Does anyone free range silkies?

[CallyB57]

I would never let my Silkies free-range. I am almost finished with a 28' x 14', 6.5' tall hardware cloth/chicken wire on top fence for them- I have 6. I will not let them go into the new run unless I am watching them. They have to stay inside a 6x8' predator-proof hen house with lots of windows and a box fan, unless I am at home and outside with them. Sometimes I put them in my 'flower bed' area, which is enclosed in a 6' board fence - it's quite large, so they have a great time in there. I sit with them and feed them peanuts while they climb all over me...and when I have to go inside the trailer, they go right back into the hen house. I refuse to take any chances with any of my chickens.

 

[thebritt]

Quote:
That's what I do too. But my remaining bearded silkie is prone to wry neck when stressed (as by a rooster) so I keep her in a safe enclosure during the day and she comes inside at night.
Forgot to add...I do have a totally free range silkie - but she's not a bearded, sosh can see what's going on!

 

[allmypeeps]

In my opinion its always best to free range any bird with supervision and a fence along the property line.

I only have one silkie and she's a chick, but when she's grown I am going to trim up the feathers just around her eyes so she can see.

Besides the top nots getting int he way of seeing... My guess would be that silkies are docile and dont 'fly' like other birds they would be easy prey Bigger birds often run fast and can fly if necessary...silkies are not such athletes....

I personally would just make they are safe in their free range environment and let them have at it!

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[19hhbelgian]

I let all my girls free range, but our yard is about 2 acres and is fenced in. The little frizzle figured out that she could leave the yard by squeezing between the gate and post. She loved to go have supper with the horses

she would always be back in the coop come dusk, and she never got caught by any predators. She had a small top knot though, so she could see what was going on around her. I simply wouldn't keep a chicken that absolutely could not free range. That's what's natural for them - and that is simply my own opinion so please nobody take any offense at all... Each to his own

 

[silkiechicken]

I let my silkies free roam as far as they want. For a period of time after losing two to a hawk, I tractored them for a few months, but that was it. They don't have any fences that actually keep anything in. They do just fine and nothing has wandered down to the highway in the past decade.