Pros and Cons of Free Ranging

[Crow-ded house]

Our chooks used to free range until we got tired of losing to predators, poop everywhere, holes, flower beds destroyed. We built enclosed runs and it has been extremely wet couple of years so runs got muddy and smelly. I researched dlm and no more flies, they live to scratch in it, no smell and it stays dry even with blowing rain.

 

[Abraeri]

Surprised no one suggested this... get ducks! They'll love the mud. Anyway...

Every flock is different of course... and my ducks absolutely detest being in a run. They've got 300 sqft between the 12 of them, but they 100x prefer sitting all day under a tree (pretty much all day if it's hot out) but free, than being in run. Yes, I have lost two ducks in two years, but I and they would rather be free and face the danger of a predator as in the wild, than be cooped up all day.

Obviously if I was seeing predators around every day or I wasn't at home all day to be there in case of trouble, I'd seriously reconsider. You know your circumstances best.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

This may sound a bit heartless, but what I do is keep my most valuable and favorite chickens locked up, and let the rest of the flock roam, because their deaths would be less of a blow. My polish NEVER is allowed to range. I’ve lost too many of her breed to predators. The Silkie, The Cochin, and my fav Banty hen all qualify to stay inside. So maybe let the least important chickens roam, or the most skittish, intelligent ones. Also, usually your ugliest, most worthless bird is the one that never dies. I have a poor EE who no longer lays, and been attacked by a dog, nearly beheaded by a projectile object, you name it. She’s practically immortal.

 

[TropicChook]

I lean toward recommending run improvements, since they are at your in-laws' home, and not yours. Free range means poop everywhere, and perhaps your in-laws may not appreciate that on their doormat. I guess you have to weigh how often you can you visit and care for your flock as well as how much your in-laws enjoy helping with them.

Have you heard of Edible Acres? He feeds his chickens almost entirely on compost and kitchen scraps. What may interest you is how he piles and turns the compost, even through winter snows, and is able to keep the chickens out of the mud and well fed. He gets terrific compost for his permaculture/no till gardening needs as well. The link is: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCznk4o83WjKFCwEZ8th8wHQ.

 

[BigATC]

I now do intermittent free ranging. I let 'em out for a couple of hours before dusk and hang out with them or watch through the window. I'm on an acre and have a ~1/4 acre combination of lawn, landscaped, and forest edge where they get to go. I've placed temp fencing (wire and plastic) here and there to better keep track of them. They move around a lot and don't really get a chance to tear stuff up since they are not out all day. Hopefully good for them and fun for me. They have places to bolt if needed but I'm usually out in the middle of the open area. I understand the possibility of losses and may re-access should this start happening.

 

[Kris5902]

I would just like to say, I plan on using chicken tractors and free ranging with mobile shelters for my flock as we have open pastures and fields mostly and some heavily wooded areas.

As to the “wooded” lands that are mentioned as good for cover, I don’t know what kind of woods they are talking about, because that is where almost ALL our predators live and thrive! Raccoons, mink, and they don’t seem to really have any affect on the birds of prey... you would be shocked at how well our huge eagles can swoop through those trees, nevermind the hawks and owls!

I would think hedgerows or heavy underbrush found at the edges of natural meadow areas might be ok. Shrubs good- lots of trees, not so much? All the non-birds-of-prey go for the wild rose bushes and blackberry hedges.

 

[centrarchid]

I am using an approach with a group of roosters where their destructive forces they put on vegetation is put to use. The roosters are housed at night and most of most days in a 10' x 10' chain-link dog kennel. There destroying of vegetation is a form of weed management preparing ground for gardening next spring. The approach is used after the growing season where vegetation is not able to grow back before I can employ soil remediation. The pen is periodically moved to new ground. Moves are short and orientation of pen is conserved so roosters can figure out how to get back in. When roosters are out during the work week, it is only for an hour or so just prior to sun down. On weekends and holidays they are released at dawn so they get at least two whole days of free-range time per week.

There are places I do not want them to visit while in free-range mode, namely the poultry yard and the road. Feeding stations and cover patches get their attention in an area that is roughly 2 acres. The area is also patrolled heavily by dogs and even my kids so predator issues are not a major concern.

A pair of game chickens also occupy the same range and managed in a similar manner although they are housed in one to those rather flimsy prefabricated coops that has been mounted to a sled so I can move it as well. The coop is moved in parallel to the larger dog kennel. The game rooster must be placed back into coop by hand each night, otherwise he would roost on the roof.

Free-range time help the chickens get their greens-fix and provides windows for me to move their containment units.

 

[Kris5902]

I am using an approach with a group of roosters where their destructive forces they put on vegetation is put to use. The roosters are housed at night and most of most days in a 10' x 10' chain-link dog kennel. There destroying of vegetation is a form of weed management preparing ground for gardening next spring. The approach is used after the growing season where vegetation is not able to grow back before I can employ soil remediation. The pen is periodically moved to new ground. Moves are short and orientation of pen is conserved so roosters can figure out how to get back in. When roosters are out during the work week, it is only for an hour or so just prior to sun down. On weekends and holidays they are released at dawn so they get at least two whole days of free-range time per week.

There are places I do not want them to visit while in free-range mode, namely the poultry yard and the road. Feeding stations and cover patches get their attention in an area that is roughly 2 acres. The area is also patrolled heavily by dogs and even my kids so predator issues are not a major concern.

A pair of game chickens also occupy the same range and managed in a similar manner although they are housed in one to those rather flimsy prefabricated coops that has been mounted to a sled so I can move it as well. The coop is moved in parallel to the larger dog kennel. The game rooster must be placed back into coop by hand each night, otherwise he would roost on the roof.

Free-range time help the chickens get their greens-fix and provides windows for me to move their containment units.

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This is essential what I’m looking to do with my management techniques as well... I’m just starting out though and need to get our human housing in place before I start putting in my smaller personal garden. Once I can prove that this is a viable form of management I hope to move the other farm chickens into the 1 acre of highly fenced garden for the off seasons! I dislike coop cleaning and would prefer them to make their deposits directly on the garden so I don’t have to shovel as much litter and poop! I will probably need an automatic door there though because the big garden is at the opposite end of the farm from where I’m building our house

 

[Saaniya]

Any time in life if I make a coop I will add some biosecurity what I learn in.BYC many chickens died due to attacks from hawks or raccoons

Here in my country the fear is Big Eagle , wild monkeys and Wild Cats

So whenever I build I add the micro net and cover the entire run

 

[dalasgalas]

All I can say on this topic is to prepare to lose a chicken now and then when you free range.

That said, I'd rather free range. But I have a tiny flock and much less to lose should a predator carry off flock members.