Free range....how far do they go??

[7cutechix]

I have my chicks in a chicken tractor but when I read all the free ranging makes them so happy stories I feel like mine are missing out! How far will they go if I let them out?? I see some at a house on the highway, and it's NOT a big yard, I'm always worried about what if they go in the road. Do they only stay in grass?? What to do????

 

[Me + Peeps]

It varies on the type of environment and nobody noes why or if the chicken crossed the road.

. Do you have a fenced off yard?

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

They won't roam far from their coop...and you will notice the later it gets the closer they get to their coop. Mine never come close to making it on the road as their coop is about 90 to 100 yards from the road. We also have 20 acres and they have never went anywhere but the grass and the compost pile LOL They also tend to stay in the shade. They sure do love it outside though

Yours will too!

 

[7cutechix]

We don't have a fence. That's why we got the tractor, to move them around and let them eat grass and bugs and stuff!

 

[mschickychick]

Mine stay within a 90 yard radius of their coop. As long as they know where they are supposed to go sleep at night they won't stray far from that location.

 

[Cyberous]

Mine don't leave the safety of the Deck, we have many hawks and vultures around here and when they see one the run for cover. They never go more then 100' from their coop/under the deck.

Don

 

[Iowa Roo Mom]

Mine mostly stays at the back door, wanting inside! We have 4 acres, and he never uses more than 1 acre or so. He stays around the house and the garage, unless we're waling the dog- then he'll follow us down the pond dam.

It's funny- dad got the tractor stuck on the back acre- and I took the truck down to help pill him out... Well, my roo lost all his "flock", so next thing I know I see him running, as fast as his two little legs could carry him, all the way down to where we were! It was sooo funny

He rode back up in the truck with me of course

Other than that- he stays around. Just know that there are many inherrited risks that come with free ranging! But whatever you choose, I wish you the best

 

[ChickieKeeta]

I don't have a big yard. When I first let the chickens out they
stayed in my yard but soon crossed the street & the neighbor
told me to keep them out of her yard.

They are confined to a run but I let them out about 6 PM & stay out with them until they go in to roost.

 

[2boxers]

I let mine free range a few hours every day, and most days they are free all day. We only have a coup and run to keep the coons, skunks, possums and foxes out.

When I began free ranging them, I only let them out an hour before sunset and I stayed out with them the whole time just to be sure they would all be ok. Now they are home bodies. They have a few favorite spots in the yard, but I'd say they mostly stay within about sight of "home".

They lay more when they free range, though sometimes I have to engage in an egg hunt. My chickens seem happy, the other animals don't mess with them, and all is right with their world and ours.

I should also say that we are a tenth of a mile off of a road that sees little traffic. They roam about half way down the drive but they don't go all the way.

 

[Chickenaddict]

I free range my birds on an acre, The first year they stayed in the yard, second year they ventured off into the neighbors yard, 3rd year same thing only they do cross the road! This year they went down the block!!! Thats when i fenced in the backyard with cheap chicken wire fencing. We went that route for now but eventually we will put in chainlink. 250 ft of chicken wire was alot cheaper then chainlink. The backyard is huge and they don't mind being stuck back there. Its nice for me to be able to look out back and see them rather than look out and wonder where the heck they went again... Give them an inch and they will take a mile, at least mine did.