Next step to free ranging....

[lizage]

I let mine free range all day (my husband and I work away from the home roughly 7am - 5pm). One rainy day I came home and 5 of my 16 chickens were missing. One pullet was injured and died the following day. We suspect coyotes or foxes got the rest as there was no trace of anything. I do not let them free range now during the day when we're at work. They are let out when we get home and all day on weekends. I feel bad that they are penned in the run (it doesn't seem "natural" to me either), but I have a lot of time and money invested in them.

 

[ChickInDelight]

Quote:
x2. I feel the same way. I open my coop at 6am and close it around 11pm. Ive never lost a bird during the day.

x3.

Mine have the entire world to free-range - have you seen them go by your house? Quality of life! I live on a predator-rich farm. I wake up to hawks every morning. My 4 hens and 7 ducks have learned to survive. I lost a Pekin to a snapping turtle; now the ducks only swim in the kiddie pool. I lost a Pekin to a fox at night; now I have built a night house.

I do have the advantage that I also have 4 cats and 2 dogs that seem very protective. Feral cats are repelled. Those frightening deer and squirrels are barked away. I am willing to lose a few lives for the fittest that survive to have a natural life of freedom.

 

[rjking777]

Quote:
Well said, chickmashnoon!

 

[Capvin]

Mine don't free range and they never will. They are confined to their huge run for the same reason my dogs have a fenced yard and the house, my cats are confined to the house, and my horses have fenced pastures--I love them and believe it's my job to protect them from harm (both human caused and "natural"). It's also my job to provide them w/ the best possible living situation, given the necessity of confinement, which is why MY version of "chicken math" is the opposite of most folks : I have 200 SF of run and 40 SF of coop, and 4 chickens. I take habitat enrichment very seriously and am always improving their home. They have perches and toys and treats and all sorts of stuff to keep them busy, and I don't for a moment believe that they would be happier free ranging. They just wouldn't live as long.

Folks do things differently. Just wanted to add a voice from the responsible confinement sector.




]I wholeheartedly agree with the above statement made by Elizabeth. Mine will only freerange when I am there to watch them closely and be as sure as I can that no harm will come to them. That is my responsibility.[/b]

 

[kcjones]

we have a small coop an a 20ft by 8ft by 8 ft tall covered run(was enough old chain link fencing left by previous owners)and a small yard with a 4 ft fence they can go in yard if somebody can check on them during day, and we usally let them out and herd them in the 2 acre unfenced yard for an hour or so each night

 

[NickyPick]

Quote:
That's my EE cockeral, Mr. Feathers. He's the head roo. Really watches out for all the girls and makes sure the whole group is together when they come in at night. Rock, on the other side, is more of a bully type.

Here's a better picture, taken back in August.