How many hours do you free range your chickens?

[ReillyJ]

If all is going well, I don't blame you. Sounds like they've set their own boundary.

I think i've decided what to do!

Going to build the pen as our neighbors bought the fencing for us (SPENDY) in exchange for work i did for them and i'll let the hens out in the morning and then after 1 or 2 p.m. when i'm pretty sure they're done laying, i'll let them out of the pen and onto the rest of our property. Problem solved!

 

[MistyMountain]

Mine typically range sun up til they go to roost. From experience they will be confined to the run from Dec-Feb because the hawk highway is pretty busy during that time and cover is low.

I went out late this morning to identify a tree near the grow out coop/run to not be met by a single hen as I started down the hill. Odd. Once I made it to the grapes, my rooster came running out from under one bush fighting with a hawk. Good Boy.

So, free range is supervised only for about a week and before we let them out all day again. I almost let the broody and 8 weeks old out today, too. Glad I decided to hold off. They would have been easy targets.

I love to let them free range, and will accept a loss now and them for all the benefits the chickens get out of it.