"Take me out!"

[Patinas]

Yeah, they love running around and foraging, but I don't think I would be able to let them free range because I just saw the eight hawks circling around the coop.. Yeah, they love grass! Whenever I mow my lawn, I always give it to them, and they gobble it up completely in a few hours. I would LOVE to let them free range.. But I feel like it would be too much of a risk. I might just try to fix up the garden for them.. Thank you for the advice, I'll see what else I can do to make my flock happy.

I totally understand your reasons for keeping them fenced and like I said, every situation is different and deserves weighing the pro and cons before letting them free range so I totally respect your decision not to based on predator load. Good for you for being responsible!

If you're worried they are bored, do some searches on here for entertaining your flock. I've seen lots of creative ideas such as hanging a cabbage that they can peck at or giving them a squash/pumpkin to peck at or a flock block. They even make a chicken ball that you can hide treats in and let them figure it out! Lots of people do not let their chickens range and they are totally fine so it may just take some creative thinking and coming up with ways to give them new things to entertain their natural curiosity.

 

[Coturnix Quail]

I totally understand your reasons for keeping them fenced and like I said, every situation is different and deserves weighing the pro and cons before letting them free range so I totally respect your decision not to based on predator load. Good for you for being responsible!

If you're worried they are bored, do some searches on here for entertaining your flock. I've seen lots of creative ideas such as hanging a cabbage that they can peck at or giving them a squash/pumpkin to peck at or a flock block. They even make a chicken ball that you can hide treats in and let them figure it out! Lots of people do not let their chickens range and they are totally fine so it may just take some creative thinking and coming up with ways to give them new things to entertain their natural curiosity.

Thank you! Today there was something a bit disturbing. It was drizzling, so I decided to take them out anyway because there was places where the rain couldn't reach, and they were pretty anxious to get out. So, after 10 minutes or so, the chicken I was petting in my lap, my Australorp, jumped up, and so did the other hens, she scrambled out of my lap and they all ran to the back near a bush. I was pretty confused, but I looked up, and saw a hawk not too far away circling in the air. I got pretty freaked out, and luckily I didn't take many of the hens out, so I opened the gate, and called them back to the coop, and by then it was raining. I was just like wow, this hawk has some guts. Also, thank you for the suggestions, I'll be sure to try some of them out and do some research. One more question, how do you come up with names? Can I ask for some help naming them? It takes me way too long to name my birds! We do have nicknames, though. I think I have all of their pictures. These pics are a little old, but the only thing that changed would be Buffs and the RIR hens comb. They grew a little longer. Here:

This is the BR bantam (The Baby Baby) She was the runt of the flock. She likes to explore, and is like the "lone chicken". But she's very friendly, except when you try putting her back in the coop, she does a little sprint away from you!

Easter Egger (I just call her Easter Egger.) She's very sweet, will follow you, and very gentle. She loves attention!

Easter Egger Bantam (EE Bantam is what I call her. Thinking of Oreo maybe?) She's very timid, loves mealworms, but doesn't mind being held once she's picked up. She's the little scaredy chicken.

Blue Cochin (She's known as Cochin, she hates people even though she was really friendly as a chick.)

Buff Oprington (Buff) She doesn't know how to be gentle! She doesn't bite really hard on purpose. But she's very loyal and likes following people.

Australorp (Just known as Australorp.) She's very sweet and loves jumping on my lap and being pet. She also follows people. Then we have the 2 meatbirds that I fell in love with. This RIR hen can be held forever, but she won't mind! She also follows.

Last, but not least, Sicilian Buttercup. (Sicilian) She doesn't mind being pet, but isn't VERY tame. She can be held though, and she won't squirm.

 

[Patinas]

....One more question, how do you come up with names? Can I ask for some help naming them?...

When buying chicks I bought 2-3 of each breed so when it came to naming them, I picked a letter of the alphabet and gave them each a name starting with the same letter. For example, my 2 barnvelders are named Emily and Ebony. My 2 Brahmas are Arla and Alice. I have two Dixie Rainbow hybrids named Martha and Mona, etc.

Doing this actually helped me name them without having to overly think names!

As for hens that run from you, my experience is that if you ignore them, they will show more interest in you. Some will always run but some will run to you and want to follow you around. What I do know, is grabbing, reaching or chasing them will not work! It just makes them mistrust you so if they run from you, let them go and ignore them. I like to sit quietly outside while they are free ranging, have a cup of coffee and watch them and inevitably, many of them come to me and want to chat it up. Some even want to sit in my lap or just settle down near me. The key is to ignore them and let them come to you. That's how you will build the trust with them.

If they aren't free ranging, and there's room in the run for you to have a chair in there, just try sitting quietly for a bit and see how they react to you. Treats help too!

Lovely pics of your flock!!