outside

[CMV]

The problem with free-ranging is that you are going to lose some birds to predation. I let my birds free-range for the last 2 years with no problems, but this year I lost a chicken to a hawk. That hawk has been hanging around since then. If you don't mind losing a few, then free-ranging is OK. I still let my birds free-range, but I am watching them very carefully, now. I also let my birds out in the eve so they will put themselves back in their coop as the sun sets. It gives them some time out, and it's sort of like change-of-shift for the predators (hawks have gone in for the day, but owls haven't come out).