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

[M.sue]

The Tri-City Area!
Quote:

 

[Renthorin]

Not too far away. I'm down by Ann Arbor

 

[SJUDD]

My husband lets mine out in the morning before he goes to work (at 5:30) and then I put them away about 8 before I leave for work. Then when I get home at 6 I let them out until about 8 or 830. I only have one chick that will fly up on top of the coop, which scares me because I am worried she will fly down into the neighbors yard but so far she hasn't. The chicken coop is 8 ft high so surprised that she goes up that high but she is the only one. The rest of them stay in a smaller area in the backyard so they are pretty safe. Good luck!

 

[Renthorin]

How do you get them to come back to the coop from free range?

 

[M.sue]

If you leave them in run the first few days and then let them free range, little by little and longer each time, they'll stick close to the coop and automatically go back inside in the evening when it's time too roost. I did coax them the first couple of times with some cracked corn because I too was afraid of running around 5 acres trying to catch them (silly me).

 

[centrarchid]

Renthorin,

What breed(s) do you have?

 

[Renthorin]

None yet. The wife is in charge of picking the flock

 

[4acresNachick]

My 14 roam my property but seem to know where the boundaries are. They don't go deep into the woods and they stay out of the hay field. I don't know if it's instincts or what but they seem to just know and they are always in the coop by 7:30pm.

 

[Darklingstorm]

Quote:
With mine, I made them stay in the run attached to the coop till I no longer had to encourage them to go in. Now they free range all day over my very big yard and put themselves up every night without help. Even got my ducks trained to it too.