Naively I thought chickens could be out alone all day, confused

[Chebird]

I must be weird, but I would never free range my birds. All my neighbors that free range are constantly loosing chickens. Mine stay in a completely enclosed chicken run attached to the coop.

 

[IamRainey]

I suppose a lot has to get factored in: how many birds you have, how many predators you have, what you feel is an acceptable attrition rate, how attached to them individually you are, how "happy" you think they are in or out of a run, if you have kids how traumatic finding a carcass would be, and so on.

The thing probably is to anticipate as much as possible and then make the decision that's best for your situation without the pressure of arriving at the "right" answer.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I built my coop, and I would have built my run, too, if hubby hadn't insisted I buy one.

Everything I've built for my girls has been on the super cheap. When I was planning my run, I found lots of materials on Craigslist, most for free! People had left over lumber and fencing materials. Some were selling dog kennels cheap, too. I really would have preferred that over buying...

And I am NOT an experienced builder, but my hubby would not help me at all on what he considered my "project"! But now that I've made a coop and have added several modifications, I am much more confident in my abilities. So is hubby (he never should have doubted me).

I understand your misgivings. I feel exactly the same way! Look around and see what you can find. It won't cost a thing to look and imagine and plan. You might be surprised by what you find.

I wish you all the luck in the world! You are obviously an excellent chicken mama. You will figure out a way to do right by your flock.

Long distance high five from California!


(edited to fix all the dang errors incurred because my phone is hard to type on)

 

[centrarchid]

I must be weird, but I would never free range my birds. All my neighbors that free range are constantly loosing chickens. Mine stay in a completely enclosed chicken run attached to the coop.

In my location several others have kept chickens. Some free-range them, some do not. After about 10 years, only myself and one other still have chickens. My flock is the only one that was closed (all reproduction done here). The other folks all dropped out or had to completely re-bird multiple times. I keep a good percentage free-range at least part of the year. It is not simply an issue of free-range or not. There are other considerations that need to be taken into account when keeping the chickens long-term.

 

[MROO]

I must be weird, but I would never free range my birds. All my neighbors that free range are constantly loosing chickens. Mine stay in a completely enclosed chicken run attached to the coop.

If you're weird for not free-ranging, then I'm right there next to you! I don't, either. I lost a rare-breed pullet to a hawk ... and I was standing not twenty feet away. Nope. No more free-ranging for my birds unless they're right at my feet ... or on my shoulder!

 

[Jenjens]

Perhaps a longshot, but where in IL do you live approximately? I go down to the Chicago area often enough and have a huge roll of extra welded wire and lots of extra stakes that came with the property. We'd be glad to get them off our hands.

I live in East Dundee and work in Elk Grove Village. Pretty close.

 

[Parront]

While hardware cloth underground is a great option, it's labor intensive and will eventually fall apart (years from now, but it will.) While digging in the HC, I came across a wonderful "cheat," several bags of concrete mix left in the garage by the previous owners. Eureka! I dug a narrow trench about 8 inches deep along one side of my run. I dumped in the concrete mix, added water with the hose and mixed it with a broken hoe. Once that piece set (the next day,) I did the next section. I ended up buying three more bags of mix. So, for about $10.00 and a few hours work, I now have a barrier that resists my chickens, local predators ... and my goofy dog!

Cement is your friend! Very cheap, lasts forever!

 

[Parront]

As Starri33 says a treat and a specific call helps get them to gather back up and follow you.

Mine love bread. So the minute I say “Chickie Chickies” and they see bread they are back in the run in a blink of an eye. No fuss or chasing at all. Even my stubborn girls can’t resist the lure of bread pieces.

So find a treat that they love and a sound they can associate with it.

My children trained the animals, every single one we have ever owned, with the sound of a bag of chips. (BTW, they did not realize this). The "Krinkely Sound" works! Kids all eat chips or snacks from something plastic in our world. Animal begs, gets one. Fast forward a few years, the kids were at the rented beach house with us and grand-kids, & new puppy. So, the new puppy runs off down the street, lots of new interesting smells at the beach. Mom (our daughter #1) is calling, dog not coming back. I got a bag of Doritos, close by of course, and crumpled it. Dog came running! Mom, what did you do? We all train each other, every day!

 

[Parront]

I bought my first chicks a month ago and the barn is almost ready for them. I guess I was being naive thinking that in the morning I could let them out in the yard all day while I am at work and let them back in at night. I live near a forest preserve and we do have deer, coyotes, huge raccoons, etc. and didn't even realize that they might be harmed during the day with no one home.

I am an animal lover and I want to provide my chickens the best life with as much time outside as possible. My husband works in the trades and is self-employed, so unfortunately, money-wise, it really hurts, but he will be home a few days a week. However, if things get busy for him, it hurts to think that I have to keep them in the barn all day. Then there comes winter too as I live in the midwest which means even more time inside.The whole point of getting these chickens was to have them as an addition to the family, as well as eggs, since I was already spending a fortune on pasture-raised eggs at the store.

I am starting to feel like I made a mistake getting them because I can't give them the best life possible, and am not sure what to do. I have already grown quite attached. Any advise would be appreciated. Thank you.

You are right to wish the best life for your birds. I have owned (& been owned by) and loved birds all my life. Think of how you would feel to come home and find a much loved bird killed by a free-range local dog. That is what happened to my first chickens. I thought my yard, enclosed in chain link fence, was fine for them to roam. WRONG! This was in the 80's, long before BYC on the internet. First response on my part was to build a more secure yard within a yard. Still, a dead hen! Dog came in my yard, dug under the fence to the chicken yard. So, more secure chicken yard, with rocks and better wire. The dogs dug into the house. So, cement floor in the house. Dogs came in my yard and got chickens the flew over the fence of the chicken yard. EVERY single thing that happened to my birds is related on this site multiple times. I worked long hours, and every day when I came home, it was another disaster. The end was chickens had to stay in the concentration camp until I came home. Net was installed to keep them in. The only free rangers were the Brown Leghorns, who were impossible for any dog, or human, to catch. Great layers, and one even brooded a nest of chicks. Best eggs ever, just had to give them fresh greens every day.

 

[MROO]

My children trained the animals, every single one we have ever owned, with the sound of a bag of chips. (BTW, they did not realize this). The "Krinkely Sound" works! Kids all eat chips or snacks from something plastic in our world. Animal begs, gets one. Fast forward a few years, the kids were at the rented beach house with us and grand-kids, & new puppy. So, the new puppy runs off down the street, lots of new interesting smells at the beach. Mom (our daughter #1) is calling, dog not coming back. I got a bag of Doritos, close by of course, and crumpled it. Dog came running! Mom, what did you do? We all train each other, every day!

Now if we could just train the CHILDREN as easily!