Free range or no?

[adstowe]

I free range mine. I'm willing to accept the loss, in order to allow them to do it. I think it allows them to live a better life. That's just my opinion. I have 40 acres, but it's all high desert land. Not a lot going on there. Lots of bugs in the summer and a ton of junipers for cover if they need it. They normally never went more than about 50 ft. from the coop with my old roo. With my new roo they are expanding a bit, but still don't go very far. I think whether or not to do it is a personal opinion. It's gonna vary by situation. I don't have little kids who will be upset if I lose a hen. I only have one chicken with a name (she was a runt and became "little chicken nugget" AKA nugget). I accept that i can lose a chicken on occasion and potentially all of them. I don't like it, but it's worth it to me to allow them to live the best life that I can provide them and I believe that requires them being out hunting bugs and other chicken activities that get restrained when enclosed. That's purely my opinion and what works for me.