I can't free-range my hens anymore...how can I make them happy?

[rachelwillow]

My poor ladies are super bummed about having to stay in their pen nearly all the time now. They used to roam around our yard for at least 2-3 hours a day, sometimes longer. They have started venturing further out and have had a couple encounters with loose dogs running across the creek to get them and now they are squeezing through our front gate to trash my neighbor's yard. I can let them out periodically if I'm watching them carefully, but I don't have a lot of time to just stand in the yard making sure they don't leave (they are fast and sneaky!).

So they are pretty unhappy about this, they make a big stink when they see us. I feel bad, I know it's better for them. They have lots of space in the run, far beyond the recommended 10 square feet per bird. They have shade and sun and hay to scratch in. What else can I do for them? Will they be ok if they don't go out? They are very persuasive and have been convincing me to let them out for short periods, but are getting increasingly difficult to get back in, so I'm leaning toward not letting them out at all. Smart cookies.

 

[jetdog]

With mine being locked up in the run all winter long I bought a bag of alfalfa pellets at tractor supply so they can get some greens over the winter. They are a good size pellet so I throw some in the food processor to chop them up a bit, they seem to like them and adds a little ruffage to their diet.

 

[bobbi-j]

They'll get over it. They have you trained right now, so you have to UNtrain yourself. Do you let them out when they're making a fuss? If so, guess what they have learned. "When we make a fuss, our human will let us out. Oh, wait. It didn't work this time, so we'd better make a louder fuss. Yep, that worked." And so it will continue. Now you have to prove to them that you are smarter than they are. Just keep reminding yourself that if you let them out, you could end up with unhappy neighbors, happy neighborhood dogs that run loose, and dead chickens.

 

[PrairieChickens]

It will take some time to get them used to being confined, but they will adapt. If you don't let them out at all for a week or two, they'll start to forget they ever free ranged at all.

To help make their day more interesting, you can add roosts, platforms, and other interesting terrain to the run. Items that aren't permanent fixtures can be moved every week or two to help simulate the changing environment they'd experience while free ranging.

Shiny or colorful objects like old CD's or brightly-glazed flower pots can add interest to their surroundings. Chickens will be fascinated by shiny objects, and color will simply make their environment more stimulating.

You can give your chickens something to do by stuffing treats or scratch in the hollows of stones, logs, or other items. Scratch scattered in their run or bedding will help keep them occupied as well as put your chickens to work turning the litter, while goodies like lettuce, bread, and other treats hidden in logs will give them a puzzle to sort out.

Suspending a head of lettuce from the roof of the coop or run, just out of reach to easily peck at will give them a challenging treat to work for. Note: Avoid iceberg lettuce and splurge on the more nutritious green leaf or romaine varieties instead.

Hope that helps!

 

[rachelwillow]

Thanks, that is really helpful. Yes, they have me trained! I managed to keep them in all day yesterday, gave them a couple of heads of lettuce that were not going to be eaten by humans, and they ended up gobbling them both down this morning. The kids and I cut some grass into little pieces and gave it to them, they really enjoyed it. They will be ok, I am realizing! I have an old kiddy pool that I'm going to make into a dust bath (this is one of their favorite things when free ranging) and the old CDs is a great idea, we have lots of those. I'll try to find some stuff to hide treats in. Thanks for the advice, I feel much better now knowing they won't suffer too much!

 

[Cluckysnap123]

Mine aren't free range, but have like 10 acres of land to roam, plus the outskirts of the woods when I am watching. They only go into the woods when I am there and can see them. But on the field they are free to go within the 10 acre field. I introduce land gradually, as they are ex-batteries and they could panic if all the land was introduced at once. So maybe do the opposite?