If you love your chickens, fence them in

[horsejody]

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Because they are entertaining, and we like a challenge.

 

[YakLady]

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I agree with horsejody. This post was incredibly judgemental. One of the things that I enjoy most about being a member of this forum is reading about the multitudes of ways that one can raise chickens. From coop design, to which breeds to raise, having meat birds vs layers (or both), how we choose to handle illnesses...the list goes on and on. I read alot of valuable information on here, and much of the time I find myself saying, "Wow, that's fascinating. Wouldn't work for me, but how cool that this person is able to do it that way." We're all individuals, and our personal choices shouldn't be judged. I understand that you were voicing frustration with your neighbor. However, you made a very broad, judgemental, sarcastic statement that pointed towards many people on a chicken-raising forum who choose to free-range. Not cool.

 

[elmo]

Free ranging has risks as well as benefits. Everyone has to weigh those two things under their own individual circumstances, and make their judgment based on their own risk tolerance.

It's like the debate about whether to clip wing feathers on parrots and other pet birds. Certainly, it's safer to clip wings, but the bird loses out on something that's essential to its nature.

I know that my chickens are happiest when they're free ranging around our fenced yard. But because they are bantams and vulnerable to the occasional cat roaming our neighborhood (not to mention hawks), I only let them free range when I'm out in the yard keeping an eye on them. I know that it's still possible for a hawk or a cat to pick off one of my birds even while I'm watching, but the risk is acceptable to me to be able to allow them this freedom.

 

[bluey]

I'm 2 1/2 years into free ranging on 10 acres and not one loss yet to a predator (well, except for the one I butchered three weeks ago).

I guess I don't love my chickens...but I love how they taste!

I agree that the OP made a pretty judgmental statement.

It seems to me that more of the folks who "love" their chickens by keeping them in runs seem to have some of the worst horror stories.

That's not to say that chickens aren't safer in runs but please don't insult those of us who choose to free range our chickens.

 

[vyshtia]

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I completely agree.

I would love to let mine free range, but I already know of the predators in my neighborhood - they go into my next door neighbors yard and pick off his chickens every day. I give them as much space as I can protect and they are happy with that. We can only do our best. Not everyone (including the chickens) can live in the "ideal" world.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I don't think the OP was intending to be judgemental against *everyone* who free ranges but rather the situation that was described where the owners know there is a predation problem and are not doing anything to protect their birds.

I look at my chickens this way: I fence in every other animal I own to prevent them from disturbing neighbors, destroying property or being harmed themselves. So why wouldn't I do the same for the birds I own? I personally think free ranging is wonderful for the chickens if you can do it, I used to do it, however I feel for the birds who have to suffer being run down and killed by whatever therefore my birds now reside in a comfortable, large coop and run.

 

[Hoosiermomma]

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And I think for many it depends on your size flock. If you have 25 plus chickens and lose one or two, in most cases that doesn't hurt as much as a person who has just a few chickens and loses one or two.

Agreed.....We have 30+ and have acres and acres of woods behind us. But since we are home when they are out free ranging we can kind of keep an eye on things. When we are not home they are kept in their coop.

To some it probably appears cruel to subject the chickens to becoming prey however not everyone feels the same way most of us do about our chickens. I'm sure that for the most part it's safe to say that all of us love our chickens and are willing to do what we need to, to protect them.

 

[LynneP]

Our neighbor's hens were on the edge of the highway yesterday and we had to veer to avoid one of them. There's no way to change his ways, though, he just figures you lose a few and get more. I like the guy, he has an incredible knowledge of poultry and would help us in a heartbeat. Predation is very heavy here too and we're in the middle of hawk and eagle migration. I bring the garden to the run, which is very large, roofed and equipped with platforms too. We're built like Fort Knox, though it was expensive, but I sleep better.

 

[PortageGirl]

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yep! Though in my case, it's minus the dogs, (for now at least

who knows what tomorrow will bring. )...

 

[coopdepallet]

I free range my flock for two hours a day only when I'm home and can watch them. It's best to fence them in if no one is around to enjoy them freely roaming the open space and scratch for bugs and treats.