Please advise: free range time required?

[TheJuan-n-Only]

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I was just thinking they needed something different to look at. We do put scratch and treats on the inside, and seeds and other treats on the outside when we are out there with them. But, they just seem so HAPPY to be out.

I would love to come home from work, let them out, toss treats on the ground, and walk away for 1-2 hours, then come back, and let them into the run, and close the coop door at dusk.

That's what I do with my girls. I get home and let the dogs in and the girls out. The have the entire back yard to play around. I have a 5' fence around the entire backyard and they do not seem interested on getting out. I do check on them constantly and I spend an hr or so out there with the dogs out also.

I know how you feel about the "guilt" I fell terrible about having them in the run all day while I'm at work...and they have 62 sqf of run for 5 birds! lol

Hope you can figure something to that will make everyone happy! lol

 

[seamsewnice]

Not sure if you've heard the definition of "free range" or not. Free range technically means you open the door for 5 minutes and if the chickens don't go out they are free range and you are then permitted to close the door and they are considered free range! I know that's not the answer you were looking for but just thought you'd like to hear what the books define it as. Once winter gets here mine look out at the poison white stuff an opt for the coop all day. So your space is plenty for three hens. Your coop is really very nice, but they might like some home grown sprouts.

 

[DazeGoneBy]

I have opened the door, then they are Free Range birds.

I guess that definition was necessary so the grocery store brands could write that on their egg cartons?

We are keeping them happy with treats and healthy with a clean area, I was just worried about their mental health... and I am looking at myself wondering who is the bird brain here?

They probably forget where they just came from and certainly don't have a watch on to know how long they've been let out to forage.

I like the idea of trying to put some sprouts in there with them...heck, I'm thinking if I even just got a square of sod and put at one end and sprinkled some worms on it, that would be an improvement, too.

Thanks for all the helpful posts!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Personally I would seed the space between the fence and run end with chicken friendly flowers and grass they can eat. Then build a raised bed the length of the entire run/coop 1 or 2 landscape timbers high. Fill with soil and seed with grass. Cover with hardware cloth so the only grass they get is what grows up through. Use large plastic planter water saucers fill with soil and plant grass or salad greens. Rotate those in the run for them. Screw posts (2x2 or similar) to the fence posts there now. (stain to match if you want) run netting from the base of the deck out to the posts. Instant overhead cover for evening unsupervised freedom from the run.

 

[chicmom]

Well, I hate to be on the hubby's side, because I am a wife, but that is a nice coop, and since you've only got three hens, they would be just fine if you never let them out. Plenty of room there.

 

[DazeGoneBy]

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AWESOME idea on the flowers, and the hardware cloth cover to stop them from annihilating the seeds before they even get to sprout. It will look pretty, offer a food source, and help with digging predators. Win-win-win!

Now, please go slowly and restate what you mean about the unsupervised run cover. I can't picture what you described... but with your other idea so awesome, it must be too!

 

[Katydid2011]

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^^ Love this!

I would have a hard time leaving the chickens in their coop and run all the time without access to greenery even though you definitely have enough space to do so without feeling guilty about it (you've got a lovely set up and plenty of space for three birds). I would do something like what CelticOaksFarm has recommended above. We live in the country and our 50 chickens range several acres of pasture from 11am until nightfall and they're absolutely joyous about it. I realize there is risk involved in letting them range but there are also risks that come with keeping chickens in a small area and I've heard so many stories about runs being breached. I'm fairly certain that there isn't any way to keep them 100% safe but it doesn't stop me from trying short of keeping them confined all the time (our pastures are reinforced with electric fencing at the top and bottom and we have plenty of shrubs for the birds to hide in when hawks fly over as they frequently do).

Our only predator losses have been from a dog and they happened not because the animal breached the fence but because two pullets flew over what I thought was an impossibly high fence. Since then we clip the right-side flight feathers on all of our birds and we haven't had any problems. *knock on wood* I'd definitely clip the birds feathers if I were you, just as a precaution.

Again, beautiful set up!

 

[nicokl502]

that is such a cute set up i like it a lot one thing you can do if you can't let them out in the grass is buy some cheep grass seed and plant some in something flat and grow some grass for them to enjoy thats what i do for my little ones but i also let them out in my yard for awhile to they dont go far from there home,but i just love there coop it is just too cute!!!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Ok, buy netting (lots of places online sell it) take boards (think 1x2) that you can stain to match the fence and deck. Use staples or U nails to attach the netting to the wide part of the boards. Then place the boards along to outside edge of your deck (just below the spindles on the outside edge) screwing them into the deck frame. You would sandwich the netting between the deck and board.

Then you can extend the height of the fence posts up (this is for your comfort to walk under) by attaching additional wood (posts of 2x2 or 2x4) to the posts holding your fence up. Then attach the netting to them strung from the deck over the courtyard area to the fence.

If you get snow the netting should let it fall through, or you can detach from the fence and roll up for the winter to restring in the spring.

We use netting on our flight pens, let me know I can ake some pictures. They house our small flying ducks in them. Our chickens run loose all day from 30min after sunrise to about 5:30-6 pm this time of the year.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Celtic Oaks is talking about avian netting to protect the girls from hawks or owls. If Hubby doesn't like your idea about the extra chicken wired area he won't be thrilled about avian netting. Do you notice hawks or owls in your area? If the chickens' wings are clipped, they would be reasonably safe in the fenced area during daylight hours as long as you are home and their are not a lot of hawks around.