Keeping Chickens Free Range

[craigwg]

I do a mix. They stay mostly in the coop during the day. I try to get them out in the yard for 1 or 2 hours when I get home from work. I can't STAND them pooping on my porch. It cleans up easy enough but its just one more thing to do. My chicken run isn't very big so I feel better when they are out roaming the yard. I admit its for my own sake I want them out. I am using no bug spray in the backyard for the benefit of the chickens. That means I want the chickens eating bugs in the grass as much as possible. I was going to try to not fertilize but I couldn't handle it and I finally put some fertilizer down and just kept the chickens in the coop for a day or two while the fertilizer watered into the lawn. The chickens like to eat my blackberry bush when they're out and that kills me too. So far they have left my garden alone but things are just sprouting now. I don't think they know about the garden yet. I'm worried about when they do! I can't afford extra fencing so I'm taking it one day at a time for now.

 

[duluthralphie]

Just to let you know, I lost 2 birds last night/this AM.

And true to nature and Murphys law it was two of my favorites.

One is still alive ( my New Cochin) DW is tending to it in the house as I am still stuck in Florida. The other was a white chicken, my DW cannot tell them apart. But I only have 3 white ones (not including Bert) all 3 are named, ICU baby, Turken and the white rock hussy.

DW says she saw a white chicken with grey in it, (black I assume) that would be Turken a Delaware. I am hoping it is the ICU baby, as she does not have the personality the Hussy has. BUT I am afraid it is the hussy as she said it looked like it fought back and the white rock would, the EE (ICU BABY) would not she is bottom of the pecking order. Hussy is near the top.

 

[Free Feather]

It is the risk we take when we allow them to live more naturally, but it still sucks.

 

[Debby27]

Just to let you know, I lost 2 birds last night/this AM.

And true to nature and Murphys law it was two of my favorites.

One is still alive ( my New Cochin) DW is tending to it in the house as I am still stuck in Florida. The other was a white chicken, my DW cannot tell them apart. But I only have 3 white ones (not including Bert) all 3 are named, ICU baby, Turken and the white rock hussy.

DW says she saw a white chicken with grey in it, (black I assume) that would be Turken a Delaware. I am hoping it is the ICU baby, as she does not have the personality the Hussy has. BUT I am afraid it is the hussy as she said it looked like it fought back and the white rock would, the EE (ICU BABY) would not she is bottom of the pecking order. Hussy is near the top.

So sorry for your loss.......I lost 1 a month ago to a fox and 2 more Monday dusk to same fox. We are now in the process of evicting said fox from premises. We are left with 1 and yesterday acquired 2 free ladies from a friends mother....they are sad looking....the 2 roo's have been having their way with them and the woman has no idea to seperate them from the hens. One is bald as a billiard and picked/shredded patches and the other one is in better shape, but does have patches of feathers missing...but at least Gladys has some friends now.....

 

[Free Feather]

Getting rid of the fox is not going to help. Something else will just move in. That is really just what happens in nature - we accept it when we free range.

 

[thegoodwinshens]

First full day free ranging they are 7 weeks old, I know they are a little young but they were trying to escape their run so I figured they were ready, I need to build a better run but money is super tight so I'm trying to let them free range, we do have quite a few predators though so I'm sure this will be a learning curve

 

[duluthralphie]

Getting rid of the fox is not going to help. Something else will just move in. That is really just what happens in nature - we accept it when we free range.

Sure not going to hurt to get rid of the fox. As soon as I get home there will be a ton of traps set for small weasel like critters. May not solve the problem, but sure will help and make me feel better.

I accept loss, but will do everything I can to minimize it.

 

[Tikkijane]

This time of the year my birds are free ranging al the time, except the "special' ones I keep locked up for breeding reasons.

I have a chicken door but have not closed in a few months. They come and go as they please.   I have very high roosts so any fur bearing critter would have a hard time getting up to them.  No ramps nothing they have to fly up and they do, all of them.

Owls and hawks can get in. Can't tell you how many folks have found this out the hard way. Coons can climb really well.

You may not see issues right away. Rule of thumb is generally around 2 years for predators to become an issue. I, personally, don't risk it. We lock up Ft. Knox tight at night. Just had a friend lose guineas to an owl that broke in his netted run. He's been doing this like 20 years; never had a problem. Now he knows, and will change it up.

 

[duluthralphie]

Not a problem as of last night my house dog became a coop dog. Problem solved.

BTW the Dog is a tad bothered by her change in status but she will get over it.

 

[MysteriaSdrassa]

Our laying flock free ranges in a 1 acre field and then goes into lockdown at dusk. Ocasionally we will loose 1 here and there to a hawk during the day. I use pickup truck toppers and overturned boats (just the outer hull with the end cut off) scattered around the field. This gives the girls several things to dash and hide under when a hawk happens to fly over.. believe me, the chickens can see them coming for a long way away and the roosters will give a warning cry.. and poof,, not a chicken out in the open