To free range or not?

[MissE]

I use a 164' electric poultry fence. This allows them space to roam, but keeps them where I want them and protects against ground predators. The fence is easily moved when needed, and I make sure there are several hiding places to guard against aerial attacks.

 

[Sally PB]

Essentially, there are no guarantees, only degrees of risk. Perfect safety is a dangerous lie, it means only that there is some risk(s) you are perfectly ignorant of.

Very well put.

 

[Mark94]

One other thing, you said the grass was beginning to green there. My birds LOVE the fresh grass when it comes up. Occasionally, 2-3 maybe over the years, have gotten a little over excited and ate so much grass that they got an impacted crop. Ive been able to save 2 but the other was euthanized.
All my free range birds have access to free choice feed in addition to all the seeds, insects, veggies they find in our woods, fields, and yards. So i don't know it was a personality thing where those individuals just really liked the grass or what, but it is something to look out for.
My birds are livestock to me and are replaced often for eggs and meat. So we are talking 2-3 birds out of 100 in the last 3 yrs. Not a huge concern just something to keep

Don't think of it as tragic. Think of it as diverse and pretty cool. Sure it requires us to take certain steps to protect our flocks, pets, and property but I think its awesome when i walk out the back door and see a black bear cross our field. It can be unnerving when they are on my deck and annoying when they first wake up un the spring and get in the trash, but thats the signal that winter is over and i have to start using the "bear box" again.
I am still waiting to see a bobcat in person. I get them on my trail cameras regularly but have never seen one with my own eye. They are beautiful.
The only predator that i dont tolerate are coyotes. They quickly overrun an area and kill a lot of wild game not to mention livestock. Luckily here in VA its open season year round.

It sounds wonderful where you live! Where are you located if I may ask? I'd like to google it and see!

 

[Mark94]

they are less likely to get diseases if they can spread out over a larger space. Chickens always carry some germs and worms, but good immune systems fight it off. They only get sick if they are exposed to a concentrated amount, which is more likely in a run.

Thank you! I can't wait to let them free range, it will be a party lol

 

[Everose]

Our chickens love to free range and I don't miss keeping them penned up one bit. We had more chickens die from being picked on and bullied because of boredom in the pen than we have had die from predation and disease while free ranging.

Also I think it's sad to miss out on watching them forage.

If you notice too much feather picking you might consider using a little bit of pine tar on the affected area. Chickens hate the taste of it and will quit picking and the victim of the picking will thank you.

 

[Mark94]

I free range mine constantly, have come to accept the possibility of predation and potential disease. Put me in @Sally PB 's camp, with one addendum/clarification.

Fowl Pox, while generally not fatal, moves very very slowly thru a flock, and persists in the environment even after the last chicken has thrown the disease - the virus can remain viable in the scabs falling off into the run, bedding, grass, pasture whatever for some period of time. So, in essence, if you've had it once, its on your property forever.

That's not to say don't free range, however. FP can also be carried by mosquitos from surrounding flocks several hundred feet, so whether your birds are inside the run, or outside free ranging likely won't make any difference to that disease vector. It can also be carried by numerous wild bird species. We can't get it, and there are numerous bird species that have their own varieties which can't be transmitted to chickens, and vice versa.

Essentially, there are no guarantees, only degrees of risk. Perfect safety is a dangerous lie, it means only that there is some risk(s) you are perfectly ignorant of. You have to make a personal assessment of the risk you are willing to tolerate, in the conditions available to you, then re-evaluate as new information becomes available.

I choose to free range, after evaluating my risks, and my tolerance for them.

Thank you for your reply! I just googled out Fowl Pox, and I don't think it's common in my region but sure thing is to let them free range, I was in dilemma cause I lack some knowledge but it just hit my brain that it would be cruel to be keeping them forever.

 

[Mark94]

Our chickens love to free range and I don't miss keeping them penned up one bit. We had more chickens die from being picked on and bullied because of boredom in the pen than we have had die from predation and disease while free ranging.

Also I think it's sad to miss out on watching them forage.

If you notice too much feather picking you might consider using a little bit of pine tar on the affected area. Chickens hate the taste of it and will quit picking and the victim of the picking will thank you.

Thanks! I'm surely letting them out tomorrow, they will be scared at first but I hope they will get used to it as I'll be letting them out more often. One thing's for sure, can't keep them enclosed forever.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Thank you for your reply! I just googled out Fowl Pox, and I don't think it's common in my region but sure thing is to let them free range, I was in dilemma cause I lack some knowledge but it just hit my brain that it would be cruel to be keeping them forever.

You don't have location information in your Profile - Its one of the first things I check for when responding. Click on your user name in the upper right, then scroll about half way down, add location with whatever level of vagueness or specificity you are comfortable with.

 

[SegiDream]

Thanks! I'm surely letting them out tomorrow, they will be scared at first but I hope they will get used to it as I'll be letting them out more often. One thing's for sure, can't keep them enclosed forever.

We did our routine since they were babies but I'm sure older chickens will catch on to a new routine fairly quickly. You can use treats to get them back into the run but they should naturally come back to the coop at night. You can keep them up in a run if you want, lots of people do it. But I won't lie I think it's nice to let them out I just don't do 100% free range because we have almost every predator in the book hanging around including bobcats, fox and bald eagles.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

What I do, which may or may not be useful to you, is to only feed once daily, in the evenings. Its both a "treat" in the form of guaranteed easy food, and an assurance they bed down with full crops. In the AM, when I open the gate and set them free from the run, they know they won't be fed (unless I toss some scratch) for many hours - so it incentivizes their efforts to forage.

and of course, as the sunset approaches, when they see me walking the pasture, they follow me into the run for evening feeding.

Routine is your friend.