I know I posted earlier about how you could worry yourself sick over just about anything - but if you could see how much my chickens love to free range I think you'd understand why I take the risk. Though we have a large run 30' x 60' and only 8 chickens I let them free range twice each day if possible - early morning and just before dark. I try to be out there as much as possible. Just got in from our evening walk. I was gone all day so they didn't get let out this morning and they all came running to the gate door when they saw me. You can just hear them yell "yippiieee". I open the gate and they go flying - running, flapping, flying - to their favorite bushes and trees and log piles. They run and chase every insect and look like a bunch of little kids at the playground. Their coop is just outside my bedroom window and I know when they are ready to be let out because they are all literally standing at the gate staring out and pacing back and forth. They look like that Mervyns commercial with the woman with her hands and face against the window saying "open, open, open". And when I open that gate - well it's true joy. With every predator known to man in our woods am I taking a risk - yes. Is their happiness worth it - yes. Is my happiness worth it - yes - I love watching them be chickens. I'm telling you their behavior when out free ranging is nothing like it is when they are in their run and their run has bushes and plants and is under trees and has years worth of natural leaf and mulch build up that they can scratch in. I feed them store-bought human foods like shredded cheese and fresh fruits and veggies twice a day. But, what do they really, really, really like - being let out of that gate. I tell you the truth, if a hawk swooped down and took one out I would be sad but life would go on and I would be on-line ordering a few more before the hawk could finish it's meal. I hope that doesn't sound like I don't love my chicks as much as anyone else, I'm sure I do but I love my kids too and had to let them go out into the world and they can't be replaced. Keeping any animal caged, even for it's own protection, is not natural. I got chickens so that I could walk the woods with them and watch them play and feed and I could destress from life. They destress as well - there is no pecking or fighting amongst themselves like there was before I started letting them out. I know each person has to make this decision for themselves but I tell you honestly, mine actually yell "yippiieee" - something the American Express commercial would call "priceless".
