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

[Sarahbethk]

Just curious.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

We keep our breeding birds seperated, but all the others are free range all year. They do have a coop that they sleep in at night, but are free to come and go as they please otherwise.

 

[gritsar]

All of my birds free range, all year round. That's every one from my 32 month old LF brahmas to the tiny 27 week old silkies, to the 8 and 9 lb. meaties.
It's my opinion that fresh air and sunshine (when we get it) is essential to every living creature.
Like farmboy, my birds are locked in predator-proof coops at night.

 

[gryeyes]

My flock ranges freely, but return to their coops at night. The young chickens only roam around the back yard, but the adults go all over the acre owned by my landlady; I have her permission for this. As the birds mature and get more confident, they will venture out into the front yard and further.

They do this unsupervised, even when I am at work. There is a lot of cover, with trees in my back yard and between my yard and the landlady's back yard.

 

[Delta2 23]

My chickens are all free range, year round - they mostly stay in the garden, where they're meant to, and all we have to do is feed them because when it starts to get dark they automatically return to their coop, and we don't even need to go close it because we don't get predators around here

 

[aduplantis]

My chickens free range all day year round and go back to their coop in the evening. I have never had a problem with a predator, but I do close the door once they are all in the coop. My husband opens the door when he leaves for work. They are as happy and healthy as can be.

 

[abhaya]

My large breed flock free ranges everyday. Unless they choose not to. My silkies free range with supervision as I have a stream that runs thru the property and if they got into it they would drown. It is only about a foot deep but fast moving. They have a large run to go in and do every day.

 

[midget_farms]

mine do - but when it snows they won't leave the coop.

 

[artsyrobin]

so you don't limit them in the winter? summer and fall mine freerange, but was thinking as it gets colder maybe limiting their free range time would be safer for them?

 

[SpringChickens]

I don't limit mine at all in the winter - they still free range all day every day. They're much more cold tolerant than we are!