Free ranging where not wanted

[Farmerette6]

Hello!
We are having problems with our chickens going places we don't want them to go. I am about ready to either get rid of them or fence them in. We have 40 acres for them to roam. However they seem to love the driveway! It is gravel. I would think the grass would be softer for them but they continually are in the drive. They poop all over the drive. They go around the barn (that is hubby's workshop not a chicken barn) on the cars that are parked by said barn and in the flower beds too! We constantly shoo them away but they come back. I have talked with them to no avail
So how can I keep them out of my drive and places like that but not lock them up all the time.

Thanks in advance for any/all suggestions or advice.

Frustrated Farmerette!

 

[sourland]

Can you use fencing to limit their access to the areas you want them to avoid ? If they can get there, chickens will go where they want - generally not where we want.

 

[Chicken Cryptid]

Maybe consider making them a fenced in area around their chicken house? It will keep them contained in an area where you want them to stay, and they will be able to roam outside!

 

[centrarchid]

I direct ranging habits through how vegetation is managed, as well as placement of feeding stations and waters. Not sexy by way of forcing my will, and may not be doable in a couple of hours, but outcome is consistent.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Unfortunately you can't. You can fence areas off, but I have tried everything else. They will go where they want to. So you have to decide what is more important, their freedom, or your driveway.

 

[aart]

Fence em in or fence em out.

 

[centrarchid]

Hello!
We are having problems with our chickens going places we don't want them to go. I am about ready to either get rid of them or fence them in. We have 40 acres for them to roam. However they seem to love the driveway! It is gravel. I would think the grass would be softer for them but they continually are in the drive. They poop all over the drive. They go around the barn (that is hubby's workshop not a chicken barn) on the cars that are parked by said barn and in the flower beds too! We constantly shoo them away but they come back. I have talked with them to no avail
So how can I keep them out of my drive and places like that but not lock them up all the time.

Thanks in advance for any/all suggestions or advice.

Frustrated Farmerette!

I will show you mine, if you show me yours.

See thread linked below.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...in-american-dominiques.1019004/#post-15801080

Image below represents about 1/3 of my property and the entire area the birds currently forage. I am certain most people have very different properties, but what I show can demonstrate what the chickens will use if they have a choice.

I also have some acreage well beyond what the free-range birds actually use. Very little is actually fenced and only the poultry netting actually keeps some of the chickens confined or excluded. American Dominiques respect fencing, American Games do not.

The birds focus foraging on areas that are boarders between short and tall vegetation. The forage is sufficient to keep close to 2 dozen hens in lay without use of feed. Use of feed is just as much a control / guidance measure helping to keep birds where I want them. Generally, they spend very little time in the more open area with short grass unless and insect hatch of some sort going on or I scatter scratch in there.