Free range or not free range, that is the question!!

[shirley9937]

I have 2 ISA browns that I acquired in September last year. Up until now I have given them free run of the garden, albeit not massive, but I am now wondering whether this was such a wise move??!! Everything they can eat, they have eaten. Everything they can scratch, they have scratched. And I swear to God that I never realised how much poop comes out of two little chickens!!!

What I really want to know is - is there any way of regaining control of my garden - it's 40 feet long and 60 feet wide - so not sure that a fence construction separating them and us is a practical/attractive idea. Failing that, what plants can I put in that they WON'T eat?? Have a feeling that this is a long shot!!

I have built them a 6ft run on the end of their original 3ft run. As they have been used to roaming all day, would it be incredibly cruel to keep them in that run and let them out occassionally?? I know that when I have kept them in ,so as they are out of the way when I have been trying to potter in the garden, they run up and down the run like loonies trying to escape and I feel bad. If this run is too small, what would be a good size for the run, considering that I don't want to convert the whole of my garden.

Any ideas guys - all appreciated.

Shirls

 

[Mahonri]

If you want a garden, you have to keep the chickens out.

I'm going to have to fence in my garden simply because of the wild birds.

 

[JP33]

They will turn whatever they have access to to bare earth in no time. You will need to fence in certain areas if you don't want them in.

Build several different enclosures, permitting them access to the areas you want them in.

In the meantime, stock up on grass clippings, clover, spinach, whatever you can find and feed them greens every chance you get along with some of their regular food.

Hop clover is growing like mad in my area right now & I have been harvesting it, keeping a few containers in the fridge so I don't run out. They love it!

Hope this helps.


...JP

 

[shirley9937]

I had a feeling that it was one or the other - grass or no grass!!! Will have to come up with a cunning plan!!

On the question of the run - how big would it have to be to house the girls all day without upsetting them?

Shirls

 

[Big George]

I keep mine in a run and on nice days let them out an hour or so before dusk. They get some exercise return as the sun starts going down ,but best of all do not do much damage in that time. They used to have a lot more out time. When I made the switch I did not let them out at all for a week.

 

[JP33]

Quote:
It can never be big enough unless you live on several acres. I know someone on this site has about 40 acres, I believe is what he said and his flock uses approximately 5 acres to do chicken things.

Go as big as you can.


...JP

 

[shirley9937]

Big George

Thanks for that - just feel a little mean having given them the taste of freedom and then trying to take it away from them!!

How big is your run and are they happy now?

 

[mdbokc]

FWIW, my run is about 30 square feet per bird and I would not want to go smaller than that. They use every square inch. And they are content (until they see me out) but love to get out which is no surprise. Generally, it is said 10 square feet per bird is needed to avoid problems in the run.

 

[gsim]

Quote:

I would fence the garden. I did mine with 5' tall chicken wire to keep rabbits out and also to discourage deer (Sometimes in herds of up to 16 in my front yard). So far it works for the deer and rabbits. I do not free range because I cannot be out there all of the time to protect my chooks. Also, I do not want their poop everywhere, and they are such pets that they would soon be pooping on our front and back porch to boot. I am not having any of that. I do toss grass clippings and their favorite weeds into their run all of the time along with all of the fruit and veggie treats they get from our kitchen. If things get worse with the economy, I may one day be forced to allow free-ranging to prevent them from starving. In your place, I would not feel bad at all. They will adapt. They are domesticated animals after all, and must adapt to our ways and not us to theirs. My run is 2000 sq ft for 23 pullets. It is fine for them except they have no bugs to eat. I throw fresh grass clippings in all of the time as they are available and weeds all year long, including winter. Let them out only when convenient to you. If done in evening, have to be extra watchful for preds but only a short time to sundown so they will automatically go to their coop, making your job easier. Since you have such a small flock, a predator would really hurt your egg production. Flock losses go with free-ranging and no way around that at all. You have to be willing to accept that too if free-ranging.

 

[lakeman]

In the old days, when homeowners left their chickens run, they did not mow their lawns, they swept them with a broom.