To free range or to not free range? That is the question

[Erin80]

Forgot to mention, there is now a hawk living down by our river who I saw watching my chickens back in the fall with great interest. So there’s that.

 

[Foster's Freehold]

I have fox, coyote, skunk, possum, coon, snakes, hawks, vultures and the odd wandering dog to defend against. My coop is gonna be tied to the greenhouse (16 x 48 overall) and I have 108 ft of 6ft tall chain link panels (some are doors). So this gives me a footprint enclosed by 156 feet of protection. I also have umpteen welded wire dog pen panels. (Yes, I used to be in the dog showing business lol) I can put the panels outside of the main perimeter via the chain link doors, increasing foraging space.
I will run a hotwire about 8 inches from the ground all around the main perimeter. Have lots of hidey spots, will put up fake crows, net the top if I have to. My last flock was wiped out by coon, fox and hawk, this isn't gonna happen again.
I figure I will have enough enclosed run space to qualify as free range. Since all the panels are movable, I can just start on one side and as it gets a bit worn, shift panels around. And the pen panels are ultimately movable, probably easier than the electronet.
The buildings are gonna be as snake proof as I can make them with hardware cloth (gonna take money, I know, but dang). All doors will have double latches with the spring loaded caribeners, all pop doors will have latches on the inside.
I'm telling ya, for what I am going to be paying for the breeds I want, varmints will learn to give this place a wide berth.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I have a 500 square foot pen for my 4 hens that is mostly covered with straw from the weekly cleaning of the coop. .
I let them out to free range 1 hour before sunset daily, weather permitting. . I used to let them out 4 hours but an acre wasn't enough and my neighbor text me one day, saying my girls were in her yard. So one hour it is. So far so good. GC

 

[Amer]

Well I think free ranging won't work for you. It works for me because I live a very particular free ranging friendly area.https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/free-ranging-your-flock-by-one-who-free-ranges.73488/

 

[Erin80]

It may work if you do one hour before sunset and you stay out there and near them. That’s my plan for when it’s warmer!

 

[Mrs. K]

I have serious predators, and I have paid the price more than once. However a couple of points, I free range sometimes.

• Do not think that free ranging can let you cheat on your numbers. You still have to have enough space in the coop/run for your flock, especially in winter.
• Do not keep a set schedule, such as turning them out every day at 7:00. Somedays I let them out in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon, sometimes not at all.
• Do not let them out on high wind days or cloudy days - gives too much advantage to the predators.
• If, I mean when you get hit, go into lock down and stay in lockdown for many days until the predator moves on. That is why it is so important to have enough space for your flock. They may have to be in the coop/run for weeks.
• A year old good rooster has dramatically reduced my day time predation. Will not do anything about night time. And will only do so much.
• Coyotes tend to get them in the day time, coons get them at night. EVERYTHING likes to eat chicken.
• Predators always get your favorite first!!#$%^%&
• I love to have mine out pecking around, but there is a real cost to it.

Mrs K

 

[Perris]

free ranging runs the risk of predation, but being penned increases the risks of various diseases, as well as being trapped if a predator does get in. I choose the probably shorter, more natural lives for my hens, and it is clear to me that acting on instinct, they prefer it.

 

[IamRainey]

Thanks for those wise words, Mrs. K.

I haven't had a rooster for the sake of my neighbors. I'm zoned for one but it seems common courtesy to me to pass when we only have 1/2 acre lots in this burb.

OTOH, maybe -- though I only really know a few of my neighbors -- I'll write some notes and see how much real objection there would be. I'm certainly expecting that the outcome would be let us have our uninterrupted sleep but I could at least inquire.

 

[Shepshill]

We let our hens out for an hour or two in the evening, providing we are out and about with them. They always return to their coop on their own before it gets dark.

 

[Mrs. K]

Not all roosters are good roosters. He needs to be alert, he needs to see you first as you approach the coop. Juvenile roosters really do not have a lot of flock management. It takes a bit of age.