Free ranging

[Beekissed]

You might want to erect a fence that includes some of your woodlot. Fencing is the only way to insure they stay within certain boundaries and even fencing is not foolproof to some birds. But it mostly keeps them into your desired free ranging area.

You might also consider a good LGD to watch over your flock.

 

[Cockadoodledon't]

Let them out a little later...about 30 min before they would normally roost . That way they dont go so far from their roost until they get used to being out. My ladies always look forward to their evening forage..

 

[Cockadoodledon't]

Quote:
Whats an LGD????

 

[Beekissed]

Livestock guardian dog. I have two and I couldn't free range successfully without them!

I never lock up my coop at night and my chickens flow where'er they may on my acre+ without fear of predation. It's bliss!

 

[luvmycritters42]

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fencing doesn't seem to keep my chickies in..........I tried putting them in with the goats when they were out of their coop to protect them from the neighbors dog that comes through.....and they wouldn't stay in there. They fly over the fence when they want to explore somewhere else. They go in the woods, they go in the yard, they go on the deck, back in with the goats, out again to the garden.....

 

[valerieb]

I have 300 acres and 60+ chickens that free range from early morning until almost dark. Maybe I have just been lucky, but I have not lost any to predators. Sometimes a big hawk will fly around but they all know the sound and run for cover as soon as they hear it. Most of them stay within 100 yards or so of the house but some of them like to hang in the woods. I do not want to lose any but they love the freedom so much I could not bear to lock them in a pen.

 

[valerieb]

I forgot to mention that I have 5 Yorkies that run around all day in the same area as the chickens. A couple of the Yorkies are pups and sometimes they chase the chickens but sometimes the chickens chase them too <laughing>.
Sometimes I will put a dish of yogurt out for the them and the pups and the chickens will all be eating together.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
fencing doesn't seem to keep my chickies in..........I tried putting them in with the goats when they were out of their coop to protect them from the neighbors dog that comes through.....and they wouldn't stay in there. They fly over the fence when they want to explore somewhere else. They go in the woods, they go in the yard, they go on the deck, back in with the goats, out again to the garden.....

Wing clipping helps a lot but there is always that one hen......

 

[Cockadoodledon't]

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Cool.....I have a Dachsund....dont think she would cut it.... LOL!!!!

What kind of dog??

 

[Beekissed]

Mutts really. One is Lab/Great Pyr mix and the other is Lab/Border Collie. They free range within my property also but have a boundary of their own created by my wireless invisible fencing unit.

This pretty much keeps them where I want them, the perimeter fencing keeps the birds where I want them, with the occasional foray into the neighboring fields...but they don't range too far from trees and buildings.

I also have two sheep and a calf free ranging on this land, so they are all a happy clan of free ranging animals who get to be who they were meant to be in the safety of the perimeter fencing.