Free range or enclose the run?

[Renee2020]

Hello all,

I am new to raising chickens and have 8 hens who are 18 weeks old now. I am trying to adjust/evaluate the best living areas for my girls. I live on 5 acres but in a rural/residential area surrounded by 5 acre lots. The back of our lot consists of about 2.5 acres with backyard then wooded area, this is where I built my run. We cleared about a 30x30 space and it is enclosed with a 5 foot chain link fence. I realize now the 5 ft fence in nothing for them to fly over and only holds one girl, the rest fly over. We havent seen many predators in the wooded portion of our property although I am sure they are there. We have a security camera set up facing the coop and have only seen a racoon on fence for one day.

My question is should I enclose it? The girls prefer to stay in the wooded area just on the side of the run area we build for them. They don't stray far from that area and it provides lots of tree/bush cover. They come back into the run to eat/sleep. We have two large dogs that will run up to there run fence and just watch them. I think that is why the girls prefer the woods. We installed a automatic coop door that shuts in the evening and they are always inside when it closes. They are obviously happier in the wooded area but I am afraid of a predator that might eventually come? Also, I have one hen who even if I open the back gate gets very upset and runs up and down the fence trying to get to her sisters but doesnt seem to be able to comprehend just walk out the fence gate unless I walk her out. Is that normal?

I have been reading posts for weeks and thank you all for all you post. It has been very helpful for this beginner! I would appreciate any thoughts you might have concerning the woods or enclosing.

 

[wamtazlady]

If you are asking if your birds will be perfectly safe free ranging, the answer is no. When I used to free range some years I lost no chickens to predators. Some years I lost a lot. I love watching them be free and run around eating bugs and things. However, finally I had enough. My chickens stay in their run all the time now. It is the only way I can be sure they are safe.

Each of us raising chickens has to make our own decisions about free ranging. It is not an easy decision. It comes down to how many chickens you are willing to lose in a bad year to predators.

 

[Callender Girl]

My poultry all live in secure coops at night, most of which have attached runs. I am retired, so I am home all day and the chickens, ducks and geese are only allowed free range outside their homes when I am here to keep an eye out. That still means they get a good 10 hours or so of freedom during the summer, and I check outside many. many times a day. Plus, I have windows along the south side of the house so I can check on them from indoors, too.

There are too many predators out there who would like to kill and/or eat my birds.

 

[rosemarythyme]

There is no "right" answer - if you free range, you will lose bird(s) at some point. If you have a very secure run, it's unlikely you will lose any. Some folks are fine with some loss and consider it a part of chicken keeping, but if you consider your birds pets or have valuable birds, losing even 1 might be very difficult.

My birds stay in a run almost all the time, partially for their safety and partially because I don't want them decimating my yard. I only free range when I'm able to be outside watching them.