Free Ranging...

[joedie]

I let mine free range from around 3pm till they put themselves away at dusk. The reason I wait until the afternoon is because I have a young St Bernard pup that I can't trust. I can't call her off when she chases them and don't know what she'd do if she caught one so she can hold her bladder and doesn't need to go out to pee until after the chickens put themselves away. I know I need to work on the dog but......

 

[rooster0209]

Mine are out in the yard all day. we farm and have 7 acres of "yard". The birds fly over the run, its 4' high and are out in the yard by the time I get up. I open the run around 7:30am and shut if after dark. I trained my lab/bc cross to leave them alone and my doxie..well she isnt really a threat. she used to wait till they got in a flock, then scare them up. But I heard her yelping and saw her running away from a flock of chickens. needless to say, she avoids them now, I am not really sure what happened

When the winters get bad, I lock them up inside the coop. I hate it. The noise, the mess. but..I have to watch where I walk barefooted

 

[cparian]

I agree with Beekissed! If you are going to free range, the peace of mind you get from all your animals co-existing is worth it. You have to decide what you want & make it happen. I have 2 Dobermans, an Akita, & a Great Pyrenese who all needed extensive training to leave the chickens alone. The Akita even killed a chicken once. He now totally ignores the chickens but is still my best possum/racoon killer. It took time & effort but now that they hang out together it also adds the protection factor of the dogs being with the chickens. I have taught them to leave the chickens & goats alone but boy if some other critter comes in the yard watch out. One of my dobermans has even taken it upon herself to be the hawk watcher. No hawk can even make it to the ground in my yard, she chases them in the sky til they are out of her territory. When people come to my house they see my dogs, cats, chickens, peacocks, & goats hanging out in the yard together & say, wow, I'm bringing my dog with me next time! Then I have to explain to them, how much time & training went into the whole picture & that their precious fido would try to kill the chickens & goats on sight!

 

[rooster0209]

Quote:
You rock! I wish there were more ppl like you

 

[cparian]

Thanks

 

[Shannon's Chix]

I let mine out from about 3 until they put themselves to bed at 8ish. From 3 till about 5 I'm out there with them and then I have one of my dogs out there with them the rest of the time. All 4 of my dogs ignore the chickens and I was lucky, they just never really cared.

I normally don't let my bantams free range but I'm thinking seriously about it. I had a baby bantam (4 weeks old) taken by a hawk a few months ago and it was heart wrenching...I was very close! The ones I let free range are big and fat! I haven't decided what to do about that yet...

 

[huntsman]

Well, no time like the present, so I'll give the whole free ranging thing a shot tomorrow.

I'd like to have peace reigning here...

 

[Bantimna]

Quote:
Wishing you luck!

 

[huntsman]

Ha!

I'll need it, B! Thanks!