Free range or enclosed run?

[royal willow farm]

I just moved my chickens so I didn't go with anything fancy. in the spring I'll build something so they can be free range. it is much better

 

[royal willow farm]

I think you should give them lots of room in the yard and give them lots of spays but still have it enclosed.

 

[Nardo]

Mine have about 60 ft X 25 ft predator resistant area. I let them out onto about 1/2 acre when I'm out and the dogs are out with us because hawks have eaten free chicken dinner from my flock before. I believe that they are much happier to roam but it doesn't happen every day.

 

[pwiker]

One is not 'better' than the other. Your conditions will determine free or not-so-free range. If your primary challenges are predators, neighbors, roadways etc, you should keep them penned. If you don't have those problems, letting them wander is entertaining for both of you, they eat more diversely and they will spread their manure naturally.

You really need to tell us which is better for you.

 

[Mach 1 Padilla]

I have my egg laying chickens in a 200' x 200' Fenced in corral so basically free ranging but safe for the most part from ground predators, My rare chickens are pined up because I don't want to take any chance and lose them to predators.

 

[AnimalGeek23]

I have a question about this: do any of you have your chooks in an enclosed run ALMOST 24/7?

 

[AnimalGeek23]

I live in the suburbs and though my yard is big, it's not fenced in and is very open to the streets. Will my chickens run away if I let them free range? (I don't have chickens yet)

 

[Henrik Petersson]

I live in the suburbs and though my yard is big, it's not fenced in and is very open to the streets. Will my chickens run away if I let them free range? (I don't have chickens yet)

They will roam far beyond the yard, but come back to their coop to sleep at night.

 

[Doc7]

I have a question about this: do any of you have your chooks in an enclosed run ALMOST 24/7?

Yes. More like all but 4-6 hours a week.

 

[Doc7]

Why do y'all refrain from letting them out in bad weather? Unless it's to keep them from getting frost bite when it's too cold, I don't see any reason to. They aren't harmed by getting soaking wet in rain, for example.

I don’t want to chase chickens out of my neighbors garage when it is 35 degrees and raining, so the chickens stay locked up so I don’t have to.