I'm Just Gonna Do It - Freerange

[dw_618]

i think you might enjoy it more than they will....its a joy to watch them peck all over the yard and fight over worms and the like...if you have a garden they will spend a lot of time pecking bugs out of it.

 

[Equus5O]

I've been letting the girls out of the run for at least an hour a day. I know, it's not much. But, it's the best I can do. They're doing well, and I do think they enjoy it. I'd like to coax them a bit further away onto another lawn (the Japanese Beetles are out), but they haven't ventured too far, yet. They'll follow me out there (I feel like the Pied Piper!), but then they follow me away as soon as I leave.

 

[Edgar'sHomesteadFarm]

My flock is free ranging all day long-- they love it, and we love watching them; however, I really would like to keep them off of the porches. Any suggestions? I'm getting really tired of chasing them off with a dishtowel and saying "shoo" 25 times a day. : )

 

[Biddieacres]

chicky tocks you made me laugh with your original post. We do the same thing. I let them out each day around 4:30 and this way everyone has laid their eggs for the day. They have an internal clock I think because right around that time they start pacing at the run door and when I open it they run! They spend a lot of time in the woodwed area searching for bigs so our lawn in fine and not torn up a bit.

 

[Love my Critters!]

Good for you! They will love it. I live on 2 acres and let mine free frange in a fenced in acre. They have a fence but are still vulnerable. Everyone goes to the coop at night and I lock them up. I figure if it makes their average life span shorter it is worth the fact that it is making what time they do have better. Mine love exploring and eating bugs all day. They are also fun to watch.

 

[Pug Momma]

I have a small 1/4 acre fenced back yard - I let my three girls run around every night when I get home from work and then on the weekend. Not much happenin' in suburbia when it comes to predators during the day - save house cats who are curious, but a couple of well placed small rocks on the rump took care of them quickly.
I feel they have a clock, too and are pacing and carrying on when I get home and burst out of the run like they've been cooped up for years.
Hilarious.

 

[JessHall]

I've been doing the same thing. Until I got chickens, I didn't run unless something was loose or on fire... now I haul across the yard at the slightest sign of a large bird! Keep an eye out and they'll be fine... and SOOOOOO happy