Happy Hour for my Hens!

[Dr.Doorlock]

We recently clipped the wings on my 8 hens to eliminate the fear of them jumping the fence. Since we live in the city and my back fence is the only barrier between them and a busy street, we can't take chances on an escape. We were letting them out in the yard and then going through a lot to chase them down and get them back into the coop or run. I don't know why it took so long for me to put this idea together, but we now let them out an hour or so before sundown. We put up construction netting around the vegetables and let them roam the yard while the dogs stay inside.

I read in Mother Earth News that roaming chickens produce eggs with 1/3 less cholesterol, three times the omega three fatty acids, more minerals and beta caratine and 1/2 the saturated fat. That's all well and good, but the best part is seeing how happy they are and letting them roam until they go to the coop on their own. Even my wild and crazy game hen that I saved from a miserable existence in a 2x2 cage with a mean rooster now has a winning attitude.

I highly recomend this if your facilities allow.

 

[Mahonri]

Oh how I wish I lived in the country with some acreage.

 

[lindabean]

Dr. Doorlock, I found some netting about 1/2 inch square at a feed & plant store that was called Deer Netting. I am giving that a try over the top of my chicken run. It is flimsy enough for the chickens to fly up against it and not bounce off and small enough to allow feed to be scattered through it. I also saw something like it at the eggcrate.com site someone suggested. I am also trying to dissuade hawks, owls & other overhead predators from dipping in for a "snack". My run is almost finished & I'll post a photo when we're done.

 

[GoldenSilverLaced]

My girls love coming out and de-worming the yard. One of them is a worm killing machine -- always finds the biggest and best and gobbles it up. The other is more dainty about it.

I let them roam the yard with supervision as we have no fence: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=193086

I live in town, no acreage really, just a on rental corner lot. I wish I had more room for them, and owned the place, but they're fine. I just wanna spoil them more with acres of lush grass.