Suburban BYC How to keep them in the yard??

[frogman]

For those of you who live in the suburbs and have chickens, if you let them out to free range for part of the day how do you keep them from wandering away?? I only let mine (5) out when I can watch them in the yard, but they have started to wander around to the front yard. I am afraid a neighbor dog will see them as well as wandering next door.

My backyard is not fenced in.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

 

[allosaurusrock]

I would make a covered run for them to free-range in.

 

[Teila]

Hey frogman

I am not sure I will have the answer for you but I live in the suburbs and have 6 bantam gals who fly like bricks and only get to free range under supervision because of neighbourhood dogs and cats.

While we have fences around the back, one of which is only very low, there is the option to wander up the side of the house and out into the front garden but in over two years, my gals have never ventured out the front or tried to jump the fence.

One reason I believe this is the case is that the matriarch of the flock was never one for wandering and she has probably passed this down to the others.

Another reason could be all the ‘fun’ places I have for them to dig, explore, hide and ‘play’ in the back garden.

They have lawn; their own garden beds specific for digging and dust bath spots .. there is also a decked gazebo where humans dole out meal worms

As mentioned, free range is supervised every afternoon for a couple of hours and the majority of the day on the weekends.

May be, if I was not watching them, they would wander out the front but I think having me pottering around outside with them keeps them close. Also, they seem to like to keep their coop and run within sight.

 

[lazy gardener]

Sooner or later, wanderlust will strike. Hopefully you'll be there to curb it when it does. Best option is a secure run. Or a tractor. You can also make some portable fencing panels, or use wire fencing that has the 2 x 4" holes, and make T shaped fence posts that place the T upside down, with one arm of the T through the hole in the fencing, and the arms of the T held down with long spikes into the soil.

 

[Mrs. K]

Free range chickens are very vulnerable to becoming prey to almost everything. Free range chickens can cause a huge amount of damage to an ornamental yard, which is not going to make your neighbors happy if it is their ornamentals.

Truthfully, unless you are standing right their, they need a run, or the chance of them doing damage or being killed is quite high.

If you are standing right there, go to the feed store and ask for a sorting stick. It will extend your reach, and you can just tap the ground in front of the bird to direct it in the direction that you want.

Mrs K

 

[frogman]

Thanks! I currently have a roo that may be leading them into new places.

Our run is 10' x 5' and I worry it is too small for 4 chickens. I don't want them bored and pecking at each other.

 

[Mrs. K]

If they do start pecking each other, because they are too crowded, free range is only limited help in the winter. Because of the long nights, they spend in December nearly 14 hours in the dark, in too small of space, that can get ugly.

If that happens, free range won't help, as it is happening while they are in the coop. Then the only solution is increase the size of the coop, or reduce the size of the flock. If you are just getting started, this frequently happens because what was big enough for the chicks, is not longer big enough for full grown birds.

Mrs K

 

[Folly's place]

There's no substitute for having an enclosed safe run and coop, large enough for your birds to be in 24/7. Then outside time can be when you are there, and all will be well. If you can fence your yard, by all means do it! Mary