"free range" vs chicken coop

[ColbertCritters]

Hello all! New member, ready to start raising chickens for healthful eggs for my family. We've always bought organic, cage-free eggs and thought they were the best until chicken raising friends told me otherwise. My dilemma? I thought the intent of raising them eco-friendly was "free range" style? Why do I need a coop-security of the chickens or convenience? I know stupid question-but first timer here!! Thanks for your help

 

[chickenshagg]

Someone once said that everyone likes a free chicken dinner! That would include racoons, skunks, possums, fox, dogs, cats, owls,hawks,etc,etc,etc.... I believe a coop is number one a place of shelter from weather and predator. I let my chickens somewhat free range. I keep them locked tight in their coop at night and let them have access to their run during the day and I also allow them to run free in the yard and woods when I am home. They always come back to their coop. If I have to leave I can just whistle for the chickens and they come running to me and into their run, I also offer them a treat at this time.

Keeping your own chickens whether it be for eggs, meat, or both you know what you are feeding your chickens so you know what you are eating. It is also quite fun and addictive!

 

[Imp]

ColbertCritters,

You need to find out about the predators in your particular area. I free range from the time I leave for work till dark, and Yes the chickens are out alone all day. I don't have many predators here. Mostly just the fat lazy urban raccoons. Free ranging comes with risk, so be prepared, and make your coop secure. Good luck,
Imp

 

[ChooksChick]

Hi, ColbertC- and welcome to BYC!

Where in the country are you located? Are you suburban, or rural?

What kind of yard have you got? Is it fenced? What type of climate are you in?

All of these answers will help you determine the set-up you need, but most importantly, you must have a coop for overnight, as well as for your nest-boxes. You don't want to have them laying willy-nilly or you'll miss eggs (they'll hide them from you) because the birds don't have a home base.

 

[patandchickens]

Pretty much anywhere, you WILL lose SOME free-ranging chickens to predators; in some areas you will only lose some occasionally, whereas other places you would lose your entire flock on a very frequent basis and free-range just isn't practical.

There are all *degrees* of free ranging, though (please nobody argue semantics here, you can call things what you want, but there is a whole continuum of free-ness) -- for instance, a good dogproof fence around a large chickenfriendly yard will save you a lot of predator losses, and locking the chickens up in a coop at night will save you a whole lot more (even if they run loose during the day).

So, you have to decide what you're personally comfortable with, and what suits your particular situation best.

I would love to have chickens running loose all over here, but we have SO many raccoons and coyotes and stray dogs, plus the house is right close on a 65-70 mph rural road full of commuters and gravel trucks, free-range chickens just don't last here. My neighbor got 12 point-of-lay hens last July, and by the end of October she was down to 3. So, my chickens have very large (compared to most people) indoor quarters with roofed predatorproof runs into which I chuck lots of weedings and hay and garden surplus and whatnot. I have 3 turkeys 'free ranging' at the moment, but if they were more ambitous and exploratory I think I'd end up enclosing them too.

The main thing, IMHO, is to get eggs from HAPPY chickens, and if you give them plenty of room and a congenial atmosphere they can be pretty adequately happy in confinement -- certainly their LIFETIME happiness is greater than that of chickens who are running free for five months and then get et by a predator. Also your eggs will be 'healthier for you' and also tastier, if your chickens have access to some plant/veg/fruit/insect foods as a supplement to commercial chicken feed.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[embkm]

My chickens are in runs. I could let them free range, but since I live in a subdivision and we don't have a fenced yard, I don't think my neighbors would appreciate it. Either that or they'd think I was offering them a free dinner. Add to that all the loose neighborhood dogs... we need the security here.

I do let some out to roam the yard just while I am changing and refilling food and water. If I ever finally get a farm, I will probably let them free-range.

 

[Sillystunt]

Not sure why you wouldn't have a coop and then let them free range during the day.I am not sure where you live but they need protection from the elements of nature. Winter can kill them if they don't have a coop to keep warm in. Having a coop doesn't make you non eco friendly. I used all recycled materials for mine....very eco friendly

And for predators, prepare yourself if you don't secure them at night

and mine have a coop and run and are considerd cage free organic eggs~
Now if you want free range organic eggs just have no run~

 

[trilyn]

from NY! Sounds like you've got decisions to make-have fun doing so! BTW, you'll learn a ton of stuff from the good people on this forum.

 

[ChickenCat]

You must have a secure house to lock them in every night. There are too many predators roaming at night. I let mine out about 6:30 am. to range the pasture while I'm at work. And I worry myself sick! All it takes is one time for a stray dog or coyote to bust into my flock and cause major heart break. why do i let them range? It's cause we haven't gotten the lot finished yet. And it makes the birds happy.

I know it's gonna happen and my A$% is the only one that will be kicked for it.

 

[Rebekah]

we actually have a pretty interesting thread on this subject going on right now:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=219062&p=1