Does anyone else Free Range?

[Heather7]

Oh that's a bummer! Is it a busy street? I would mane start your own pile of left overs out back to keep them there!! Not sure if that would help or work!! A fence!

Yes, it is a busy road. I try to keep an eye on them and coax them back to the back of the yard. And throw our own cracked corn around to keep them busy. Little scavengers

 

[whittychick]

Yes, it is a busy road. I try to keep an eye on them and coax them back to the back of the yard. And throw our own cracked corn around to keep them busy. Little scavengers

They have a mind of their own that's for sure...Im always trying to keep my girls from going into neighbors yard!

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

I was just on the other side of the property and as usual, the chickens followed me, Scavenging for vittles, bugs, in the pine needles,grass, ground, horse poops. They just seem to want to be in the same area, as other posters have stated. Same if I am inside for the day, they stay within 50-60ft? LOTS more vittles further up behind the house

Minus the wild turkey's take home, of course.

Do you let yours forage on their own? i collect any bugs I find for my chickens….They come a RUNNING!

 

[only1bgirl]

@Bogtown Chick
Neat photos, love the idea of a mini coop, thanks for sharingI I also have a yellow Labrador that does bird duty! She's so good at it, even breaks up small squabbles between the birds, good dogs!

 

[vpatt]

Will chickens try to get away from predators at night? I wonder about Ebony not going in to roost with the others. She is about six feet off the ground but I'm sure something could get to her.

I put my broody hen on some eggs yesterday and she is on the front porch in a dog crate. I think she will be safe there.

 

[bobbi-j]

Will chickens try to get away from predators at night? I wonder about Ebony not going in to roost with the others. She is about six feet off the ground but I'm sure something could get to her.

I put my broody hen on some eggs yesterday and she is on the front porch in a dog crate. I think she will be safe there.Ch

Chickens are pretty helpless at night. Easy pickin's for anything looking for a chicken dinner. Raccoons and owls can easily get a chicken any distance off the ground. Is your front porch enclosed? If not, a raccoon would try for them without hesitation.

 

[TeriHarmon]

Birds can't see in the dark.

 

[ccrane11]

I let my flock free range about a couple of hours in the afternoon before they go to back to the roost inside the coup for the night. They are done laying by then and have two roosters that are very protective of their girls. They love to forage but never wander to far.

 

[Beer can]

I think I lost around six to predators at night roosting in trees. I now keep them in thier large coop run. When I do let them out I have a hard time getting them back in, even withholding food doesn't work for all of them.

 

[vpatt]

I think the crate is safe on my porch....because I have it enclosed by the house wall and other things. The one under the porch roosting on its own is the one I really worry about. But to keep her in the pen I would need to enclose the top of the pen. Before I free ranged she disappeared from the coop a couple of times and then showed back up. ??? She is a bantam, she is solid black with a turquoise glimmer. I was told she is a Phoenix. But she doesn't look like any photos I have seen. Looks more like the pics of Sumatras.....but how could someone mix them up? I, of course, didn't know what I was buying either way....just wanted laying hens. Hmmmmm......