free ranging????

[spell]

we have decided to let our 5 hens free range. we are getting them a roo within the week as protection.
so far, everything seems to be fine. they are incredibly happy and we've even convinced one to start laying again. they have overtaken the wood shed. after i cleaned it out, they discovered it was full of nice soft dirt AND it has a roof. they were ecstatic. they are happily pooping everywhere. i'm not sure what i've gotten myself into.
but, i have questions!!!!
one of the girls has never been fond of the nest box. occasionally she'll drop by there. more often than not, she chooses to lay in the run, which was fine til we let them loose. we've found 1 place that she likes to lay. we have a good bit of land and these chicks are EVERYWHERE. everyday is like easter.
how do you keep track of 'nests' when your birds are free range?

i 'thought' that the girls wouldn't cross our little stream to the 'human/dog' part of the property b/c everyone says 'chickens don't like to get their feet wet'. well, so much for that! they are ALL in the creek and INVADING the people yard. spring is coming and i can't have these crazy birds in my flowers.

we have grand intentions for fencing...you all know how that goes....
how do you keep your free rangers where they belong?

Please, give me some free ranging tips/advice/words of wisdom!
TIA

here are some pics of the ladies enjoying their freedom:
flossie flossenburger

flour dustbathing in the woodshed--before i finished cleaning....i had to run them out

after a 'bath'

 

[RThomas]

we have decided to let our 5 hens free range. we are getting them a roo within the week as protection.

I let my birds free range all day. But, be aware that a roo won't ensure their safety. Roos get eaten too.

one of the girls has never been fond of the nest box. occasionally she'll drop by there. more often than not, she chooses to lay in the run, which was fine til we let them loose. we've found 1 place that she likes to lay. we have a good bit of land and these chicks are EVERYWHERE. everyday is like easter.
how do you keep track of 'nests' when your birds are free range?

When I have one that won't lay in the nest box, I'll keep her locked in the coop for a few days. Eventually, she'll get accustomed to laying in the nest box and should start laying there on her own.

how do you keep your free rangers where they belong?

Good question

 

[spell]

thanks rthomas
i know the roo won't keep them safe....but i'm hoping between a roo and a dog we'll have some protection.
i'm just going with it and expecting some loss at some point. & eventually we will fence a good portion of the property or so DH says.

so your birds are just everywhere? do you fence off your plants (daffodils, crocus, lillies, etc) OR is the damage minimal? will they eat that stuff?

thanks for the nest box tip! although, i'm sure that she would try to hold it

she just likes to lay outside

 

[Pinky]

Fence in your garden. What the chickens don't eat they will scratch up.

 

[Higins00]

The girls that are laying will go back into the coop to lay, maybe make a special crate for your one that dosen't like the boxes. We keep a simple 3 foot wire fence around all our flowers. In one spot we have deer netting that keeps them out too.

 

[RThomas]

Quote:
They pretty much go where they want. We have a good bit of land, but they never go far. When I let them out in the mornings, they usually go to the horse pasture or the barn. They love to dig for "goodies" in the horse poo.

I do plant flowers around the house in the spring, and they will eat them, trample them, or dust bathe in them if I don't protect them. I do something similar to what "Higins" said. I put up a small wire fence around the flower beds then cover that with Deer/bird netting. Usually, when the plants get bigger, I can take the netting down. I also try and plant flowers that chickens don't like to eat. Still have to keep them from dusting in that nice, soft soil though.

 

[spell]

Quote:
so what plants don't they like?
and which ones should i count on getting munched?

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

"how do you keep your free rangers where they belong?" BAHAHAHAHAHAHHA . . .
rather contradictory question don't you think???

to answer . . . you don't!
and in case your's haven't discovered it yet, their favorite place to poop in on your doorstep