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DiBs2804

DiBs2804

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Jun 11, 2015
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Hi all new here and I think I'm officially a crazy chicken lady!! Who knew how fun?! Anyone else nervous about free range? What if the try to fly away?
 
Hi :welcome

Glad you could join the flock! I'm sure you are a crazy chicken lady!! Your in good company here though with your craziness :cd

Free ranging can be nerve wracking, I only free range mine in the garden when I can supervise them. I have polish and they can't see well so they become easily lost in the bushes etc. You could clip a wing to stop them flying but if your perimeter fence is not high I found they could still escape.
If you have predators on your area I would certainly consider only doing it supervised.

Wishing you the very best of luck and enjoy BYC :frow
 
Welcome to Backyard chickens. My thoughts are IF a chicken has always been out in a securely fenced run with top they do not miss the wild adventures of free ranging. Just like indoor or outdoor cats. Folks that do free range feel it's worth the risk of loosing a bird now and then to predators. It all comes down to what is acceptable loss to you.
 
welcome-byc.gif
So glad you have joined us.

I'm a nervous chicken mom too. Had planned to let mine out for supervised ranging, but too many predators and occasional stray dog has kept me from doing this. For me, the idea of a preventable loss, even one, would be devastating. Mine have been happy living in their fortified coop/ run under one roof. I have had a side play yard in the plans for a while, and hope to get it ready soon so they can have a supervised "illusion" of free ranging. They really don't care if I accomplish this, they are quite happy hens as it is.

Keeping them occupied is the challenge. New things brought into their home creates a little stress, until one brave chicken explores it and then they all take ownership of the new item. Flock blocks, treat cages hung in the run, a baby bath tub filled with new sand can occupy them for hours on end.

Until you decide on a way to let them range with supervision, give them "toys" to keep them interested. There are numerous threads on entertaining your flock, do explore those for lots of ideas.

:) I also am proud to be a crazy chicken lady and have a tee shirt to prove it :)
 

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