how much exercise do chickens need?

[jane]

Since the predator attack when 2 of my three girls were killed during the day, I have only been letting my remaining hen out when I am around in the garden. This is not always a long time as I have a job and 2 kids! otherwise she is in a smallish coop. We are going to build a bigger coop with more of a run for her and the new girls, but meanwhile, how much free ranging is enough to keep her healthy and happy?

 

[Pringle_Sussex]

chickens to sustain a healthy weight need to free range for more than an hour a day... be challenged with tough dirt to scratch at, keep their senses alert with birds that like to swoop them and also if possible... create a obsticle course with sticks used as hurdles and get your chickens to run the course 5 times in a row

.... i wasn't being serious....
But to tell the truth i have created a couple of years ago a little hurdles obsticle course... i need to make it up again and video it lol

 

[jkm]

my four backyard birds seem to need at least an hour a day if the sun is shining, today the sun was really nice and they got an hour, I went for errands, came back and they got three hours.
on a shady day, 45 minutes is enough.

a minimun seems to be an hour a day , or every other day.
they run to the birdfeeder, the compost bin and the spot in the sun for a dust bath.
the need for the dust bath seems to be very important..high value after a rainy day in the covered run.

 

[picklespickles]

could you put something in hte yard that would provide good cover and make you feel safer? i have a pile of branches from yard work piled up together and it makes a good hiding place for hte birds that don't fly. good luck