How to teach chickens to free range?

[ThePigeonKid]

We have a flock of chickens that we are free-ranging. The only problem is, the road is about 150 feet from where we want them and we have some dogs that would like to eat them. We've been sitting outside with them, and chasing them away from the road and the dogs. Is there any good way to train them to avoid the dangers? We have ten acres total, so they have more places to explore than any of our other animals.

Any and all suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Two Creeks Farm]

I use baling twine with some empty coke cans with afew BB's in them...strung up around my planted garden. The birds seem to avoid them...crows too LOL!

 

[ThePigeonKid]

Quote:
Thanks great! One more question ~ How far apart do we space the cans?

 

[crossgirl]

Electric poultry fencing?

 

[Two Creeks Farm]

Quote:
Thanks great! One more question ~ How far apart do we space the cans?

I have them 15 feet apart or so I geuss. I will grab you a picture when I run outside in a bit

 

[Two Creeks Farm]

I would suggest fence ofcourse, but this has worked well for me...my grandma showed it to me 30 years ago or so LOL! The first few times they aproach it, give it a shake and the BB's go crazy and the birds head the other way. I havent seen a Crow in my gardens yet as well.

I run the twine and leave one end lay on the ground, walk the line and put a loop through the tab, then expand the loop over the can and then take out the slack so it holds the tab. When you are done, pull it taught and get them the heigth you want and drive in the end stake. If the area is close, you can run a shaker line to your house and surprise them from the front porch haha

 

[Patricia Jane]

Seems to be a perfect solution and inexpensive.

 

[centrarchid]

My birds do not respect fences ( a type of stick). Directing their ranging with carrot (resources more effective). I place feeding and watering stations in direction I desire them to go. They also need a day roost where direct sun can be avoided yet observation of predators possible. It becomes a game to entice them into certain areas. They should want to avoid dogs but if they are your dogs, every effort thould be made to make them not a risk. Train them.

 

[CAdreaming]

So grateful for this post!! I have been trying to figure out how to train mine so this was perfect. My husband was not willing to let me hang coke cans (the neighbors probably wouldn't have appreciated it either

) so I used jingle bells

I strung them up, chest high to the chicks, 16" - 24" apart. I jangled it when they first came near & after that, they stayed away for awhile. When they went back to the string, I let them peck at it & than

as they ran for cover!! So nice to not worry about them being in my neighbor's yard or having to put her mulch back that they have scattered!!!

 

[MrsRevDr]

now this has me thinking did I just waste a bunch of money on fencing...