Free Ranging: Animal happiness vs Risk of Loss

[centrarchid]

I keep several small groups of chickens close to the house. They are what I have that comes closest to backyard chicken keeping. I like them to get out and forage as the birds clearly show signs of wanting to do just that. I try to be out with them most of the time and they have several measures providing protection. They are still penned when weather is bad and when I am not around for extended periods.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think there is such variance in coops/run set ups, and the reality of "free ranging." If you mean your yard, well that really is just a larger run. Where as, when I free range, it is in a section pasture, in the middle of nowhere.

I think it is good for chickens to get out, have space and exercise. I think it makes people happier to see them that way until they are dead. If your chickens are active, healthy and bright eyed, they are healthy enough, no matter where they are at. Happiness is more of a human emotion. Chickens really do not seem to me to have much of a concept of tomorrow or yesterday, just right now, do I have enough to eat...what is that over there? mentality.

If you want to let them out, your decision and your risk. Probably better in some ways for your chickens, but the risk is real. If you would be devastated if you lost one, don't let them out. If you can loose them without it being a financial or emotional loss, it is not as big as risk.

No one way to do it, no better way to do it than the way that works best for you.

Mrs K

 

[Lizzy733]

Chickens are inquisitive and prone to boredom; it is entirely possible to provide them a run environment that keeps them entertained and stimulated, but that does take work.
Space and variety are the biggest factors.
I do the same as everyone else here with supervised free-time, but they are restricted to the back yard despite their efforts to sneak in the house. In winter though, the weather is a bit more restrictive. It doesn't drop to freezing, but the wind and bucketing rain for days on end means they are confined to the run and sometimes even just to the sheltered areas during the worst of it.
With 30sqm of run for 6 hens, I have plenty of room to section off portions of the run for spring re-vegging and established plants provide a bit of shelter and foraging opportunity year round. There's plenty of climbing and perching opportunities that can be shuffled around to provide variety and a dry dustbath which can fit them all at once if it's raining.
I have no concerns I will come back to angry chickens with cabin fever if I am away for a few days - even though they have a taste for the great outdoors.

 

[Perris]

orpingtons, a french marans, a wyandotte, and a cream legbar

sounds like a lovely pretty egg basket! these breeds should fare well in a free ranging environment. At the end of the day, it's about your peace of mind; how do you want them to live?

 

[LizzzyJo]

sounds like a lovely pretty egg basket! these breeds should fare well in a free ranging environment. At the end of the day, it's about your peace of mind; how do you want them to live?

It is a lovely basket! Unfortunately my cream leg bar stopped laying in October. I suppose from the darkness? I miss the pretty blue eggs.
I think I will keep free ranging as long as my dog or I am there to supervise. My dog is a border collie German shepherd cross. She’s a wonderful flock protector. Not a pigeon is allowed to fly overhead!

 

[cmom]

Circumstances are different for everyone. I don't free range anymore but my birds have very large pens so they have a lot of room. I have let them out and they do go out but before long they go back into their pens. I think they feel safer there. We have a lot of predators especially coyotes. We are rural on a dead end road. A few months ago I lost a very special bird to a fox in the middle of the day. I still miss her. I did have a fox that was lurking around during the day and it killed my Gladys. Prior it had been a long time since I had any losses. I have lost birds over the years to predators, that is why I have electric wire around my coops and pens, netting covering the pens and concrete under the gates all because of losses from predators. Maybe the birds would be happier out but for whatever reason they seem happier in their pens. We have open pasture so no trees or bushes for the birds to hide if they should need to. I have several game cameras in different spots on my property. Most nights, when the predators are out roaming around, I see one on at least one of the cameras. Good luck and have fun...

 

[aart]

I think it makes people happier to see them that way until they are dead. If your chickens are active, healthy and bright eyed, they are healthy enough, no matter where they are at. Happiness is more of a human emotion. Chickens really do not seem to me to have much of a concept of tomorrow or yesterday, just right now, do I have enough to eat...what is that over there? mentality.

Exactly!

I have a small flock, lots of preds-mostly hawks, and can't afford to lose any of them.
So they are confined with a goodly amount of space.

 

[cmom]

I think there is such variance in coops/run set ups, and the reality of "free ranging." If you mean your yard, well that really is just a larger run. Where as, when I free range, it is in a section pasture, in the middle of nowhere.

I think it is good for chickens to get out, have space and exercise. I think it makes people happier to see them that way until they are dead. If your chickens are active, healthy and bright eyed, they are healthy enough, no matter where they are at. Happiness is more of a human emotion. Chickens really do not seem to me to have much of a concept of tomorrow or yesterday, just right now, do I have enough to eat...what is that over there? mentality.

If you want to let them out, your decision and your risk. Probably better in some ways for your chickens, but the risk is real. If you would be devastated if you lost one, don't let them out. If you can loose them without it being a financial or emotional loss, it is not as big as risk.

No one way to do it, no better way to do it than the way that works best for you.

Mrs K

So true... When I lost my precious Gladys, I had let her out and knew it was always a risk. I was heartbroken when the fox got her during the middle of the day when I was distracted. I still blame myself for not putting her in her pen while I was distracted. She would probably be with me now. She was 3 years old. For whatever reason, most of time seem to be a favorite bird that is killed.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Too many variables involved with everyone's different situations.
For myself my "free range" is inside a 3 1/2 acre yard. I also breed birds so I have breeding pens.
Some birds free range 24/7 365 while others spend several months in breeding pens and then a few months set lose with the free range flock.
For me they're hands down no doubt about it happier when free range. Of course the risk of loss is much higher when not penned but for me the difference in being penned or free range makes for an easy decision.
As for comparing it to letting your children lose to freely play next to traffic that is a ridiculous comparison. But some people have to make ridiculous comparisons to justify their decisions I guess.

 

[centrarchid]

My concept of free-range part time around house still has birds covering about 4 acres on a good day. A lot less acreage used when it is cold and windy, especially when skies also clear. Little yellow squiggles indicates paths a individual takes on a good day. On bad day they spend at least 3/4's of time in denser growth that is warmer yet provides good view in front of house. Note they cross road.