Free Range or Not?

[TheRookie]

There is a flock of chickens who escaped from my neighbors yard and have lived in my woods ever since. I'm worried that when my chickens are old enough to start free ranging, the other chickens might "take" my chickens. Has anyone heard of this happening and if so, what's the best solution? There are only about 8 hens out there and I will have a rooster with my 15 pullets.

 

[peepblessed]

There is a flock of chickens who escaped from my neighbors yard and have lived in my woods ever since. I'm worried that when my chickens are old enough to start free ranging, the other chickens might "take" my chickens. Has anyone heard of this happening and if so, what's the best solution? There are only about 8 hens out there and I will have a rooster with my 15 pullets.

If you feed your chickens near a certain time every day. They will not leave. It doesn't have to be much.

 

[Ducks and Banny hens]

It is not likely. If you, like stated above, feed the chickens repetitively, and fence them in for about a week (going out at the same time every night to lock them up), they will begin to go inside repetitively on there own. More than likely your neighbor was unacquainted with how to prepare for free range. And more than likely, his/her chickens will be drawn home with your chickens. I find this happens with ducks. Instead of my ducks flying off into the sunset with a flock of wilds, Wild ducks come down and forage with my ducks.

 

[TheRookie]

Thank you both for your replies. I'll make sure I keep them on a schedule so they aren't tempted to "fly the coop" lol