Part-time Free Ranging?

[Jake1199]

Hi everyone. I was wondering if anyone could share their experiences on part time free ranging. I currently have a 8x10 shed for my chicken coop with an attached 20x8 run that is completely enclosed with netting over the top for hawks. They have mulch down in their run to scratch around in as I throw scratch grains down for them. I’m nervous to free range though because I am in the country and have raccoons, possum, hawks, coyotes and foxes. I feel bad because my chickens are in their coop and run 24/7, I only have 6 chickens so they have plenty of space in their big run and big coop but I still feel bad. I was thinking of trying something new and keeping them locked in their run during the day while I’m at work, but once I get home in the afternoon letting them free range. That way if I hear commotion I can hopefully stop a predator attack. I know most of the predators I named come out at night so I am not so concerned about them because I will obviously lock my girls up at dusk. I’m just nervous about hawks because I don’t have a lot of tree coverage. Does anyone else do something similar to this? Thank you all.

 

[DobieLover]

I run a compromise between a setup similar to yours and free-ranging. Instead of allowing them to free range I have them in a 1/3 acre pen surrounded by electrified poultry netting. That setup has worked beautifully to keep all manner of ground predators at bay. Their only threat when they're out at that point is from aerial attacks and I have personally been out in the coop to witness three attempts by red tail hawks. None were successful. I do keep two roosters who are constantly vigilant and will send up an alert at the first sign of any threat. And my hens are very predator savvy and have a lot of shelter to run to when they are threatened.
You can see some of the shrubs they have to hide in.

This is their favorite.

The entire flock can go in there and you wouldn't know I had chickens they are so well hidden.

 

[Jake1199]

Beautiful birds and beautiful coop! Do you free range them 24/7 or only when you’re home? I guess if I really wanted to I could try it and if I have a hard time with hawks and lose too many of my birds I will know I either shouldn’t free range or make adjustments.

 

[neo71665]

If you want to free range for your enjoyment that is one thing. Otherwise as long as you have plenty of space, food, water, and protection your birds are contempt. Chickens only two worries are to live and reproduce.

 

[Jake1199]

If you want to free range for your enjoyment that is one thing. Otherwise as long as you have plenty of space, food, water, and protection your birds are contempt. Chickens only two worries are to live and reproduce.

This also makes me feel better to hear because I do want them to have a great life but I also want them to be safe where they don’t have to worry about being attacked.

 

[DobieLover]

Beautiful birds and beautiful coop! Do you free range them 24/7 or only when you’re home? I guess if I really wanted to I could try it and if I have a hard time with hawks and lose too many of my birds I will know I either shouldn’t free range or make adjustments.

They aren't free range. They are penned and yes, if the ground is clear of snow that impedes their mobility, they are out dawn to dusk.

 

[sgtruglo]

Hey! You will probably receive a range of answers but here is what we have done in past. We are in upstate NY. Have wooded areas surrounding but live in small neighborhood with an acre of land each. Fenced in backyard. We had small coop and free range anytime they want with our first batch of chickens. A Fox got in backyard and took them all right in middle of day. Now we have a coop with big enclosed and roofed run. We let them out, when snow isn’t on ground, and have part of the yard fenced in outside of run for more space. Just recently we lost a hen to a hawk when we were inside at lunchtime. As the trees are sparse in winter and they were in open area of grass. It’s a devastating part of owning chickens that happens. We are thinking about getting hawk nets for over their extended yard space… but I think there will always be risks if we let them “free range.”
Best of luck!

 

[Vata Raven]

They aren't free range. They are penned and yes, if the ground is clear of snow that impedes their mobility, they are out dawn to dusk.

They might think it's free-range because your area is bigger compared to what people normally build as a chicken run???

1/3 an acre you said, yeah? A lot more generous then what most people would do, I imagine.

 

[DobieLover]

They might think it's free-range because your area is bigger compared to what people normally build as a chicken run???

1/3 an acre you said, yeah? A lot more generous then what most people would do, I imagine.

Not them. The originals of the flock used to range an area about 5 times the size I gave them and kept trying to get out when they were first confined. They've since acclimated and all subsequent generations don't challenge the boundaries.

 

[Raptor Chicken]

We have a coop/run with an overall footprint of 6x16' but we have a 24x36' fenced in area for them to "free range".

You can check pics in my coop build in my page.