Free Ranging on Hay field

[Vickydolittle]

Hello everyone! I am new to owning chickens and currently have 5 week old chicks that I let free range from about 4:30-8:30pm because I have time to check on them and there's more shade at that time outside. We live on a little over 10 acres, but most of it is a hay field, I'd say about 2.5 acres of it is cut around the house for our yard. Some times during the year like spring and summer mostly, the hay gets very high before cutting. My question is will they go in the tall grass to free range or will they stay in the open space? I'd hate to have to confine them more, but I'm scared I won't be able to find them and they'd be more likely to get eaten by predators that way. Any advice or suggestions? Thank you!

 

[Some Old Guy]

From what I've seen, the birds mostly like to be in the open, where they can look around and see each other. But, they do make forays into taller grass and weeds, and even into underbrush. FWIW, like you, I own several acres, but I only keep one acre regularly mowed. That acre also borders on a Weyerhauser pine tree plantation with a lot of undergrowth. The guinea fowl are the most frequent explorers, my banties and Australorps are infrequent explorers.

Disclaimer - I'm new at this, and my birds are only 4 months old. I'm not an expert!

 

[user651618]

I'd be careful with that. A 5 week old chick free ranging about is hawk popcorn, at least where I am. With that said, mine usually patrol the grass/lawn type areas that are mowed in the mornings and evenings. During the heat of the day they move into the wood line and forage in the brush.

 

[Loving my girls]

I’d agree with @user651618 lovely idea as it is the predators would see it as an all you can eat buffet.

 

[Perris]

My question is will they go in the tall grass to free range or will they stay in the open space? I'd hate to have to confine them more, but I'm scared I won't be able to find them and they'd be more likely to get eaten by predators that way. Any advice or suggestions? Thank you!

My birds like the margins, so they can see what's on one side, and have cover on the other to hide in should trouble appear. But my birds are experienced free rangers, broody raised, not 5 week old chicks, who are having to learn everything by trial and error. So, I would advise you to rig up a temporary pen (with scaffolding netting or suchlike) that includes some long grass and a little shelter for them to practice free ranging with protection from getting lost.

What chickens do not like is to be contained on a completely open lawn or field; they are exposed to aerial predators in such a space. The chicken descended from jungle fowl, and normally prefer woodland/ shrubbery over a field. Long grass is better than no cover, but shrubs etc. work better for them if you have an area with some of them about. Here are some of mine patrolling margins, to give you an idea what I'm talking about; they were 4 weeks old when this photo was taken

 

[Vickydolittle]

Thank you for the advice! I have a little pen for them outside that I also keep feed & water in. Right now they're only free ranging from about 4:30- 8:30 and only when we are home so we can keep a good eye on them. Right now, if they also get scared they will run back to their fenced in/covered little pen as well, I leave the door open. Where there coop/run is going to be (almost finished), they will have a couple more areas to run to/hide under. It's just more in the "backyard" vs front (where I can watch them right now). Also, I know it's not foolproof, but we have quite a bit of smaller birds (mocking birds, sparrows, etc) that stay around our yard & every time they see a hawk/buzzard they attack them and scare them away as well.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I free range mine on 30 acres. Mine like the tall grass because it helps hide them from aerial predators. My property sits in the middle of thousands of acres of fields so the only predators I have to worry about during the day are large birds. Anything else is too afraid to cross the open fields during the day with nowhere to hide or take cover. At night everything comes crawling out, but my chickens all go back to the barn once the sun starts setting and all I have to do is lock them in for the night.

 

[Mrs. K]

If you have predators and free range, the chances of you getting hit are high. In the deep grass, but defense agains hawks and eagles, but foxes and coyotes can sneak in a get one. Out in the short grass, less hide outs for the mammals but more opportunities for the birds of prey.

If they are out in the short grass, they need something they can quickly get under, such as a pallet up on blocks, or a piece of plywood.

If they are out, you risk it. I like mine out and about, but I do not do it at the same time each day, sometimes I do all day and sometimes not at all. Do not let them out in high wind or foggy, rainy weather, as it gives too much advantage to the predators.

Most birds will come home to roost at a very early age.

Mrs K

 

[thistlewick]

Every single solitary piece of land that you free range your chickens on will give you different circumstances to your particular flock of chickens.

There are 'guidelines' in the sense that you need to give your chickens shelter and access to food and water easily - but a lot of people here will sit here and armchair advice and they just don't know *YOUR* situation. Also tons of fear mongering from people who really aren't capable of knowing how different it is in rural farmland/wild areas compared to suburban backyards.

Also people 'free ranging' on a 200 square feet of backyard versus pasture raised chickens on 20 acres is... apples and freakin oranges. So consider the source and find people who have the most similar circumstances to yours.

Also, photos of your coop and land and set up goes *miles* to help people trying to help!

 

[Vickydolittle]

Thanks for the advice! I do indeed have coyotes, owls, hawks, buzzards, armadillos to name a few. I haven't seen any foxes or raccoons yet, but that's not to say they aren't around. I currently have a sizable coop, but smaller temporary run that they use. I also have lots of pests/bugs around that the chickens have been having a great time finding and eating. I have found as the chickens have gotten older, they have also gotten a little braver and will venture out a little into the taller field. (We also have a couple of areas around they can hide under as well). I will continue to just watch them when I am home in the morning or evening out in the field and let them roam the acreage and put them back to safety when not able to watch. They are getting very good at being rounded back up when it's time to be put up.

Every single solitary piece of land that you free range your chickens on will give you different circumstances to your particular flock of chickens.

There are 'guidelines' in the sense that you need to give your chickens shelter and access to food and water easily - but a lot of people here will sit here and armchair advice and they just don't know *YOUR* situation. Also tons of fear mongering from people who really aren't capable of knowing how different it is in rural farmland/wild areas compared to suburban backyards.

Also people 'free ranging' on a 200 square feet of backyard versus pasture raised chickens on 20 acres is... apples and freakin oranges. So consider the source and find people who have the most similar circumstances to yours.

Also, photos of your coop and land and set up goes *miles* to help people trying to help!