To free range or not to free range?

[kerusnak]

So my 6 BSLs are 12ish weeks old now. They have been in the coop for 7 weeks and have been adjusting well. I always thought I would free range them during the day but now that I'm here I am terrified of them dying. Their coop is very large (10x30ish), plenty of room for 6 girls and they usually huddle near the food and water in the corner. The coop is in our back yard which is fenced (4ft), we have a dog but he is inside unless I'm out with him. We have stray/roaming dogs in the neighborhood, foxes and hawks. I would like to try letting them out but I am afraid they will fly over the fence and I wont be able to get them back. I know they will go back to the coop in the evening but I'd like to put them back in when I want to bring the dog out or wont be home. I read some posts on training them to go back to the coop so I know that is an option. I am just feeling conflicted, is the risk of dying worth the freedom and fun? I think they are generally happy in the coop, when I go in they don't try to rush out... just demand treats! I have plans to add some stumps, a ladder and a swing to increase their fun. My neighbors used to have a free range flock but they all were killed by hawks and foxes so their new flock stays in their coop. How did you all decide what to do?

 

[I Love Layers]

You can clip there wings so they can not fly. And if chickens can't see the other side through the fence they usually won't want to go over. I know some poeple who only let there chickens out of there pen when they're home.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

If you clip their wings, clip just one wing - it is a simple, painless and fairly well effective solution to the issue of them flying over your fence. Because you are fairly concerned about safety, it would likely be best for your peace of mind to allow them to be out of their enclosure only when you are home and can keep an eye, or at least an ear, on things.
We allow our flock out while we are home. We are in an area with LOTS of roaming dogs (and other predators, but the dogs are the biggest threat imo) and our pasture fence is not dog proof (it function to keep our horses in, not to keep anything out). As long as we are around, we let them be out. If/when we need them to go back to the run (ie so we can leave during the day) we just call them in and shut the door behind them. A little work on training them to come when called is time well invested - even if you never plan to let them out the chance that they could get loose is always there and being able to call them to you vs. trying to chase them down is handy.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You will never see your chickens happier than when outside on ground, if you are worried it's easy enough to put up a covered moveable run, your chickens do not know what they're missing, mine skip and hop with such joy. The thing with chickens is they are somewhat easy to herd them back where you want them. Train them young, and yes sometimes things happen and a chick dies, but that can happen in your coop as well, we backyard chicken people raise chickens so they can have a better life, keeping them inside, in my opinion is no life for a chicken, I have lost birds to predator, but at least they had joy in their lives from running free, or at least from being outside in a run, Just my opinion.