stubborn chickens

[tamelroy]

I would really like my chickens to free range, but they go into the road and all the way down the street!

Just your thoughts on this (if you can follow me, LOL) The door to the coop faces the driveway, is that why they go out that way to the road? Maybe I should cut a hole in the wire at the other end so they stay in the yard? I am so fustrated, I want them to free range so they are happy too. But I don't want them getting hit by a car.

Any thoughts would be great, Thanks everyone!!!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I keep mine in a run because they like to play in the road, which is about 300 feet away. In my opinion and experience, the only way you'll be able to stop them is with a fence.

 

[tropicalchicken]

We have a two acre lot of which one acre is fenced. Our chickens free range from dawn to dusk, and we let them out from the coops that are in the back yard. The only way off of our property is for them to go all the way around the house, down the driveway and through the gate opening. Then they will go almost to the end of our road that we live off of.

The only way I can keep them home is if I close the gate, but our family comes and goes all day long. I guess our next option is to buy an electric gate.

I don't always see them leave and worry about the dogs in the neighborhood getting them. Our great neighbors, (several in fact) shoo them home when they see them out and about, (when they are leaving or getting home) then joke with us about our wandering girls.

I think it is a case of the grass being greening on the other side, or so they think.

 

[tamelroy]

I have seen chickens by the road before when out driving some where. But my girls like to play in the middle of the street.

It is hard to explain, but the whole yard is fenced in except that one spot. The coop is next to the house so it is easy to get to with the snow. So from the coop to my back door is about 10 feet and from my door to the drive way is another 5 feet maybe.

I guess I will just have to make the run bigger for them. I didn't make it that big because I wanted to free range and I do have some that likes to stay in the run, so I was trying to make every one happy.

Stubborn and spoiled birds is what I have on my hands! LOL

 

[Ridgerunner]

I haven't decided yet if I am going to build a tractor or get an electric fence, something like the one shown on this link. For a little over $300 I can get the fencing and the energizer kit. There are advantages and disadvantages both ways.

http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=20170&cat_id=118

I will probably get this fencing and put a pop door in the run fencing. Just run the fencing from the pop door and change the area that they get to graze in as I want to. This would probably fit my management style better. The tractor option would work too, be less expensive, but require more management time. Tradeoff!! Tradeoffs!! What do I do???