Free Range or Not? What Does Everyone Prefer?

[howsekatz8]

I started with nine --- i to like let them range in my yard which is 2 acres and fenced on two long sides...I have two left, two were taken in the night by a fox...that tore through the fence..., the others just disappeared one by one during the day and --- no feathers , nothing and I have seen a hawk at dusk fly over.l,
I am sad and feel this has been a learning process...I have boarded and fixed the fence in the coop.

 

[Suzierd]

I started with nine --- i to like let them range in my yard which is 2 acres and fenced on two long sides...I have two left, two were taken in the night by a fox...that tore through the fence..., the others just disappeared one by one during the day and --- no feathers , nothing and I have seen a hawk at dusk fly over.l,
I am sad and feel this has been a learning process...I have boarded and fixed the fence in the coop.

A fox will grab them in the day time too, I've seen them here at noon.

 

[Beekissed]

I started with nine --- i to like let them range in my yard which is 2 acres and fenced on two long sides...I have two left, two were taken in the night by a fox...that tore through the fence..., the others just disappeared one by one during the day and --- no feathers , nothing and I have seen a hawk at dusk fly over.l,
I am sad and feel this has been a learning process...I have boarded and fixed the fence in the coop.

This may help you learn to free range successfully: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/bees-key-points-to-successful-and-safe-free-ranging

 

[howsekatz8]

Oh my! The ones here that disappeared in the day...there were no feathers, nothing, no sign of a struggle. --- the two that were taken at night out of the coop...large hole in fence and feathers were everywhere? That is why, I think a hawk, has picked off, the 5 that intermittedky disappeared since last June...while ranging...

 

[pound4pound]

if my birds are not flighty and if there is no predators human or animal, they have all freedom to do so. but if predators exist, i can have them on 5ftx5ftx5ft run and roof is netted to avoid aerial attacks.

 

[jmuller3580]

How did y'all go about "training" your hens to come back to the coop around dusk? (For those that free range during the day or at least part of the day)

 

[cfrich]

When I had a rooster, my chickens took themselves to bed. Now without a rooster I have to make them go. I toss freeze dried meal worms into the coop and they run right in. Whenever I go out back with the meal worm container, the girls come running.

 

[All Ball]

My girls always go into the coop shortly after sunset -- no need to entice them or force them in. Of course, I need to be there to lock it up after that....

 

[CarolinaShep]

I started out with 15 pullets free ranging them. I'm down to 13. They were free ranging right around the coop and on my property but wandered off yesterday. Not sure where the crap they went. I hate to lose any of my girls. I built them a run today. 8 feet wide by 16 feet long.

 

[shooter238]

I would like to get some flighty chickens and let them loose on a fence row behind my house, with some nesting boxes and coops. Does anyone think this will work?