Free Range Expieriences

[Warthog]

My birds have always free-ranged, I now have 40, 11 at laying, 10 due to lay anytime now, and 19 due to lay early May.

They get their feed in the morning, first light, usually around 5.30am here at the moment, about 6.00am I let them out and they are out all day. They do come back on their own, but what I now do is, about 4 /4.30ish I take the feed bucket in along with any scraps I have saved during the day. I bang the feed bucket (like a drum) and they do recognise this, any that are still out come running like they have never been fed in their lives. I put their feed in the feeder and scatter their scraps in the pen. At about 6.30/7ish it dark they are in the coop roosting, I do a head count and lock them up for the night. It works for me.

With regard to hawks, I don't think you can stop them with free-ranging birds. I find my dogs go mad barking if there is a hawk or vulture flying around, and that usually scare them off, but that is just luck.

I have lost of of the laying hens (I used to have 12). It didn't come back one night. I searched and searched but couldn't find it, but there was no sign of it having been attacked, no feathers or anything, so I don't know.

 

[gocrow77]

My LF are free ranged - my bantams are not. I lost many a bantam my first year to predators. I have lost a few month or so old LF juvis as well. But, the bantams just can't defend themselves from much of anything - I won't free range them again, but they do have a nice large fenced run. I don't worry much about my LF flock and loose very few of the chicks, and have lost 0 adult birds. I belive they are much healthier and cleaner free ranging. Have not had any health issues as a result - I have never wormed, or had any issues with lice/mite, cocci, or anything else. I have a coop and they put themselves to bed at night, then I close the door and let them out first thing in the AM. I do think they tend to grow a little slower - they get alot of exercise and a more "pasture based" diet. They eat lots of greens like clover. Eggs are delicious!

 

[Royd]

I've taken to leaving mine penned up, one day a week. Otherwise, you will be the one freeranging, hunting eggs.

 

[387026]

I free range 100+ birds here. Dogs are great discouraging foxes (they hate dogs and vice versa) Guineas are great too, I have 15. My turkeys and peabirds stay near the house, the chickens tend to venture out.
I do believe they are healthier and it helps on feed cost when they can find food.
They keep the mice population down too. (they love baby mice)
Small hawks tend to not be the problem, it is the big ones. Hawks tend not to land when dogs are running loose so that helps. I know some people are successful with LGDs. I do keep my bantams penned up with wire on top of the pens since they can be picked up easily. Not so comfortable free ranging them.
Another good thing with guineas they will make a racket when a hawk is flying low to warn you.
My dogs have also saved me twice from loose dogs trying to attack my poultry by attacking them.
A well trained dog imo is the best thing for free ranging and will save you lots of money from loss birds.

 

[Akane]

You are going to lose birds free ranging. There's no way around it. Eventually you will lose a bird or possibly even an entire flock. Odds are even in a pen some day you will lose birds. It's part of having chickens. My first year with chickens more than half got slaughtered by a dog one day. I stopped naming free ranging chickens that day but the birds are much happier free ranging so if you can do it there's really not much reason not to. I am building a pen for my seramas and other very small bantams but that's as much to avoid mixing of the different chicken flocks as protection from predators. When I manage to hatch enough eggs to have extras provided I don't sell them they will go with the ones that are free ranging. My guinea fowl do alert my chickens to a lot more dangers than before but I still lost my barred rock hen some time over the winter and the guineas also alert to everything else that isn't a danger.

 

[Illia]

I've free ranged for the whole time I've had chickens and never lost a single bird. Yes, we have Eagles and Coyotes out here - But our pasture is filled with stumps, logs, plants, and different bark that allows the chickens to blend in REALLY well. Even white chickens blend in out here - It's really nice. Our free range for them is 80% clearcut, which looks ugly at first, but then you realize how well it hides the chickens and how much food it offers for them.

Our girls free range on over 3 acres, and share it with three goats and a yak. The only birds I will keep penned are my Tolbunts next month.

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

When the weather is nice I let them free range all day when I'm out and about in the yard. That way I somewhat keep an eye on them.

We have crows at the edge of the forest behind my home. I take some snacks for them to encourage them to stay.

 

[Firefly]

It was a difficult decision for me, but ultimately I decided I want the chickens to live a good chicken life, and that means free ranging. Mine are definitely happier/healthier that way! Last summer we lost one to a coyote in broad daylight with my husband working not far away. We penned them up for a month or so afterward, to make sure they coyote didn't come back. We have lots of hawks but my Aussie *loves* to chase them and we also have lots of woods/hiding places for the girls when they come around. Losing one or two here and there is easier to deal with, but I do worry about a dog coming onto the property and wiping out the whole flock.

I agree with the other poster that said losing hens is just a part of raising chickens. My neighbor, many years ago, lost his entire flock to a coyote. He even lost one who was penned when a raccoon grabbed it and ate it, piece by piece, THROUGH the fence. So there are no guarantees...

 

[toletiquesbysam]

I let my girls out with a heavy heart today. Last night we didn't get home until 9pm and the door to their run/coop had blown shut from the wind and along the fenceline were my chickens huddled together. I scooted them into the coop and did my count and came up 2 chickens short! I found one along the side of the house in the bushes and searched for the other one but no luck. I have been free ranging for well over a year and haven't lost any to wild predators just my own dog so I am certain that she is around somewhere but concerned because she could have been taken by something else and now I've opened that gate for more!! Soo praying that when I get home tonight and count I'll have everyone back! It's a risk with free ranging, but the flock is much happier and healthier if you can do it, and you also will go through alot less feed then if they were penned!! Mine still lay their eggs in the coop, so I'm not hunting for eggs like some have mentioned!