Keeping Chickens Free Range

[Tikkijane]

Since RoosterLew lost part of the flock to dogs (I'm assuming domesticated) we should probably take this opportunity to discuss what we do to protect our flock from neighborhood dogs and cats.  It is bad enough that we have to worry about the wild predators that are just trying to feed themselves, but we also have to worry about the neighbor's pets that our good neighbors do not keep confined.  I've had to stop free ranging for the time being until I can build my flock back up after two devastating attacks this year (surprising, both of those were in the coop or the run).

So, I'll start this off by saying that in my state (New Mexico), we are a free range state.  What that means is that if you do not want someone else's domesticated animal (from snakes and rats to cows, horses and buffalo) to freely roam your property, it is your responsibility to fence them out....the owners are not required to fence them in (leash laws apply within the city limits of most towns).  With that said, if the domesticated animal damages any of your property (i.e. other animals, buildings, crops) you can take the owners to small claims court to recover damages.

What I have done...I've put gates on all of my driveways into my property and routinely "ride" the fence line on an ATV to try to ensure that any easy access points are closed off.  Unfortunately, there are some areas that just cannot be secured, we have acequias...irrigation water ditches that are deep, wide and have to be open to allow water flow, trees that were planted 100 years ago that continue to grow (and fall) and are difficult to fence around.  I generally carry a .22 pistol around the property when I'm outside in case I need to use it on something.

My plans...continue to improve the fencing as much as possible and possibly purchase an LGD.  Still thinking on the dog, it is a serious commitment and I need to be prepared to do what it takes for almost 2 years until I have a dog that I can trust with the chickens.  I want to be able to free range again, I think the chickens are generally safer when they have places that they can scatter/hide.

Anyway, interested in hearing everyone else's thoughts on flock security when free ranging.

{We were in Roswell for 17 years.... afaik, you could still use deadly force to protect your livestock.}

In NC, I can use deadly force, and absolutely will if I need to. Dogs and cats are not a problem. I've got mink, weasel, skunk, coon, fox (which have gotten a brahma IN my pasture with the horses in the middle of the day), and a resident bobcat that hangs out around the front barn and the end of my driveway.

Those are just the ones I've seen. We also have coyotes.

My flock is buttoned up tight at night. Thete is usually someone home (but not always outside), but the best deterrent I have are the dogs. Even the ones that can't be left outside unsupervised still get their run time, and pee all over.

Lots of cover is essential. We have hawks. My littles {keets} will have a run once I get that done; future batches of chicks will be in the grow-out with run until they are big enough to free range.

 

[netty74]

Hello everyone , I need some advice . I tam giving a lot of thought about letting my chickens free range . they have all been in their coops for almost a year now . I have a flock of 20 . ( 4 SLW , 4 PBR , 3 RIR , 1 BSL , 2 cuckoo Marans , 1 Tetra Tint and 2 bantams ) . First off the maintence of keeping the coops clean is starting to wear on me . ( 4 coops ) I work a full time job , it seems like i am contanstanly raking , Sprinkling DE , scraping roosts etc. . Also recently I have discovered I have a bumble foot problem . All of my SLW and PBR all have it . I have been treating those girls . I also have discovered one of my Cuckoo Marans has Scaley Leg Mites . I am going to treat her this am . UGH !!!! What am i doing wrong ????? I have tried to take measures to ensure that these types of things would not happen . If i free range will the girls stay close to the coop ?? , Will they come back on their own at night ?? Should I get a rooster to help protect my girls ?? ( I have no desire to raise chicks right now ) Will they still lay eggs in their nest boxes ?? I am not sure what i want to do . I worry about predetors , they have not been a problem so far . I also have 5 cows and 3 pygmy goats . Any help would be great !!!! I work 3 days a week 12 hour days and i have 1 short day and work a half day every other Saturday . one more question ... Would i still have the problems im having with free range chickens , or would it cut down on that ?? Thanks !!

 

[ChickyChickens]

Hello everyone , I need some advice . I tam giving a lot of thought about letting my chickens free range . they have all been in their coops for almost a year now . I have a flock of 20 . ( 4 SLW , 4 PBR , 3 RIR , 1 BSL , 2 cuckoo Marans , 1 Tetra Tint and 2 bantams ) . First off the maintence of keeping the coops clean is starting to wear on me . ( 4 coops ) I work a full time job , it seems like i am contanstanly raking , Sprinkling DE , scraping roosts etc. . Also recently I have discovered I have a bumble foot problem . All of my SLW and PBR all have it . I have been treating those girls . I also have discovered one of my Cuckoo Marans has Scaley Leg Mites . I am going to treat her this am . UGH !!!! What am i doing wrong ????? I have tried to take measures to ensure that these types of things would not happen . If i free range will the girls stay close to the coop ?? , Will they come back on their own at night ?? Should I get a rooster to help protect my girls ?? ( I have no desire to raise chicks right now ) Will they still lay eggs in their nest boxes ?? I am not sure what i want to do . I worry about predetors , they have not been a problem so far . I also have 5 cows and 3 pygmy goats . Any help would be great !!!! I work 3 days a week 12 hour days and i have 1 short day and work a half day every other Saturday . one more question ... Would i still have the problems im having with free range chickens , or would it cut down on that ?? Thanks !!

Your birds will not necessarily stray too far from the coop but they wont stick too close to it either! Yes they will come back at night (if not then you just need to show them how and they normally get after 2 days)! You don't have to get a rooster but it is recommended as he will help protect your girls! They will probably still lay eggs in your nest box but now and then you might find a chicken who decides nest boxes aren't for her and then lays I a 'hidey' place!
I don't know if it would help your problems but it might help!

 

[bumpercarr]

Hello everyone , I need some advice . I tam giving a lot of thought about letting my chickens free range . they have all been in their coops for almost a year now . I have a flock of 20 . ( 4 SLW , 4 PBR , 3 RIR , 1 BSL , 2 cuckoo Marans , 1 Tetra Tint and 2 bantams ) . First off the maintence of keeping the coops clean is starting to wear on me . ( 4 coops ) I work a full time job , it seems like i am contanstanly raking , Sprinkling DE , scraping roosts etc. . Also recently I have discovered I have a bumble foot problem . All of my SLW and PBR all have it . I have been treating those girls . I also have discovered one of my Cuckoo Marans has Scaley Leg Mites . I am going to treat her this am . UGH !!!! What am i doing wrong ????? I have tried to take measures to ensure that these types of things would not happen . If i free range will the girls stay close to the coop ?? , Will they come back on their own at night ?? Should I get a rooster to help protect my girls ?? ( I have no desire to raise chicks right now ) Will they still lay eggs in their nest boxes ?? I am not sure what i want to do . I worry about predetors , they have not been a problem so far . I also have 5 cows and 3 pygmy goats . Any help would be great !!!! I work 3 days a week 12 hour days and i have 1 short day and work a half day every other Saturday . one more question ... Would i still have the problems im having with free range chickens , or would it cut down on that ?? Thanks !!

Generally, the work is less with free ranging. Do they have a good size run that they go into now? If not, then the work will probably be less, if they have a run now, the work will probably be about the same. Don't know about the bumble foot, but the mite problems will be much less if they are out dust bathing in the dirt. That is how chickens protect themselves from parasites. I only have to change the litter about once ever 2 months, my chickens are out from dawn to dusk in a very large run (30 x 20) and only go back into the house during the day if the weather deems it. I'm not free ranging at the moment because I have way too many youngsters about. Once they are grown up, I'll start free ranging again, although I do rotate them through the garden right now to give them the opportunity to be out about once a week.

Since your chickens know where home is, they will probably put themselves to bed back in the coop. I usually count heads before closing up the coop just to make sure. I've had some that prefer the spruce tree and since I don't want them sleeping there I always moved them before I closed up. After once or twice being moved, they didn't try to roost there anymore (although I had one that slept on top of a shed roof even though I moved her every night to the day she died). First few nights, make sure that you can be outside before it gets dark to watch where they are going and what they are doing. Nothing worse than trying to find your chickens when it is full on dark outside.

 

[Ila88]

Mine knew where home was the very first night. The problem is that only some lay eggs in there. We found a new cache of 7 eggs in the bush yesterday!

 

[netty74]

Mine knew where home was the very first night. The problem is that only some lay eggs in there. We found a new cache of 7 eggs in the bush yesterday!

 

[netty74]

Thank you so much for your help . My girls have a run attached to their coop . It is more than adequate . I made sure when I built the coops/ runs the chickens had 10 square feet per chicken .

 

[gander007]

Mine knew where home was the very first night. The problem is that only some lay eggs in there. We found a new cache of 7 eggs in the bush yesterday!

I have tried fake egg's and everything else but in close to fifty years of playing with poultry I have learned one thing and hens will lay their egg's where they are comfortable and they believe the egg's are safe ......

And some hens will put the egg's where you want them to ......

 

[artsygirl]

I know a few chickens ad ducks who will hide eggs everywhere it's like Easter trying to find them all. One even layed her eggs on a shelf, thankfully they never rolled off

 

[holm25]

Hi everyone I am wondering who all lets there birds free range in there garden!!!