To Free Range, or Not to Free Range...

[jobailey25]

Hello I'm first timer too. I have 7 girls(make that 6 girls and one boy) and they are about 5 months old. they have a great hen house and a pen to run in but the fence is only 3 feet or so and they fly over during the day. I tried clipping one wing but a few still hop out. So i just let them roam during the day. I still worry, (like there my kids and don't want them running the streets), But so far they've been fine. It also helps since they eat less feed so that last longer.
They are so much Happier roaming around and they go back to bed at sunset. I have had a hawk in the area but my hens have cover in the brush. I'm really considering an enclosed pen but just not sure still. The Hens Love to eat grass and bugs, And follow me around when I go out there with them.

 

[mcarroll616]

If you let them free range, how far away do they normally wonder from the coop? I always planned on letting them free range during the day, but I'm worried about them going to far!

 

[andycowboy]

If you let them free range, how far away do they normally wonder from the coop? I always planned on letting them free range during the day, but I'm worried about them going to far!

I have the same question, but here's what I've observed. A few years ago I lived in central New Mexico, and had 12 birds. the "yard" for them was large, but the fence was only 3' high - it was there when I moved into the house. Once the birds - 11 hens and 1 roo - were about 3 months old, I started letting them free range all day. I'd let them out in the morning, and usher them back into the coop just before dusk. Problem: many of the hens would fly out of the yard, and I'd have to go out into the pasture to run them back in. But, they never went far - stayed within 25-30 yards of the yard, and just required my evening exercise to run them back into the yard.

When I returned to the TX Hill Country, I brought the birds with me. The place I moved into - temporarily - had a great coop, and a "run" coming off of it - actually, more of a circular fenced area - coming off of it. That one had a chicken wire fence about 7' high, and no netting across the top. My birds' wings weren't clipped, and I lost two who apparently flew out. The landlord's dog got one of them, and what we think was a fox got one right at dusk - outside of the fence! She must have flown out at the wrong time.

Around here, there are several people who have true free range birds - walking in the areas alongside the road, walking across the road - true free range. I haven't spoken with those people, so my big question is....if they'rs wandering like that, what brings them back to the coop at dusk? That's my biggest concern.

So...do I let them actually run free range, or do I go to the trouble of fencing part of the yard - which is my current plan. I have an area outside of their henhouse to fence - about 30' x 50', so lots of room! But this is the Hill Country - lots of rock, making even t-posts a little tricky to put in. Secondary question: do I then get poultry top netting and spread it over the yard? 7' fencing should keep the birds in, for the most part, and I have anti-predator lights to keep critters out...but there are turkey vultures around here, and it won't take long for them to realize there are more chickens available - although I haven't seen them eating anything but deer around here, and none appear over our skies right here.

So, I don't have an answer, as such, and can also use some input. I have about a month before they'll be big enough to be let out of their coop/run.

Hope this info helps a little! Have a great day, and God bless!

The Ole Cowboy
Gittin' older, but not agin'!

 

[OnceAroundTheBlock]

I normally keep my 2 hens and rooster in their 20' x 20' covered run during the daytime but a couple of days ago I was feeling sorry for them missing out on having all that fun in the yard. I've been having a little problem with the 6 mo. old rooster starting to flog me (that's in another thread I started a couple of weeks ago) and thought maybe he was bored in his run and needed a change of scenery.

So I opened the back door of their coop and out they came within a couple of minutes. At first they stayed near the barn, scratching up bugs and other crawly things and having a great time of it. Pretty soon they ventured further out into the yard and spent time playing bug exterminators and were happy.

Then that dang rooster did his familiar, "come here, you gotta check this out!" call and the girls went running to him. The next thing I see is a chicken parade going down in front of the shop, with him leading it. I have to get up out of my comfortable yard swing and go look for the hoodlums which were no where to be found by the time I got down there.

I bet I walked around that shop 2 times before I finally saw them marching up towards the house, with that dang rooster in the lead. It's getting dark and they have no desire to go to the coop. So I picked up the first thing I saw.....a long piece of pvc pipe and start herding them towards the coop. Thirty minutes later and 6 times around the run, the hens finally go in to the coop first. Now the only thing standing between the rooster and his girls is me........ya, I heard him coming......but not soon enough.......I'm beginning to think he hates me!

 

[Murs]

I'm glad this topic is here. I have been wondering if I should let mine free range. I have a completely enclosed area 10x10 with a coop inside for my 4 hens. I've had them three weeks now. The two older girls that are laying immediately come to the gate when I bring them treats and try to wander out (until I throw the treats down). The two younger ones (will probably start laying in a month) are more skittish.

I have just under an acre of land. I'm in a rural area and have seen coyotes and lots of Hawks and Ravens and even a Turkey Vulture. I would like to let them free range but I want them to stay close to home. I don't want them to scale the fence and end up in the neighbors yard or down by the busy street. I realize that they will go where they want to go.

I'm thinking about starting with supervised time for an hour or two on the weekends when I'm home.

I also have a Belgian Shepherd - she is very curious about them.

I guess the only you can do is give it a try.

 

[mychickenbrood]

I just read this post. How funny! I love your little icon of the "fighting" rooster too. I will have to look for you thread on rooster attacks.

 

[DDRanch]

I'm glad this topic is here. I have been wondering if I should let mine free range. I have a completely enclosed area 10x10 with a coop inside for my 4 hens. I've had them three weeks now. The two older girls that are laying immediately come to the gate when I bring them treats and try to wander out (until I throw the treats down). The two younger ones (will probably start laying in a month) are more skittish.

I have just under an acre of land. I'm in a rural area and have seen coyotes and lots of Hawks and Ravens and even a Turkey Vulture. I would like to let them free range but I want them to stay close to home. I don't want them to scale the fence and end up in the neighbors yard or down by the busy street. I realize that they will go where they want to go.

I'm thinking about starting with supervised time for an hour or two on the weekends when I'm home.

I also have a Belgian Shepherd - she is very curious about them.

I guess the only you can do is give it a try.

I have a small flock too and allow them to free range when I am home. I started with supervised time for an hour or two before they go to roost. That way, they stayed close to the coop and run and I kept treats with me. I used the time to do some extra cleaning and was surprised how they wanted to follow me around and see what I was doing. I would also call them to me and give a small treat. Never call them without rewards.

I trained my hens to come when I called them, always giving treats, first by leading them back into the run. Now they will come when called from 1/2 acre away. Always. Better than my dog. Your early training and patience will pay off when you free frange them. You will be able to let them out for short periods of time and always know you can get them back quickly in the event you have to leave or just want them in.

The dog is for another thread....lots of advice on how to introduce, what to look out for and if it's even a good idea. Lots of opinions on that,....so I won't address it here.

My hens do not travel more than 1/2 acre away from the coop although they could roam my full 6 acres. I am not sure why. I can see where they are from several windows in my house....they do follow fence lines. And when I hear distress calls, I immediately go to them. Most of the time they see a cat or just lose sight of the rest of the flock. Sometimes, I just don't know why they are distressed. You will learn to recognize the distress call from say, "I just laid an egg call".

I welcome the sight and nesting of ravens and crows as they will chase the hawks away. They will also take a chick if they have opportunitiy but I have never lost a hen to either and they do not bother my adult hens. I have resident red tails and red shoulders on my property and have lost 2 young 6 mo old hens over the years to them. Since I added some redwood dog houses and other small structures around the coop and pen and planted a couple of bushes that provide fabulous cover, I have not lost any to the flying predators. (you can see one of the little structures in my avatar. The girls also love to stand in the doorway when it rains) The trees around our property house dozens of Calif. turkey vultures and I have never had a problem with them. Coyotes, foxes, bobcats or other predators certainly will take a chicken at every opportunity. We also have foxes, bobcats and when I see them, the girls do not get out for a couple of days. Just to be on the safe side.

I have been vigilent about locking them up at dusk. Every time. No exceptions. Sometimes a pain, but I have never had an incident.

I do know that my hens are happier when they free range and I think they are healthier. The bugs, the dust baths, the exercise and the roaming around are just so much more natural in my opinion. and you certainly have to have the space...which you do.

Hope my experience has been helpful to you....others will weigh in with thier ideas and comments too.

 

[Murs]

I have a small flock too and allow them to free range when I am home. I started with supervised time for an hour or two before they go to roost. That way, they stayed close to the coop and run and I kept treats with me. I used the time to do some extra cleaning and was surprised how they wanted to follow me around and see what I was doing. I would also call them to me and give a small treat. Never call them without rewards.

I trained my hens to come when I called them, always giving treats, first by leading them back into the run. Now they will come when called from 1/2 acre away. Always. Better than my dog. Your early training and patience will pay off when you free frange them. You will be able to let them out for short periods of time and always know you can get them back quickly in the event you have to leave or just want them in.

The dog is for another thread....lots of advice on how to introduce, what to look out for and if it's even a good idea. Lots of opinions on that,....so I won't address it here.

My hens do not travel more than 1/2 acre away from the coop although they could roam my full 6 acres. I am not sure why. I can see where they are from several windows in my house....they do follow fence lines. And when I hear distress calls, I immediately go to them. Most of the time they see a cat or just lose sight of the rest of the flock. Sometimes, I just don't know why they are distressed. You will learn to recognize the distress call from say, "I just laid an egg call".

I welcome the sight and nesting of ravens and crows as they will chase the hawks away. They will also take a chick if they have opportunitiy but I have never lost a hen to either and they do not bother my adult hens. I have resident red tails and red shoulders on my property and have lost 2 young 6 mo old hens over the years to them. Since I added some redwood dog houses and other small structures around the coop and pen and planted a couple of bushes that provide fabulous cover, I have not lost any to the flying predators. (you can see one of the little structures in my avatar. The girls also love to stand in the doorway when it rains) The trees around our property house dozens of Calif. turkey vultures and I have never had a problem with them. Coyotes, foxes, bobcats or other predators certainly will take a chicken at every opportunity. We also have foxes, bobcats and when I see them, the girls do not get out for a couple of days. Just to be on the safe side.

I have been vigilent about locking them up at dusk. Every time. No exceptions. Sometimes a pain, but I have never had an incident.

I do know that my hens are happier when they free range and I think they are healthier. The bugs, the dust baths, the exercise and the roaming around are just so much more natural in my opinion. and you certainly have to have the space...which you do.

Hope my experience has been helpful to you....others will weigh in with thier ideas and comments too.

Thank you it is very helpful. I haven't been calling them when I give treats so I will do that from now on. It makes sense. My dog is also motivated by food

I did give it a shot and let them out on Sunday. The two older ones stayed close and the two younger ones went to the exact spot I didn't want them in. But with a little coaxing I got them back into the fenced in area (I have a larger area that is fenced and inside that is the 10x10 enclosure with their coop). Then I brought Lucy in. She is fine - she thinks the chickens are her own personal candy dispensers

 

[Happyville]

I have a small flock of four also and I have let mine free range all day every day (as long as I'm home..which is often, since I work from home) since I put them outside full time a couple of months ago. They come out and run straight for their favorite large cedar tree every time and hang out there most of the day, especially in the heat of the day. They definitely prefer to be under cover a lot...under the cedar tree or unfortunately, in my flower beds and pampas grass. At night, currently until about 9pm, they go "bug chasing" on the flat area of my yard which stays light the longest, before retiring into the coop. Luckily, I haven't had any problems with predators, but I do have 4 dogs, 3 of which are free at all times, although I do hear owls and see chicken hawks quite frequently. Free ranging is definitely cutting down on the food bill, but that reduction is being offset by the time and money I'm now spending putting the mulch back where it goes and watering my flowers that have had the mulch scratched out away from them.

I let mine free range for both the health benefits in the eggs that will hopefully be coming soon (if these silly birds will know to go to their coop and the nest boxes there) and also because it just seems more humane. My recommendation would be to make sure you have some sort of cover for the birds to hide, scratch, sit, etc. under and keep an eye on them because they do "wander".

 

[mychickenbrood]

I have enjoyed reading these threads and have learned a lot. We used to have about 1/6 acre fenced for my dozen or so chickens, but have moved and after not having them for a few years, i now have about 60 now, many of which I will sell. \

I am fencing in a smaller area, but big enough for about 2 dozen or so. Then, once they get used to that, I will let them out to free range. They are beginning to outgrow their coop and I hate leaving them in it, but we are almost through fencing.

I hve a large dog that I do not think will bother them, a small dog that loves to chase them and a medium sized dog that loves to chase and will kill, at least smaller ones. I thik a rooster would help as he is kind of a coward.

I want to plant bushes around the property, but our horses will eat them. Not sure what to do. Dog houses I guess, but then black widow spiders will nest in them. Will Black Widows hurt chickens, or do they eat them?

I am going to continue watching this thread for new ideas, review old ones and add any I find useful. Glad it is here.