Free Range or Not? What Does Everyone Prefer?

[lolita117]

I do a half and half. I like to allow them to free-range at least a little bit everyday, some days they get to all day and some days not at all. They enjoy it so much. I feel like I'm punishing them making them stay cooped up all day (lol). I have a large run, but it's bare dirt. They love eating grass and bugs, and they have their favorite dusting areas outside the coop/run. I have 2 reasons I don't free range 24/7. I have dogs, who need a little run of the yard also. They can be out with the chickens if I'm supervising otherwise one or the other has to be confined (dogs or chickens). Other reason, most of my customers don't like a full time free range egg, too rich for them. They like a little more richness than store bought, so part time free range works. ~They also eat less feed when free-ranging

 

[FormerCityGal]

For where we live (classified as 'rural-residential) we need to have our chickens in a run. Ours is currently 8ft x 50 ft with 4 hens. I lost a flock of 5 about 3 months ago to a neighbor dog that runs loose.

 

[bruceh]

here is what i have. i have a pen and coop my birds are allowed in the fenced yard which is about a 1/2 acre or so. i do let them out after their morning laying around noon . i stay out with them to watch my flock for changes ( health, temperment etc ). then they are left alone til dark. the gate is then closed. i also have 2 bull mastiffs. they both will chase the chickens. have you ever seen a 160 lb dog chase a chicken . it is fun to watch . the dogs will get so tired chasing a chickens they just give up and lay down beside them. however with that said my dogs won;t let anything in the yard that even looks close to a threat.
my 1 dog had a thing with a rooster i had.. they played the game catch me if you can. the dog would chase the rooster. the rooster would run like crazy and squawk. the dog would play until she got tired and they stop and relax.
before i get yelled at. look up the bull mastiff breed. they were designed to protect and defend live stock against pochers.
coop and run or pen is not a bad thing as long as you have ample room for the chickens( please don't shove 30 chickens in 6x5 area). you can supplement their diet with good nutrients that benefit them.
i pen mine when i have to go away. if they are first year pullets.i keep them penned for a while so they learn where to lay.

 

[Melabella]

ereIn other threads I've noticed that posters can be pretty opinionated one way or another regarding free ranging. I figured I'd start a thread that takes the pulse of what people on the forums here think about free ranging in general. So...post your thoughts! Do you agree with free ranging? Why or why not? Do you think runs are a better idea? Why or why not?

I'm interested to hear everyone's thoughts!

Just want to say, hats off to RileyB for starting an active, lively, and interesting thread. Thanks to all of you who have shared your ways of free rangeing, partial freedom outside, and straight keeping in runs. I have learned so much, and once again see, there are more than one way to do things right!

Cheers all,

MB

 

[Davien]

I don't know if what I do is free range, I have a large part of my back yard fenced for my girls and at night when we are out ,I open the gate and let them into the rest of the fenced yard....they love both areas.

 

[andi6313]

Yes, I let my chicks free range, only while I'm outside. Or I put in a chicken tractor and I drag them all around the yard everyday. They need it for the extra greens, bugs and their sanity! My yard is not fenced in, we have stray dogs and a hawk that lives in our trees and watches my chickens carefully. They have plenty of room in their pen to spread their wings, but they enjoy being "free" out in the yard with our watching them. They are hilarious how they run in groups of 4 or 5 from one place to the next. They also love to stretch their wings and fly a couple of feet from the ground from one place to another. I think this makes them happy hens. I usually have more eggs when I let them free range like that.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I free range after 1pm, til almost dark, as long as i am home.
For me, i can't imagine not giving them the freedom, and fortunate to be able to provide it.
They have most of the 5 acres, partially wooded so theres a huge variety.
The rest of the time, everyone is in the coops/pens and its worked out well.
I rarely have to round up anyone they come in on their own.
Its saved a huge amount of money on the feed.
I do a head count throughout the day, usually they are underfoot.
We have hawks, and stray dogs, my biggest worry.
After losing my little pigmy goat a few years ago to a dog, i always have a rifle with me.
Unless its a protected animal, I wont sacrifice my birds for their next meal.

 

[kellysmall87]

Hi everyone. Mine free range my garden during the day, pretty much. I have a small garden, with two young children and 9 chickens. I have halved the garden so half is for the children to play on in a relative chicken poo-free environment (although I do let the chickens on the lawn occasionally.)

My chickens have a nice patch of land. There's a small area of grass on that land and the rest is pebbles, grit and dirt. I have two coops and two runs which are steel dog cages (6x4 feet). They are happy enough, and love dirt bathing and sunbathing on the grass. At night, they are locked in the runs and the coops are locked as a fox had my flock before. there is also netting over the top of the fence so nothing can jump over (a cat or something) during the day and no hawks can dive bomb the chickens.

I think as long as the chickens feel safe, then they are happy. They don't need as much space as people make out, and sometimes, when they're allowed to go on the big lawn they choose not to and perch in their runs. They are quite content as long as they are together.

They also love being petted as I've had them from chicks. They jump on the top of their coops so I can tickle their chests and feed some mealworms. They eat all our leftovers and come when called. None of they lay yet, they're too young still. I love to see my chooks spread out in the sun, legs stretched!

 

[Pjsmithsparky]

I would love to free range but my dog(s) would be likely to eat them so I can't but I have a very big coop and on the weekends I will let them out while the dogs are inside!

But one problem with free ranging is that u lose a lot of chickens to foxes etc, but It is better for the chickens.

 

[flyboy129]

Where I used to live, I would free range (except the times we had a predator problem, and I would have to sit traps). Now, I am unable to, simply because of dogs in the neighborhood and the large hawk population. I do have the garden fenced, and usually turn them out after I get home in the afternoon a couple of times a week. Then, I'll usually pull out a lawn chair and have fun watching them. I also make sure they get plenty of treats to keep them satisfied while penned. I would think most people would prefer free ranging as I do, but are unable to simply because of circumstances.