow me around in anticipation. Not even the roto-tiller engine scares them away; they know it's turning up more treats!

We leave our chickens out on their own all day, whether we're there or not. They have plenty of places to run and hide, and rooster 'Buster' is great at sounding the alarm. I'm also convinced that our dog, who is constantly on patrol, helps tremendously. She runs off every potential threat and enjoys doing it. Predators here include Red-tailed hawks ("chickenhawks"), various eagles, owls, 'coons, coyotes, and the occasional cougar (a.k.a. puma, mountain lion). Egg stealers include 'possums, skunks, 'coons, and snakes.

Since we chose large and heavy breeds of chickens, it's unlikely they'd be snatched up by the raptors. But a neighbor of mine favors bantams, and has lost several to hawks. He has to keep them covered with netting at all times. It illustrates that one's choice of chickens should be guided by the resident predators.

 

[janieannie]

We have too many predators to free range when we're not home. I saw where someone posted raccoons as egg stealers. The raccoons here carry off chickens. I lost 11 paint & black silkie hens within a 2 hour period. People say, "No, raccoons don't do that" I'm telling you they do! We've caught them in action. There were at least 6 coons that night. They broke in thru the top of the cage (their weight popped the wire nails) & they were carrying them off. I went out to check the barn & coops at 1 am. There were feathers everywhere. I screamed for my son, who came running with the shotgun. There were coons everywhere. He managed to shoot 2, but my beautiful girls were gone. I cried for 3 days. We have possums, skunks, coyotes, red-tailed & coopers hawks in addition to the coons. I have lost full grown laying hens to a neighbors cat & of course stray dogs. I love living on the farm, but I need to get another big dog. Ours passed away. The chickens are happiest when free ranging & I do as much as I can. Just be careful of predators.

 

[dpenning]

Oh they'll love those boxes!

I free range too. I was up in the air about it...but I decided to let them have a more natural life...and of course they seem so happy to be let out each morning. I've taken 1 loss last fall with a new bird which was bantam and hooded (a silkie) I'm sure a bird of prey dipped down and picked her up. She was new...and the others were spending the day in the run (must have been a weather front that they stayed in) and they must have kicked her out of the run. Well anyways she didn't see her predator coming I'm sure. Pretty confident we had a hawk find her. I've seen them harass wild mallards nesting on the pot holes on the property. We are 5 1/2 acres of wooded boundaries, low spots...and a wide open 2-3 acres of lawn with sporadic mature pines, picnic table, deck and apple tree and landscaping to duck under. The chooks make their rounds...even over to the neighbors (who are only up on the weekends here in vacationland of MN)...but mostly forage in the brush and woods. We have a big red New Hampshire roo in which hawks have dive bombed but his size and keen eye for the sky have kept everybody under cover. I have one more silkie from a pair of hens I got last fall. He has not accepted her even being coop and run mates all winter. It will be interesting to see if she tags along with the crew or choses to stay in the run and coop. She's had a "Hair cut" on top so she can see pretty well. Plus she's pretty flighty and saavy. She's bonded with a couple of the hens... so we'll see. But I love it...I like looking out in the yard and seeing them have free will. The eggs are bright orange and the yellow lab sleeps on the deck with one eye open... Life is good free-ranging.







This is a photo off the internet...but I had a weasel last winter. Very small and young...but I noted blood on my rooster's leg on day. And then soon all the mice I had saw in the run during the winter were gone...and he disappeared too. And we had one Black Bear Sow visit and bust open some fencing and framework to my pop hole of the coop. She just had woken up and was raiding bird feeders in the area--just hungry after a long winter's nap. I was glad the girls were out of the coop already! LOL. Otherwise that's been it. The birds will be 2 April 13.



I've even built this free range nest box...if the girls are up at the house and don't want to truck all the way back down to the coop. LOL. It's portable and I can put it in fave spots...but this is where it has stayed for the most part. Centrally located for them.





Oh these pictures make me long for summer.... *sigh*... 6 months in a coop and run is too long for the chooks!

Sorry to go on...I just feel blessed and lucky that I can give this to these fun creatures...chickens. Love Free Rangin'!

I'm going to try free ranging initially. If the losses are too severe I'll build a run. I just wanted to post to say I LOVE your portable next box, it is fabulous!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I'm going to try free ranging initially. If the losses are too severe I'll build a run. I just wanted to post to say I LOVE your portable next box, it is fabulous!

Oh, thank you so much dpenning. The hens really like the nest box too. They just pop in there, have their little private moment and they catch up with the flock which likes to hang out near by. It's worked out real well.

I think if you have plenty of cover around--bushes, cars parked in the drive, trailers, picnic tables--what have you, a good little rooster in your flock, and maybe even a good yard dog which you can train easy to be around your chickens...you will have much success free ranging and will be pleasantly surprised at your none to minimal losses.

 

[whittychick]

Mine are out all day whether or not I'm home.

I've wanted to a few times but I'm freaked out! I have about 1 acre and tonssss of things they can but all day when I'm not home! I would worry too much!! I usually let them out when I get home 330-4 and they go in around 7-715

 

[Oscarsgravett]

Are you guys home all day? Or leave them out when you're gone?

yes we are home all day but there are times when we don't see them for a few hours.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Well inspired by your stories and courage and optimism I let everybody out yesterday. Obviously they loved it, and they hung out fairly close to the coop. I was home and kept the windows open to hear alarm calls. No sign of November's killer hawk. Put themselves away at dusk. I could smell a skunk, but couldn't see him/her. Probably just after the leftover barn cat food. So, a good day for all.