Perspectives from those that have real free-range flocks

[Wandercreek]

As you stated, free-range has a variety of meaning. Some people have hens in town, and to them free-ranging is letting them wander around the back yard. I live on a ranch in western SD. My chickens can free range as far as they want on prairie and cricks.

Yes. I know there are many people out there that would love to be able to free-range their flock as we are able to do. Having the space to do so is a blessing that I don't take lightly.

I don't free range 100% of time, I have too many predators and they all like chicken! I have a nice set up, that I could leave them in 24 hours for many days, but I like to let them out to dig and scratch, I think it keeps them healthier, they get more exercise, and they can eat what they want. However, with my predators, I have found, that if I vary my routine, sometimes let them out, sometimes not, sometimes early sometimes late, and have a mature rooster with them, they do not get hit so hard by predators. If I get a hit, I stay in lock down for several days to even more than a week. Once predators find you, they come back for more.

I agree that it keeps them healthier. This is a big factor in my decision to go this route. I don't know if chickens (or any animal) is hard-wired to eat what they need and avoid what they don't. I've heard it said that that is the case, but how can we really know? My inclination is to go with that line of thinking and put my trust in nature and the natural order of things. I believe that fresh living food is better than commercial bagged feed. I know it's carefully formulated to provide adequate nutrition, but I just don't believe that commercial feed can compete with biology.

Predators have not been an issue for me yet. We just purchased this farm in December. I brought the chickens with me, so they've been here through winter and now into spring. We'll see how the rest of the year goes. I have 7 or 8 mature roosters out with the hens every day. They tend to separate into smallish groups and roam in different directions. I find it odd that the hens follow different roosters each day. I wonder if they're sizing them up to see who points them to the best grub?

This is a dry arid climate, now it is getting a bit warmer, and the bugs are beginning to hatch and get active. From here through most of July, I will have less consumption of feed. By August, they will be eating more commercial feed. I myself, do not offer feed 24 /7. I think that brings in rodents. I want my feed pans pretty empty at dark. If there is a lot left over, I feed less the next day. If they are completely cleaned up, I feed a bit more. I have found, that the consumption of feed various quite a bit through the year.

Mrs K

I started with a feeder in the coop but when a full week would go by without having to refill it, I decided they were finding more food on their own and didn't need the full feeder all the time. Now I just watch their crops. I throw out extra feed if I see several that look like they haven't eaten much. That seldom happens. I hadn't thought of it also keeping rodents at bay, but that's a very good point.

As far as I can tell there hasn't been much change in how much feed I need to give them. I would have expected they'd require more during the winter months, but that hasn't been the case. If anything, I'm giving them more in the spring. That can probably be attributed to increased egg production.

Thanks for the feedback! I enjoy hearing how this works (or doesn't) for others.

 

[la dee da]

I free range my chickens on our land--the only thing stopping them is a neighbor's horse fence on one side, woods on two sides (they don't like to go in the woods often), and the road in front (which they refuse to cross, yay!). They regularly explore our two acres of open land and some land next to us that another neighbor owns and is okay with the chickens ranging on. I range them for a bit of every reason: it makes me feel good inside to let them run around like that, it reduces feed costs (though by how much I've never measured), I love seeing chickens in the yard (eye candy), they fertilize the entire yard and eat the bugs and ticks, and of course their eggs are healthier.

Everyone who's eaten one of my eggs has told me they're very flavorful with a nice dark yolk. Unfortunately I can't eat eggs, but I really enjoy the chickens and gathering eggs! I give them commercial food all day and of course I provide water, though now that it's spring I've noticed a drop in feed consumption. I'd like to measure their food out some day to save even more on feed costs and not feed the rodents, but right now life's just a wee too busy.

One thing I've noticed is that my heritage duel purpose chickens free range a lot better than the hatchery egg layers I used to have, and though their eggs are smaller, they have a nicer color and flavor and their shells are nice and thick. I don't know if it's a breed difference or a heritage vs. hatchery thing, but I've found it quite interesting.

 

[Wandercreek]

One thing I've noticed is that my heritage duel purpose chickens free range a lot better than the hatchery egg layers I used to have, and though their eggs are smaller, they have a nicer color and flavor and their shells are nice and thick. I don't know if it's a breed difference or a heritage vs. hatchery thing, but I've found it quite interesting.

That is interesting, and something I've never given much thought. Do you keep just a single breed?

 

[Wandercreek]

I free range my chickens on our land--the only thing stopping them is a neighbor's horse fence on one side, woods on two sides (they don't like to go in the woods often), and the road in front (which they refuse to cross, yay!).

Mine have about 20 acres of native woodlands to explore but seldom venture very far into them. They do spend a lot of time hunting on the edges of the woodlands, however (fellow permies know that this makes every bit of sense). They also have two big creeks that seem to be the perfect place to find goodies, but they don't spend as much time on the banks as I would expect. Maybe the fast moving water intimidates them?

 

[la dee da]

That is interesting, and something I've never given much thought. Do you keep just a single breed?

My breeds before were red sex-links and yellow sex-links. I don't know what my rooster was--my neighbor gave him to me. My breeds now are heritage RIR and Black Java. One of my current roosters is a better forager than the rest, always exploring new areas and finding treats while the others hang out nearer to the coop (though they do venture, and further than my first rooster did).

Mine have about 20 acres of native woodlands to explore but seldom venture very far into them. They do spend a lot of time hunting on the edges of the woodlands, however (fellow permies know that this makes every bit of sense). They also have two big creeks that seem to be the perfect place to find goodies, but they don't spend as much time on the banks as I would expect. Maybe the fast moving water intimidates them?

Yeah, my chickens don't like things that move fast! Maybe your chickens don't hang out by the creek because their instinct tells them that natural water = predators? Or maybe they just can't swim.

Oh! One other thing I've noticed is that these hens are quieter, and my roosters don't cry wolf very often. My other rooster called "predator!" at everything from a sparrow to a butterfly to a falling leaf--oh, and sometimes the hawk, too. These roosters, when they do the predator call, I pay attention!

 

[Wandercreek]

I bet that's it! They can't swim!!

My roosters are quite calm also. The pair of hawks that live in the tree outside the barn/coop don't scare them at all. There are 7 or 8 roo's out there managing the girls and I almost never hear the predator call, though there are constantly large-ish birds flying overhead.

 

[ILuvMyFlock]

Mine are 100% free ranged in the sense that they can go where they please, and roost where they please. I only separate the hens to avoid having fertile eggs.

 

[bobbi-j]

Mine free range spring, winter and fall (they opt out in our Minnesota winters). I used to let them roost wherever they pleased. Then the Great Horned Owls found them. It was rather disheartening to come out in the morning and find decapitated chickens littering the ground. Not to mention the ones that just plain disappeared - raccoons got them, I assume.

 

[Ljc01]

I free range because my coop is a 6x10 dog kennel and my husband still has not gotten around to build me a real coop and run! My 6 chickens are now 9 chicken and that would not be enough space. I have 1/2 acre that they roam on. The only problem I have had is one of my EE's liked to hop the fence and roam the neighborhood. I have to trim her wing to stop her. I think that there are small green eggs laid all over town!

I buy 6 week old pullets and keep them in the baby coop until they are the same size as the big girls and then I let them free range as well.

My girls seem happy.

 

[Wandercreek]

Mine free range spring, winter and fall (they opt out in our Minnesota winters). I used to let them roost wherever they pleased. Then the Great Horned Owls found them. It was rather disheartening to come out in the morning and find decapitated chickens littering the ground. Not to mention the ones that just plain disappeared - raccoons got them, I assume.

Oh, boy, do I know about owl kills. It's awful finding those bodies. We had that problem and it seemed like more and more owls moved in and surrounded the place every night. We lost so many birds. Finally moved the flock to the new farm and haven't seen or heard owls around. Yet.