I want to free range (sort of) but have concerns.

[Renthorin]

I will be getting my 12 hens shortly and want to let them wander a section of the property. They will have a nice secure coop and an attached pen (10x20 hopefully). As I have been constructing the coop, I keep noticing how nice and 'fun' the property around the coop looks. My concern, however, is that even if I use 4 foot high box wire and fence in a 1/4 acre or so of the woods, they won't stay in that to free range.

The area is pretty dense. Pine/oak/maple/cherry..etc. Lots of ground cover. Tons of leaves. A few dirt piles...etc. Sounds like the perfect place to roam but will they fly over the 4 foot fence to go further away?


Will

 

[sonew123]

They might after a while...They will stick pretty close to the coop for a while..Then as time goes on and they feel more comfortable and safe within their surroundings-they get braver. My girls have jump 4-6 ft fences-no often at all but they have done it They always came back though. Your best bet is to let them free range after 4-5pm..That way they dont have time to wander far-they'll forage in close areas and not have time to make it to the fence before roosting time Always works for me now. I have a small clan of bandits who always tried to cross our tiny country road. So I keep them in coop/run area until I get home at 5pm-then they go out-they have yet to cross that road or even get close again-always back on roosts at 8pm

 

[BHyder1]

let them roam if you can, my 40 chickens hang around my5 acres and usually stay by the house or the coop.. they always head to the coop by 7 or so.. i have a 100 acre farm that is next to my land, and they have never jumped the fince or gone where i cannot fnd them.

 

[Renthorin]

That is a really good idea

I just assumed I would let them out all day but I think I'll try your method of a few hours only.

I just figured with all the food they will have access to, they would not NEED (therefore want) to go any further away.

Thanks for the suggestion

 

[M.sue]

They most likely will. I do like sonew123 does. I keep them in the run till I get home, let them out about 4-5, they free range till about 8:30 and then head back for the coop. On the weekends when I know I'll be home and not going anywhere I let them out even earlier.

 

[Renthorin]

Yup.. That's what I will try

Where in MI Sue?

 

[7L Farm]

I have a 100 acres & free range everyday they stay close to their coop.

 

[pepperlady]

I let my chickens out every morning around 8AM and then put them back up in the evening at about 7-8PM. We live on about 100 acres and so far they haven't felt the need to wander out of our yard. We have a lot of cover as well and they love to play in the leaves and such. Just keep in mind that where there are woods, there are predators too

I love that you want to let them out daily even if it is after 5. Whatever they get used to will become what they expect....kinda like kids in that sense..........

 

[buckabucka]

We have dogs that get loose in the neighborhood occasionally, so we are nervous about free-ranging. We got a 4 foot tall nylon fence (160 feet long), which we set up attached to the secure run. It can be moved enough that there are always green areas. While I am sure all of the chickens are capable of flying over the fence, only one does. Luckily, it is our cross-beak, so she is not really do damage to our garden.
That was our way of sort of free-ranging.

 

[Renthorin]

I also need to make sure they don't fly into the back yard or my dogs will make a quick snack of them.