Is it cruel to have chickens if they can't free range?

[Mattemma]

I think it is fine,but I have pecking issues in the winter when they are stuck in the chicken shed.

 

[ontimeborzoi]

They won't miss what they don't know, but that said....
Most creatures, ourselves included, are happy with the familiar. Did you know that when the Allied troops opened the gates at Auschwitz the prisoners did not stream out, happy to be free? They stood quietly or turned around and went back inside their barracks. However miserable their existence was, it was familiar, and whatever was outside those gates was not. I am just saying...don't be too quick to assume that because an animal or person won't leap at an open gate it means they are in a good situation. Familiar is not the same as good.

Give your chickens every inch of space you possibly can, and enrich their environment to the extent you are able. Its just good husbandry.

 

[davesanrn]

Chicken brains are about the size of your fingertip. They don't think, they aren't happy, or sad. Yes, that is plenty of room. Would they be "happy" free range chickens if a hawk or fox got them? They'll be fine.

 

[Chickenaddict]

Quote:
It makes no difference IMO. Speaking from experience. Sometimes I free range and sometimes I don't. This time of year the birds feel safer in their run then they do in the yard. When I am home I allow them to roam the fenced backyard, when I am away they are locked in their coop/run area. Our coop is 10 by 12 and the attatched run is 19 by 22 ft for a total of 35 banties and a pair of call ducks. We used dog kennel panels we have picked up for free via either craigslist or family. I added a ladder for a roost along with a truck topper for wind/rain.snow shelter and a few old plastic patio chairs they like to climb on and a dog house if they feel like laying their eggs outside. They love it!

 

[chicknerd]

I have several chickens in a large enough coop and 20x80 run. During the summer and fall for the first time this year, we let them free range under supervision for part of the day. They only issue with free range is that I have lost a few to hawks. I lost zero before I started letting them out for part of the day so they are not out as much as they want. Also I have found a few clutches of eggs outside. So there are some issues with free ranging. I had more eggs when they were completely confined to the coop.

My chickens seem happy and well adjusted. They get good feed, their water is changed daily, and we love giving them treats, BOSS, scraps, especially left over noodles. I clean their area often and they love to come into the coop and watch me clean - I swear they are telling me what to do. They are very curious. I do not have pecking or other issues. During the winter when they are afraid to go out onto that white poison I hang a few cabbages in the coop to keep them interested.

I love to go into the run and sit, like others have mentioned. When they free range they often hide under trees and bushes so I dont see them as much.

I think your chickens will be fine in a coop and run.

 

[DDRanch]

I think that 10'x6' is too small for 6 chickens. Will appear great when then are small, but they grow fast. Better to have fewer than too many for the space. The idea of bantams might work well for you but if you go for the larger breeds, I recommend 4 for that area. Overcrowding will lead to heartache for you and fighting, boredom, unhealthy conditions for the chickens.

I do not think it is cruel to have chickens if they cannot free range, but I think you have to pay attention to some basics that really apply to all of us.

Predator proof is vital.
Keep the run clean and give them branches or areas where they can get off the ground during wet or muddy periods. Water changed often, nutritious chicken food and treats
Do not keep a rooster in this small space...you don't need one
Give them treats, set up a dust bath area, give them something to scratch around in ( I use straw in my run which is easy to clean out and will soak up some rain during the winter months.
Let them out with you as often as you can or you go in and sit with them
Teach them early on to come to you using treats so that when you do let them out, they will come back when YOU want them to.

I allow mine to free range when I am home but there can be several days in a row when they don't get out at all. They seem happiest during this time when they are clean and dry, fresh water and food and exercise...even if it is hopping up and down from the branches in the run.

 

[littlecreekfarm]

mine used to not free-range and they were perfectly happy. until i let them free-range and now they will most likely not go back to being penned up b/c they are sooo used to free-ranging. but i do have 2 silkies that stay in a pen and they are just fine

i don't think it's cruel. it's just the same as keeping horses, sheep, dogs, and cattle penned up

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

One other thought, which at first seemed crazy, but after living with chickens for almost 4 years, I realized a neat chicken-ism:

If there's any way to build their run up against your house's foundation, you will never see a house spider or house mouse again!

A run 2 to 3 feet wide going around the perimeter of the house's foundation, with a sand base? This would be a win-win scenario

I wonder if anybody's ever done that? New "green" homebuilders, listen up!

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=9574

Here's a BYC page created by JoeBryant which I saw about 3 years ago, very inspiring. Runs built to complement home's archetecture and I believe built-in to the home and garden?

Boy if I could do it all over,

 

[CALI CHICK]

Quote:
Hope your son isn't learning "chicken math"

"Moabite".... hehe. Actually, he's doing Saxon math and because of his dyslexia, I let him do his work any-where or any-how he can...as long as he gets his math work done.

I would probably get in the chicken tractor too, if I fit. We all enjoy being outside just watching the 3 chickens.