Free Range or Not? What Does Everyone Prefer?

[bruceha2000]

its not because im english its because im 13

Perhaps but because you are in England, you spelt it correctly.

 

[myyardgirls]

Free range is no doubt the normal for "keeping a flock"..however predation is a natural concern. We have a small flock of only 4 hens and do let them free range on weekends while we are at work. They're anticipation to have the run of the open back yard is evident early every morning when we go to check the feeder and water; they come running to the door. We do enjoy watching them do their "chicken thing", scratching and roaming (if their not following us while we're outside). I vote for free ranging if it's possible..

 

[bruceha2000]

One of our chickens free ranged herself 2 nights ago. Let the birds out into their indoor run for the day. It is part of the barn alley that is closed on 2 ends by 4' wire. Kept the door to the outside run closed as well as the barn door as we were going to be gone all day. Came home after dark.

Daughter found 10 chickens in the coop on their roosts. Found one chicken roosting in the little room on the right side of the coop, as close as she could get to the rest of them (about 1 foot). This has happened once before with another chicken. Clearly 4' wire isn't high enough even for the heavier EEs. Couldn't find the last one. Then saw her looking IN the window next to the chicken door to the outside run. Clearly she knew where she WANTED to be. She had to fly the 4' gate to get behind the barn, then the 4' fence to get into the outdoor run. Of course, this was little Peep, the Cubalaya, who my daughter found on a fence rail 80' from the outside run a couple of days after they started to go out when no other bird would venture farther than 20'. There aren't any big openings for animals to wander through to get out of the barn so we haven't figured out how she ended up on the wrong side of the building. Don't know why she didn't go back in the way she came out, maybe because she wasn't familiar with that "entrance" never having seen it from the outside. Just glad she was safe and knew how to get where she wanted to be.

 

[TXchickmum]

Some people's yards are just bigger than others

Prior yard - too small for chickens per city rules. New yard, big enough for hundreds, presuming one could safely free range unattended.

I'm quite glad it isn't just people keeping chickens in urban/suburban backyards. Chickens are chickens. Most of what I have learned is from BYC and most of it applies no matter the size of your yard.

Indeed - it is all a matter of perspective!

.....and I concur - am very thankful for the information which is applicable to most/all chickens regardless of space/environment.

 

[janinepeters]

This might be subject matter for a whole different thread, but I wanted to share my thoughts - it seems to me that predators like hawks, coons, possibly coyotes and definitely stray dogs - are more of a problem with urban or suburban or "pseudo-country" (a development outside of city limits, but still close to a city or town and usually comes with HOA situations) than truly rural areas. Maybe because in the truly rural areas, there is plenty of other prey available?

There may be some truth to this, not necessarily because rural predators have more "natural" foods, but also because in suburban or semi-rural areas humans are increasingly encroaching on their natural habitat, converting it to houses, yards, office complexes, parking lots, etc. Consequently, predators are forced to adapt to the human dominated environment and must take the risk of hunting in our backyards, whether for wild squirrels or pet chickens. If they don't adapt, they die. They can't just go elsewhere and find new territory, because less and less is available every day, and the remaining habitat is virtually saturated with others of their owns species.

 

[Nickeyo]

Perhaps but because you are in England, you spelt it correctly.

Maybe Who Knows though before i put spelt i did ponder weather it was spelled or spelt.
I go to a private school but they dont do much spelling

 

[Buffygirl]

I keep my hens penned up, but they have more than enough room, and I pick greens for them by the handful.

My chickens are overly safe!
The only thing they are not protected from is diseases........

 

[Yukonchick]

Wow, thats a drag when your own dogs attack your chickens. I introduced my dogs to my chicks in the house when we first brought them home and continued daily letting the dogs go in to see the little chicks under the light. Now i can put them right in the chicken run with them.

 

[KathyJB]

I'm too afraid of Chicken Hawks to let my girls free. I would love to let them in the garden because I know there are bugs and tons of grass in there now, but it's too exposed. There is a pair of chicken Hawks that show up around this time and I don't want to give them a free meal.

 

[BorderBrigade]

My hens get locked up at night but during the day they are let out in the 200x200 barn paddock and when i am home are allowed to be able to roam a 6 acre pasture freely. Its as close to free ranging as i can comfortably provide as their is bears, fox, coyotes in the area that would love to make a meal out of them.