To free range or not to free range ?

[Midnitemoses]

Any info on free ranging my flock would be helpful. I currently have 10 birds in a large enclosed area, it is fenced and netted over head, very secure from predators. However I have 1.25 acres they could roam, and a fenced pasture area of probably a quarter acre. My birds are healthy and content with their surroundings now. I actually have 3 different coops for my girls. One is a mix of 5 larger laying hens all of different breeds that do very well together. The 2nd. is 2 small Cochin bantam frizzles, which I have plans to breed in the near future, cutest little things. I have to keep them separated from the other, larger birds because they are constantly being picked on, to the point of heavy feather loss. The 3rd. coop is my 2 Polish hens and a Polish rooster, named Cock-a-Doodle-Dummy, whom we just recently, but had been suspecting for some time to be a rooster. I am keeping them separate in hopes of Cock-a-Doodle-Dummy doing his thing with his hens. Any way I have many questions on free ranging, and yes I understand that I need to keep my rooster away from the birds that I don't want him, for lack of a better word, seducing. Will they naturally return to their coops in the evening? Will they all want to return to 1 coop, or will they naturally know which coop is theirs? Also, their is a flock of 6 or so free ranging birds, I call them the Nomads, because I have no idea from who or where they come from, that some times visits my property. Is this going to be a problem, because their rooster usually accompanies them? If I were to let them roam in the fenced pasture, will they jump the fence and fly the coop so to speak? I guess my main question is: Should I just let my birds go on as they are, they are quite healthy, and seem very happy, or should I let them free range and see what kind of trouble they can get into? Seems like I just answered my own question. Many, many questions, so anyone with a similar situation, or any experiences with your free ranging birds would be helpful. Thank you.

 

[mowin]

I've got two flocks in separate coops and runs. I let them out for the last couple hrs of daylight most days. They usually go back to the correct coop, but sometimes one will switch for a day or two. My rooster hasn't switched, yet. I've got about 1.5 acres fenced in, mainly for the dogs, but once in a while one of the gals will fly over the 5' fence.

 

[sybonbon]

Any info on free ranging my flock would be helpful. I currently have 10 birds in a large enclosed area, it is fenced and netted over head, very secure from predators. However I have 1.25 acres they could roam, and a fenced pasture area of probably a quarter acre. My birds are healthy and content with their surroundings now. I actually have 3 different coops for my girls. One is a mix of 5 larger laying hens all of different breeds that do very well together. The 2nd. is 2 small Cochin bantam frizzles, which I have plans to breed in the near future, cutest little things. I have to keep them separated from the other, larger birds because they are constantly being picked on, to the point of heavy feather loss. The 3rd. coop is my 2 Polish hens and a Polish rooster, named Cock-a-Doodle-Dummy, whom we just recently, but had been suspecting for some time to be a rooster. I am keeping them separate in hopes of Cock-a-Doodle-Dummy doing his thing with his hens. Any way I have many questions on free ranging, and yes I understand that I need to keep my rooster away from the birds that I don't want him, for lack of a better word, seducing. Will they naturally return to their coops in the evening? Will they all want to return to 1 coop, or will they naturally know which coop is theirs? Also, their is a flock of 6 or so free ranging birds, I call them the Nomads, because I have no idea from who or where they come from, that some times visits my property. Is this going to be a problem, because their rooster usually accompanies them? If I were to let them roam in the fenced pasture, will they jump the fence and fly the coop so to speak? I guess my main question is: Should I just let my birds go on as they are, they are quite healthy, and seem very happy, or should I let them free range and see what kind of trouble they can get into? Seems like I just answered my own question. Many, many questions, so anyone with a similar situation, or any experiences with your free ranging birds would be helpful. Thank you.

It depends on how attached to your chickens you are. Sounds like you have kept them safe so far so why take the chance? I only have 8 chickens so when I free range I am right there with them. They seem to stay close to me as if they feel protected. I have too many hawks in my area who have already terrorized my girls WHILE they were safely locked in their enclosed coop and run. There are many chicken owners who free range, but personally I take my chickens safety very seriously and I would never purposely put them in harms way. There is no right or wrong, it's personal choice.

 

[Tallisdibrani]

Any info on free ranging my flock would be helpful. I currently have 10 birds in a large enclosed area, it is fenced and netted over head, very secure from predators. However I have 1.25 acres they could roam, and a fenced pasture area of probably a quarter acre. My birds are healthy and content with their surroundings now. I actually have 3 different coops for my girls. One is a mix of 5 larger laying hens all of different breeds that do very well together. The 2nd. is 2 small Cochin bantam frizzles, which I have plans to breed in the near future, cutest little things. I have to keep them separated from the other, larger birds because they are constantly being picked on, to the point of heavy feather loss. The 3rd. coop is my 2 Polish hens and a Polish rooster, named Cock-a-Doodle-Dummy, whom we just recently, but had been suspecting for some time to be a rooster. I am keeping them separate in hopes of Cock-a-Doodle-Dummy doing his thing with his hens. Any way I have many questions on free ranging, and yes I understand that I need to keep my rooster away from the birds that I don't want him, for lack of a better word, seducing. Will they naturally return to their coops in the evening? Will they all want to return to 1 coop, or will they naturally know which coop is theirs? Also, their is a flock of 6 or so free ranging birds, I call them the Nomads, because I have no idea from who or where they come from, that some times visits my property. Is this going to be a problem, because their rooster usually accompanies them? If I were to let them roam in the fenced pasture, will they jump the fence and fly the coop so to speak? I guess my main question is: Should I just let my birds go on as they are, they are quite healthy, and seem very happy, or should I let them free range and see what kind of trouble they can get into? Seems like I just answered my own question. Many, many questions, so anyone with a similar situation, or any experiences with your free ranging birds would be helpful. Thank you.

You could just let them out during the day then bring them back in the coop in the late afternoon- just be careful as soon as it went dark during the winter and it wasn’t evening two of our chickens passed away by a fox but when we out to get them in it must of just happened as my mum saw the fox coming near her and one of the chickens were up on the barn

 

[Isadora]

If you decide to free-range be prepared for two things: chickens that are no longer content if they're in their run, and the likelihood that some will get eaten.

Chickens do have a homing instinct and if you let them out an hour or two before dark they will typically make their way back to the coop. Sometimes one gets "lost" and needs a little help finding their way back but typically they're good to go.
Free ranging is often seen in a romantic or idyllic sense but in practicality often leads to heartbreak due to predators. And this is coming from someone who exclusively free arranges their chickens! Mine aren't pets, they're pest control.
I had a few losses last year when they wandered into the woods but after I blocked that off I haven't had any losses since.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

The question should be...to feed the wildlife or not to feed the wildlife right now predators are everywhere waking up and getting ready to eat

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
Right now your birds should be in roofed areas only, and you need to read up about biosecurity in the face of the current avian influenza situation. Wild migrating gees and ducks are bringing this here, and infected domestic chickens and ducks will all die!
Generally, as already mentioned, free ranging will involve at least occasional losses due to predators, and sometimes entire flocks can be wiped out in a short time. So it depends on how risk adverse you are for your birds.
Mary

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum from Louisiana. Glad you joined.

Will they naturally return to their coops in the evening?

Chickens are creatures of habit. Once they are in the habit of sleeping in one spot they tend to really want to get back to that specific spot to sleep. That could be a coop, a tree, or somewhere else. You don't get guarantees with living animals but in general, they will return to their coop to sleep if that is where they are used to sleeping.

But they are not necessarily dummies. If something happens, like a scare or predator attack in that coop, they may change and go somewhere else. It sounds like you have different flocks that sleep in different coops, not sure of they share space during the day. Sometimes they form bonds and will switch to other flocks, including changing which coop or tree they sleep in. So, for the vast majority of the time they will strongly want to return to their coop when it starts to get dark but there can be exceptions.

I call them the Nomads, because I have no idea from who or where they come from, that some times visits my property. Is this going to be a problem, because their rooster usually accompanies them?

What would you consider a problem? That's a wide open question, hard for me to answer. What many people consider to be a huge problem I often consider it's simply chickens being chickens. If they can get together that rooster will mate with your hens and your roosters can mate with his hens. There is always a possibility when two flocks get together one could pass a disease or parasite to the other. That could just as easily be yours infecting the Nomads. If they have been visiting your property it's probably too late to worry about that anyway. It's possible the roosters will fight, maybe even to the death. That flock may lure some of your hens away or they may decide to join your flock.

If I were to let them roam in the fenced pasture, will they jump the fence and fly the coop so to speak?

Some chickens tend to roam pretty good distances, others stay close to home. Usually at first they stick close to home but some eventually build up how far they go. They do tend to return to the coop to sleep. If they are laying eggs in the coop they tend to return to that nest to lay their eggs, even if it is a long walk. It's always possible one will hide nest out there though.

Should I just let my birds go on as they are, they are quite healthy, and seem very happy, or should I let them free range and see what kind of trouble they can get into? Seems like I just answered my own question.

Yep, you probably did. If it ain;t broke don't fix it.

anyone with a similar situation, or any experiences with your free ranging birds would be helpful.

Growing up on the farm with a flock of free ranging chickens we had two predator attacks from when I could remember until I left home after high school. A fox and a dog, both were shot. When I retired and got my own place I free ranged for three years and only lost two chickens. That was with fox, coyote, and all kinds of things all over the place. Then I had two dog attacks from people dropping off dogs in the country, I lost 13 chickens in those two attacks. So I quit free ranging and enclosed them in electric netting. The thing with predators is that you can go a long time without an attack but an attack can happen at any time and can be serious. Some people can be wiped out immediately or they may be able to go forever without issues. You don't get any guarantees with any of this.

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome!
Right now your birds should be in roofed areas only, and you need to read up about biosecurity in the face of the current avian influenza situation. Wild migrating gees and ducks are bringing this here, and infected domestic chickens and ducks will all die!
Generally, as already mentioned, free ranging will involve at least occasional losses due to predators, and sometimes entire flocks can be wiped out in a short time. So it depends on how risk adverse you are for your birds.
Mary

Just what I was going to say.