Free range or no?

[Marissao717]

Hey there! I have seven chickens that we just got in March so they are like teenage chickens?
They are in a small coop and the ground has gotten muddy- should I be putting something on the ground?

Could I let them free range? The coop is in a fenced in area with a lot of trees- Im m worried they will fly in the trees. The fence is 4.5 high hog fence and its roughly 1 acre. Do they go back to the coop on their own? Will I have to chase them? I just feel bad that they spend all of their time in the coop. The only lther animals I have in the fenced in area are small friendly dwarf goats.

Any advice is welcome- thanks!!

 

[ChanLillie]

I have a 5 foot tall fence with no roof yet and I haven't had a single chicken, guinea, goose, or turkey escape. They all load themselves back into their house at night (except the geese, they have to be carried in because they are spoiled.) and I just lock them up for the night.