Run vs. Free Range

[Cathy Roberts]

My husband wants to keep our 3 chickens and 2 roosters in a run all the time. I would like to see them do some free-ranging. Which do you think is better?

 

[jthornton]

My neighbor has lost over a hundred chickens to predators in the last couple of years free ranging... it's impossible to say in your situation because we don't know anything about it. I still have all of my chickens which live in chicken fort knox...

You should put your location in your profile.

JT

 

[Shadrach]

My husband wants to keep our 3 chickens and 2 roosters in a run all the time. I would like to see them do some free-ranging. Which do you think is better?

It depends on the run and the free range environment.
I free range. I lose one, or two chickens a year. How do you feel about the inevitable loss due to predators?
Do your hens go broody and if not, how would you replace any losses?

 

[Amer]

It depends on the run and the free range environment.
I free range. I lose one, or two chickens a year. How do you feel about the inevitable loss due to predators?
Do your hens go broody and if not, how would you replace any losses?

X2

 

[LulaBell]

In my opinion, free range is best. However you have to be prepared for the fact that you will lose some to predators. We free ranged for almost a year, the girls were out daylight to dark every day, didn't lost a single one. Then out of the blue we lost 9 in a 2 week period to a fox. Until we can get the fox taken care of we have been keeping the girls in the run and letting them out when we can be outside with them. Good luck!

 

[aart]

Which do you think is better?

Both.
Let em range,
but have a secure run to keep them safe if you get too many predator losses....

....or other issues, like pooping all over your porch, or tearing up any garden they can get to or.....

 

[Onslow's Hens]

Free Range is best and they are the happiest - more eggs and better eggs. Just know and accept that you will probably loose some to a predator - either by air or by land. We free range everyday, all day. Only lock them up tight at dusk. We keep our hen house and covered run very predator proof so have never lost any at night. I used to try and keep them penned in a really large fenced chicken yard but they just were not happy. They would race the gate everytime anyone was any where even near them. I caved in and allowed them free run of the farm. They love it, and their eggs doubled in number and the yolks are so deep orange and rich. Just be prepared for the inevitable. It is sad to loose any but the overall benefits of a free range flock, in my opinion, is worth the risk.

 

[so lucky]

I wish I could free range my chickens 24-7 but just having them brings all the area dogs as they follow their noses. Dogs show up in our yard from a mile and a half away. Even when the chickens are in the coop, the dogs terrorize them by running around the coop, jumping on it, barking, etc. I had one chicken jump/fly over the top of the coop, 7 feet up, then the dog chased her down.
Coop top is covered in chicken wire now. I hope that will be secure enough.

 

[Onslow's Hens]

Wow - loose dogs, that is a problem.

 

[jthornton]

I wish I could free range my chickens 24-7 but just having them brings all the area dogs as they follow their noses. Dogs show up in our yard from a mile and a half away. Even when the chickens are in the coop, the dogs terrorize them by running around the coop, jumping on it, barking, etc. I had one chicken jump/fly over the top of the coop, 7 feet up, then the dog chased her down.
Coop top is covered in chicken wire now. I hope that will be secure enough.

Add some hot wires around the coop!