Free Range Cons?

[BigSam89]

Hello,
My chicks are about 6 weeks now and I let them freely room the yard and lock them up in the hen house at night. My question is should I have any problems letting my chickens freely room the yard? My fence is 5 and half feet tall and I live in a community type area. Should I be worried about cats, or birds of prey during the day? Also, I kind of have to chase my chickens down to lock them up any ideas on how to train them to where they freely go into the hen house?

Sam,

 

[gckiddhouse]

don't they just go in at sunset? Chickens go to bed as soon as the sun sets. Where do yours go?

If you want them in before sunset, bring treats!

 

[Kittymomma]

At only 5-weeks old I'd worry about cats for sure. I don't have a problem with them bothering adult birds, but anything under 12-weeks or so is at risk. Birds of prey, the occasional day prowling raccoon and neighborhood dogs are threats regardless of age.

ETA: throw treats into the run if you want to lock them up before they want to go to bed. If you just start feeding them their treats in the run regularly it will be a snap to put them away whenever you want to.

 

[Tala]

Mine put themselves to bed at dusk. I come home from work and just lock the coop door for the night. Easy Peasy!

They stay in a 5ft fence but I had to clip some wings at first. Now I think they are mostly just "trained" -they think they can't fly very high anymore

Trimming those flight feathers isn't hard at all and it's really easy if you grab dopey chickens off of the roost in the dark.

Yes there is the threat of hawks. Cats don't bother grown chickens very much, and I free range mine starting about 8 weeks of age. It only takes one lesson from my roo to whip those cats into shape. If your fence is dog-sturdy then you'll probably be ok from most neighborhood dogs. Be aware that some dogs do climb fences or dig under them quickly though. Dogs are my biggest worry during the daytime, even with the fence, coz ya just never know.

The worst thing is that they eat your garden or flowers, and poop on your deck --- and you can just fence them out of those areas if you wish.

 

[BigSam89]

I don't have a run just a hen house I decided that a run wasn't needed. Also seems as if I try to lock them up too early I usually do it around 5pm before the sun goes down. Should I try leaving them out a little bit longer?

Sam,

 

[gckiddhouse]

Quote:
Yes, just wait a little longer. They don't wait for dark, just sunset. You are missing one of the great rituals of having chickens. Just get yourself a glass of wine or cup of herbal tea and go outside. The chooks will come out in the open for a bite of grass and a sip of water and as soon as that sun dips behind the mountains, its into the hen house. This is one of the great joys of having chickens! Remember, they call them nature's prozac, enjoy them!

 

[goldnchocolate]

Quote:
Yes, just wait a little longer. They don't wait for dark, just sunset. You are missing one of the great rituals of having chickens. Just get yourself a glass of wine or cup of herbal tea and go outside. The chooks will come out in the open for a bite of grass and a sip of water and as soon as that sun dips behind the mountains, its into the hen house. This is one of the great joys of having chickens! Remember, they call them nature's prozac, enjoy them!

Ahhh, yes...."Chicken T.V.....it's wonderful. My chickens put themselves to bed for the night. As long as your chicks know where "home" is, they should go in by themselves. I have a couple of hens that linger outside longer than the others but they are all in by dark.

Young pullets can fly higher than older or full grown hens. My chickens like to regularly visit the neighbor by flying over the fence

. The other problem with them ranging in your yard instead of a designated area is the poop that they leave everywhere

. I used to go out, nightly, with a baggie on one hand and a dixie cup in the other and go around picking up the poops. It's a pain but doesn't take too long. The things that we do for our chickens....hahahaha.