How many of you let your chickens free range in the wintertime?

[vmdanielsen]

I keep mine in a 100' permanet electric fence. Coop inside of fence. Door open in daylight hours. I took the lattice off one side of my porch. Put a old wooden ladder down, under the porch so when it is sunny they can perch on it. They are out, on their own, everyday. They are somewhat protected when it is windy. Don't know what it'll smell like in the spring

 

[birdicus7]

I open the coop at dawn and they free range til dark. A little too free, they have discovered the neighbors bird feeder (fortunately it's my uncle) but they have gone over to the other neighbors too. Last month I thought I lost one and the neighbors grand daughter was taking care of it while it roosted on their woodpile. They brought her home all wrapped up in a blanket! Fortunately the cold and snow have limited their "range"!

 

[amberflea]

Quote:
We have that problem too, we keep a live trap set all year, and are constantly getting coons and skunks... last spring we had fox come right in the yard, (while we were near by) and haul away my bantys! We finally got him...
I have a wildlife camera I keep mounted by the coops, so I can see what comes by... its quite handy when it comes to figuring out what we are dealing with...
I do let the guineas free range, and the chickens also if I don't have a predator problem at the time... here are a few examples of what we had coming by this year... neither dog is mine.... and the guinea did escape that time.

 

[taprock]

I will open the door to the enclosed yard if the wind chill isn't too cold. They don't really want out of the coop now. I can only let them free range for a few hours at a time, while I'm home and can keep an eye on things. We are in the country but the closest neighbors have big dogs that like to run ... they have been over several times...and I don't want to take the risk. So only attended free range.

 

[J.Pryce]

I have opened the hole to the outside, but with the snow, they aren't coming out. I can't blame them, I hate snow too.

 

[LadyWoodsong]

I live on the northern plains where it is very cold and we get lots and lots of snow each winter. I have mixed feelings about letting my chickens free-range in the winter. I know they can handle the cold, but I worry about them being much easier to spot for a predator on the white snow. I have 12 Black Stars. On most days I open their little door, but they don't care for snow. They just look outside at it, otherwise they just stay inside.

When it's really blizzarding, I do not open their door.

 

[Mrs. K]

I find that if they are not locked up by dusk, they are predators dinner. And this time of year, I can't get home before dark, so they are in the run. At first they were a little miffy, but last week, Saturday, I was cleaning and let them out, and had to chase them out, they were so used to staying in! go figure

 

[aShMaNv]

Quote:
Man i wish i didnt have to worry about predators where i live lol

 

[ZombieChickens]

Mine were out today, enjoying a dusting of snow!

 

[centrarchid]

We used to free range flocks year round in barnyard settings, usually with livestock present. With livestock fed grain, birds also had feed approximating scratch as staple and had to make up difference by foraging. When no grain feeding, foraging was sole source of nutrition.

Deep snow (> 6") tended to restrict birds to barns and crawl space of out buildings. Games would fly from building to building and hang out around tractor implements were wind tended to scour out bare spots. If snow remained more than a few days, then birds would start to forage along wooden fence rows and get to brush piles and dig around for whatever they could find.

If no snow on ground, range was easily the largest it would be all year. Ranging was concentrated around fence rows and woodlot borders. They strongly avoided open areas.


Presently my birds free range but at first hint of day time coyote / fox activity they will be penned up since adequate tree refugiums are lacking. Flock now mostly dominiques and they seem particularly troubled by snow.