free range controle

[grandfatherjwv]

Hello, You can keep a flock close to home by setting a deer feeder with a repeating timer. I have pictures posted at my byc page. The idea is to dispense chicken feed a couple seconds each hour. So they have to be there to get their share!

 

[silkydragon]

i free range my chickens i have 40 acres but they only use maybe 2 sometimes a rir will wonder around over the hill non cross the road my silkies barely leave the coop maybe half an acre for them the ducks i have are most adventerous and use like 3acres

 

[jessaw1981]

I can only let my chickens out bout an hour each evening and I have about what you have but all my.animals are on the left side it is bigger lol. Anyway I stay out with them for about an hour refill there water rake out the pen ex. mine have only crossed the road (dirt road ) a couple of times but my dog likes to eat them now but that's another story lol. But I want them to free fangs some so that's what I have to do to let them out always about an hour or two from dark that way if me and my girls can't get them back in then we leave.door open and they go in as well when its time to roost. Mabey you could build a small tractor bug enough for your birds that will contain them and they love it as well. I always put my chicks in a small tractor so they don't get lost lol. good luck in what ever you do.

 

[BWKatz]

I have 2 acres but can't free range because of all the eagles and hawkes. Fencing would be too costly and would ruin the natural look I want. So...I built a chicken tractor(10'x12') for use during the day out of PVC, chicken wire, cable ties and a tarp for shade & to keep them dry if it rains. I have their coop separate. I open their door in the morning and they make a beeline for their tractor. At dusk I turn on the light and they truck it home to roost for the night all safe and sound from raccoons, foxes & coyotes. Makes us all happy.

 

[Tala]

A fence is a MUST, not only to keep your birds in but to keep wandering dogs out.
We don't really have serious dog problems here compared to some, but occasionally somebody's dog does escape! Surprisingly none of the wanderers have seemed over-interested in my birds and they are usually caught within the day, but it only takes ONE to wipe out your flock!!

I used a tractor before we had a good fence and I moved it to fresh grass every day. You'd need a huge one for 28 birds though....