Free Range Concerns... in sunny Queensland, Australia

[lisamaree90]

Hi all,

I am EXTREMELY new to chickens, so new I don't even have them yet, I have my coop and everything else but going overseas soon so going to get a flock of 3 when I arrive home. My intention is once my girls settle in they will be allowed to roam out yard during the day (which has a 6' fence on the back line and 4' around the sides) and locked away in there palace like coop at night so the feral cats etc don't get them.

During the day my gorgeous American Staffy & Moodle security system will guard them so they are not harmed by the cats, other birds etc.

My only concern of letting them go "free range" is that they may go exploring over the fence into the neighbours yards... which they wont mind and they don't have any animals to harm them but it's not ideal. I'm looking at getting a RIR, a Large Ancona and something else of the heavier/heartier breeds. I intend on clipping their wings but also know that they still have an ability to hover up a certain distance.

With these heavier breed types in mind.. what have other peoples experiences been with the chickens flight once their wings are clipped?? Any issues with escapees?

 

[Rich386]

I keep my girls in a four foot prison and only clip the wings of the ones that seek freedom. LOL Out of our 50 + hens two are clipped the rest show no interest in escape.

 

[4 the Birds]

We have heavier breed birds and they stay inside a 4 ft high fence fine. They use to fly up on the gates and over before I wired and closed the upper section. I have not had to clip their wings. If they have plenty of free range space inside the fence area then they should do fine. Give them a nice coop and run. They will not have any reason to want to leave!

 

[lisamaree90]

We have heavier breed birds and they stay inside a 4 ft high fence fine. They use to fly up on the gates and over before I wired and closed the upper section. I have not had to clip their wings. If they have plenty of free range space inside the fence area then they should do fine. Give them a nice coop and run. They will not have any reason to want to leave!

I think I'm going to see how they go free range and without a run to start with.. i'd love for them to use the whole backyard to chill out in during the day.. not concerned about predators during the day just them escaping.. but I'll definitely slowly let them out supervised and see how they go. I think it's a must for me to clip there wings from the get go..

Thank you

 

[lisamaree90]

I think I'm going to see how they go free range and without a run to start with.. i'd love for them to use the whole backyard to chill out in during the day.. not concerned about predators during the day just them escaping.. but I'll definitely slowly let them out supervised and see how they go. I think it's a must for me to clip there wings from the get go..

Thank you

Ps. that's an impressive coop