Free-Ranging Chickens

[wichix411]

I have 8 Browns (Thats what the hatchery called em, I think they are red sex-link) that are only about 10 weeks old. I have a coop and run built for them. They've had access to the run for about a week (This is a 10x12 run) and its already half dirt, so i know they like trying to find their own food. My original plan was to let them free range during the day to find as much of their own food as possible because we have roughly 5 acres.

I'm kinda nervous about letting them free range tho, because there is a state highway that borders my backyard, and their coop/run is about 100 feet from the highway. Putting a fence up along the highway/edge of my backyard is out of the question. So basically my question is, do you think the chickens would try to cross the road, even when their is plenty for them to eat on my property? I only have 8 pullets, so I really don't want to lose any, but also i want them to be able to free range...

 

[Brindlebtch]

I think free range chickens and a highway are two conditions that aren't going to go well together, but I'm new at this.

Let's see what the veterans say.

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

they might eventually try to cross. they may get bored. you could make a large covered pen, and they might be fine. sorry, theres not much you can do.

 

[TXmom]

Just from my own experience...my chickens stay away from the road...passing cars scare them. However, I've seen chickens by my daughter's school that have crossed the road on the side of their house (small driveway up to the school), but I've never seen them near the bigger road in front (Hwy 90)...but I'm not completely sure.

 

[wichix411]

I'm hoping that they'll be too scared to go by it. The coop is right next to the garage, and right behind the coop and garage is a hill that goes down to a swampy area and then a hill goes up to the highway behind the swampy area. If they follow the hill along side the back of the garage it goes out to a big field full of seeds and bugs. Would I need to somehow train them to go that way, and if so, what kinda treat would do the trick?

 

[greenmulberry]

Well, I have a state highway 400 feet near my coop, and I let my girls free range. Even when they go far and wide, they have never gone withing 50 feet of the road. The cars go by at 60+ mph, and I think the chickens don't care for the noise and commotion.

In my case, I would worry more if there were few cars, but I think the regular traffic scares them away.

 

[greenmulberry]

Oh, and if I want to train them to hang in a certain area, I throw scratch there. I do this because I like the chickens to eat bugs around my wood pile, and it seems to work. They get in the habit of going over there to check for treats.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

The longer time I let mine out to free range the farther they move away from the coop. Soo if you let them out for less time, they will not travel as far. Free ranging is always a risk so you need to determine how much of a risk you want to put your birds in! I'm not near a highway or busy road but I know my birds stay pretty close to their coop within 50-75 feet and they only venture further if the geese/ducks go further. They love to free range!!

 

[wichix411]

Well I was planning on letting them out all day during the summer months.. I don't think I'll let them out ofthe run during winter. How old should they be before I let em loose? Like I know, everybody says they'll come back to roost at night, but I'm thinking that they might get confused if they can't see the coop because of the hill... And my parents would never let me put a scarecrow out at the top of the hill, sorta as a "landmark" for the chickens

 

[Marlinchaser]

I guess this the question could be Will the Chicken try to cross the road, and the answer is......... a definate Maybe. I live a 1/4 mile from the main road, and mine have walked up to the top of the hill an looked at the road, were they thinking of crossing? I dont know, maybe they chickened out. I have some 4 week old out with thier mothers, and by 6 weeks they(mothers) usually abandon the chicks and leave them on thier own, so your 10 week olds should be OK. Start slow 1/2 or so before they go in to roost let them out, next day hour, and keep increasing time so they remember where home is at the end of the day. Maybe incourage them to go away from the road. If they dont learn I hope you got extras just in case.

P.S. I would remove the age reference its highly frowned upon to have minors post thier age.