Free Ranging: Animal happiness vs Risk of Loss

[cmom]

This is our property not a current picture. Mostly pasture, very few trees. We did take a couple of huge oaks down because they were old and falling apart. Every time we had some significant wind branches would come down. We are on top of a hill.

 

[Matilda Belle]

My silkies are not free range and they seem very content. I love the idea of free ranging but do not want to risk losing them to predators. Either way chickens are happy with enough space.

 

[woodmort]

Chickens are all going to die of something, might as well let them be happy. That said, I've lost more chickens from predators--weasels, mink and raccoons--that have gotten into the coop than kill them free ranging. At least outside they can run and hide with roosters to protect them and, if I'm alert, the ability to have their human chase off the danger.

 

[Perris]

Little yellow squiggles indicates paths a individual takes on a good day.

no lines showing on my computer

 

[sean_wonder]

As much as it sucks, everything's gotta eat! I've never lost a bird and I hope I never will, but I still free range them as often as I can, for hours at a time. I do think they're happier that way, and entertained for free! My chickens especially love to fly long distances, and it's such a joy to watch them do just that. They've developed their own little sound for when they want to get out now haha. Kinda goes like "RRR...RRRRaaa... GRaah GRaah Graah!" Adorable

 

[centrarchid]

This is our property not a current picture. Mostly pasture, very few trees. We did take a couple of huge oaks down because they were old and falling apart. Every time we had some significant wind branches would come down. We are on top of a hill.
View attachment 1953812

You got ants or termites?

 

[FathertoFeathers]

I let my ducks free range all day and lock em up tight when the sun starts to set. In my experience the chickens that I had laid earlier and more often when I let them free range. But you definitely have to be prepared for the loss/es of the birds. What I would do is let them out and supervise them for a hour or two and let them back in.

 

[legojenn]

I'd love to let my birdies free range, but I only have 1/10 of an acre. The neighbour cut a hole in the fence so that they can visit her place. So, between the two of us, my birds have a little more than 1/10 acre in our collective back yards to roam. Legally, they are not allowed to be out of the run, but bylaw enforcement will not respond to a complaint unless they are on public or a complaining neighbour's property. They are only out of the run when either me or my neighbour is home. I wish that I could give them more, but they are safe, and enjoy freedom for at least two hours a day on weekdays and eight hours a day outside the run on weekends.

 

[hayley3]

I let mine free range for years until one day they were massacred so that ended the free ranging. Some were able to fly over the fence but whatever killed them, chased them over the fence after killing the chickens inside the fencing.

And then I lost one to a fox during the middle of the day while I was home.
I'm moving, and at my next place, they will be contained inside an electric fence with lots of bushes to hide under should there be a hawk. My chickens are always up now if I am not at home.

Having a goat or other animal in with the chickens I believe helped prevent predators.

 

[cmom]

You got ants or termites?

No termites, some ants but I have been putting permethrin on the ant hills and they either moved or died. I put some on some carpenter ants I found in a wood pile and they are totally gone. Also we have fire ants or what I call piss ants. They hurt when they bite. They have been disappearing. I haven't seen any new mounds.