How far do chickens wander?

[nancy1zak]

I am ready to let my chickens free-range. I think they are feeling anxious in the run all day. How far way to they wander? We are on 5 acres, but only the main part of the backyard is fenced. They can most likely get through the bars of the fence...and my neighbor's dog has been "admiring" my chickens through the fence. So, that makes me feel a little uneasy. Also, we have a pool...will the chickens jump in the pool and drown?

 

[acid_chipmunk]

First, if the neighbors have a dog that has been eyeing up your chickens, I would either make the fence more secure, or don't let them free range. You are just asking to have the dog attack your birds.

As for wandering. I have 3 acres that is not fenced, we live in a very rural area, and my girls stay fairly close to the coop. They have wandered to the neighbors (about 200 yards away), but they come right back if I call them or walk towards them. Just make sure they know the coop is home and they will go back around dark to roost for the night.


ETA: Is your pool above ground or in ground? I would be wary of an inground pool, but they *should* stay away from it. Can't garantee that though, since mine like to prove me wrong a lot!

 

[joedie]

I agree with acid_chipmunk. Mine free range and always stay around the barnyard. They do go thru the fences into the jacks paddock and they freely run thru the holes in the fence which is cattle panel and woven wire. I ran chicken wire and safety fence along the garden side of the paddock so they can't raid the garden and it's worked well so far. If you're considering free ranging them, make sure you add something to the fence where your neighbors dog lives.

 

[MamaJohnson]

My girls have just under an acre to roam on, yet they stay pretty close to the coop. They have a favorite hang-out under a tree, in the shade of a woodpile, and around the base of a pile of hay, and they mostly just go back and foth between those spots. I'd beware of the dog though - I've seen even "friendly" dogs get excited by a chicken running or flapping around, but "play time" for the dog = death for the chicken, and it's a sad death. I wouldn't risk it if I were you.

 

[nancy1zak]

That dog is a problem. I went out yesterday to spray the DEER OFF on my flowers and he was out there on my driveway growling at me. He almost got a shot of DEER OFF. They are moving...the for sale sign went up two weeks ago. Maybe the new people won't have an intrusive dog. The pool is inground. We are just going to have to build a bigger run, and maybe use one of those moveable fences so they can have big areas to roam about. I would like to feel comfortable with them free ranging, so maybe I will start a little bit before dusk and see how it goes after my neighbor moves. My little Shih Tzu loves the chickens and is very gentle. He doesn't really like when they peck him on the nose though.

 

[buckaroo's wife]

That dog is a problem, and if he's on your property I see that as a BIG problem. What you do is up to you, but in my part of the world dogs that come onto my property and growl and/or try to terrorize my animals don't last to long

. Is talking to the owners an option? At least they are moving, but in this economy who knows when that will be! I free range my girls and they tend to stay within 50 feet or so of their coop. Their coop is near our barn/horse pasture and they like to spend alot of time hanging out with the horses it seems. I started letting mine out at dusk, and they'd put themselves up when they were ready. I gradually let them out earlier and earlier, now they go all day like champs. Good luck!

 

[nancy1zak]

I think once the neighbors move I will try to let them out a little bit at a time near dusk. I can imagine trying to get them back in before then could be a challenge. As far as the neighbor...she priced her house to sell, and there has been a lot of activity, so I am hoping it will sell quick. She knows that her dog comes over and is a nuisance. He runs through my garden and looks in my windows. Pee's on everything, etc. She doesn't care, and I am sure she will care less now that they are moving. I hope the new neighbors are nice, hopefully they like chickens

 

[Chickmano]

We have 7 hens on 10 acres...plenty of room to free range and, of course, they always go visit the neighbors at some point during the day. Fortunately our neighbors like them and enjoy the visits, but I'm just saying, they'll wander a good distance during the day. They do come when I call them, though, and if we're in our yard they'll stay home. I think they just like the company. We also have an in ground pool and the chickens don't go near it. They investigated it at first and decided it had nothing of value to them and they moved on. Now I will say that when we're at the pool, especially if there are snack foods involved, they're right there with us. Keep a hose handy to clean up the little deposits they make on the pool deck. Really unpleasant in bare feet.

 

[nancy1zak]

I am thinking I should take it really slow at first, maybe an hr before dusk while we are out there and see how it goes. I just think they would enjoy being out...Do you just say "chickens" and they come? My chickens are still in the pen and when I go to pick them up only four of them don't mind. The BO's and the Americauna run away. The Americauna is the worst. She freaks out.

 

[Chickmano]

Funny...but I do just call, "Chiiiickens" and they come. It helps that they're used to getting snacks when I call them.