Free range on 1 acre?

[norahsmommy]

Can I let chickens free range durring the day on my 1 acre lot? We do have neighbors on next door on both sides, and behind us. One side is fenced, but the other has a mean dog, and behind us lives our uncle and I don't think he would mind if chickens walked through. Will the chickens stay fairly close to home? Will they come back in the evening or will I have to search all over the yard for them? Should I clip their wings? Do I have to stay outside with them while they are free? We technically live in town, but are the last property in city limits, there is a farm across the street from us, and we have wild turkeys roam though our yard all the time, as well as a large group of deer. I figured no on would be upset about a few chickens wandering around. I have never had chickens and know very little about them.

 

[KellyHM]

My chickens free range on my 1 acre. It's fenced and they don't fly over the fence. They all tuck themselves into their coop at night. I only let them out when I'm home, but I don't stay outside and watch them. Hope this helps!

 

[AllChookUp]

Unless you can fence all sides, it sounds like you're asking for trouble with the mean dog on one side of you.

If your chickens stay around the territory, you don't necessarily have to be outside with them all the time while they free-range. I check on mine quite a bit, but they've never been in trouble (knock on wood), even with hawks and such around. But then, I free-range them on 5 acres, not one.

Edited to add: If you're new to all this, the BYC site is a wealth of info. The Learning Center and FAQs will answer a LOT of your questions, and the 'Search" function within this forum will turn up a lot of results as well.

Good luck, and welcome to the BYC!

 

[mom wewantchicks!]

we just have a little over an acre. my chickens wander all over. thankfully the neighbors dont mind,but i only let them out when im home,incase there is a problem. i dont stand out and watch them,but im home. i talked to my neighbors when we moved in and told them i had chickens that would be free ranging and if they ever had any problems with them to please let me know. i think that helped rather than them just seeing chickens in the yard one day lol. the only thing that would worry me is the dog,if you feel comfortable he cant get your chickens,id say talk to the neighbors and then go for it.

 

[Reinbeau]

I've only got .6 acre, I don't let them free range all the time, only when I'm going to be home until dark - for example, today, they're stuck in their run cuz I have to go out and teach....anyhoo, they're pretty good as long as I keep an eye on them. If they start heading to where I don't want them I just go out there and shoosh them back to where they belong. They're chickens, I know, but sometimes it strikes me they aren't as stupid as we sometimes may think they are.

 

[Appytaz]

I have 2 acres mine free range on. Like you I am surrounded with houses. I am the only county property in the city limits and am now surrounded on 3 sides with subdivisions. The neighbor on one side HATES all of my animals! I put a small turn out pen in the front yard for the horse and he has extended his privacy fence so he can not see the pen from his house. This is in no way a "tacky" pen. He is just a hateful old man! He has low chicken wire on the side of his scrubs so the chickens will not cross to his yard. He is slowly putting up a full privacy fence so he can not see any my property. I sure wish he would hurry up with it! When he gets it done, I plan to expand the horse pen and use his fence for one side (save me some $$$

)

All of the chickens stay "mostly" on our property. They stay close to the house in the front and they do run all over the back acre. But, over all they do just fine. I would think if you made sure to have a safe fence on the dog side and maybe even chase/scare them away from there a few times you should be good to go on an acre.

 

[bluey]

...unless you have a fenced yard, I'd say that 1 acre is too small of a space to free range. They will wander further than that.

...and if you have any neighbor issues at all, I'd also suggest you refrain from doing so regularly.

 

[newarkrooster]

Mine free range on three acres that is fenced with 4 ft web wire, and most of mine stay in, I have a group of about 4 or 5 that fly over about everyday and mill around outside the fence, then return to roost. I have 35 hen and three roosters and had not lost any until last Friday when a passer by stole on that was out in my yard. (According to one of my neighbors). He said he questoned the guy and the guy said he had chickens and kept his penned up and I should too!! So he put it in his car and drove off!!