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

[HoopyFrood]

We are overrun with every chicken predator you can think of - except possum. We have no roo and two acres of open space very frequently patrolled by birds of prey. So no unsupervised free ranging for us.

When the weather is good, however, we'll take them on a 30-45 minute "walkabout" around the property one or two times a day so they can forage, stretch their legs and wings, etc. They absolutely love these treks - and complain incessantly when the don't get them. We've only had to cut one walk short because of an eagle threat.

 

[Briana Wylde]

My husband and I used to let our hens free range in our yard. Although we did keep an eye on them during the day, we've had our fair share of predator attacks... raccoons, foxes, and we recently got a bigger dog at the Humane Society who got one. We built a big, beautiful house and run for them and just keep them in there now! I can't stand losing chickens all the time... breaks my heart! So we keep them fenced in where animals can't get them.

 

[alexa009]

Definitely can't let mine free-range! To many predators here, possums are a big problem. I don't even trust my retrievers around them. Their pen is big enough. I will usually watch them free-range for over half an hour sometimes but that's pretty much it. Plus we are growing a garden this year and green grass has already popped up in our yard and too much free-ranging will destroy it. Sadly we had to get rid of our goats because we had penned them up with the chickens and they are escape artist, I have actually seen our pygmies actually squeeze under our fence before and get out and free-range the yard, they destroyed the whole garden last year! They also were bullies to the chickens.Free-ranging sometimes is exceptional though. The chickens usually occupy themselves in the horse barn anyway so it doesn't really matter.

 

[timothyyoung]

Our flock, 5 hens and 1 roo, free range from sun up till they put themselves away at dusk. They have 7 acres to roam as they wish. They are healthy and happy.

 

[Hopperkiller]

As Mrs K said coyotes attack in daytime. Our drought broke and the rodent population swelled so the predator population grew. Coyotes and bobcats are seen in daylight. Past two kills were 15 feet from the house and i witnessed one. Called up 3 at noon but missed my shot. Chickens went into lockdown for a while. Now im letting them out around 4 but today at 2. Caught one coyote trying to get into run at noon so i added a 4 foot garden welded wire skirt around it. Burying it today and adding sand in run and coop so i let them out so not to drive them crazy with the tractor.

Its a risk but i cant keep them in lockdown all the time. They are my bug control and wouldnt be useful cooped up. Predators happen but they are doing so with a risk. Going to set up a blind behind the barn. Predators can learn also so i expect a little less traffic here.

 

[The Angry Hen]

Hey there,

Hope that you are doing well and that your day has been good.

Okay, so I've free ranged my Guinea fowl in the past when they were really young. Unfortunately, I lost a hen and a male (Guinea) to a fox. Ever since this day I have not free ranged any of my birds.The neighbor's free ranged their chickens and I found one that I befriended dead in the street from a predator. If you are out all the time everyday, sure, try free range! But the average person normally isn't outdoors -I wish- every moment of their life. I'd suggest using a run if anything. For those of you who've found the body to the bird that you've raised in the wood as well... I am terribly sorry.

You can do what you'd like for YOUR flock. This was just my suggestions but I want the best possible for you and your flock. Have a good day and God bless. I really hope this helps even the slightest bit.

-Kaitlyn

 

[Chickycammy]

I started my flock out free range but neighbors down the road from me were always fighting with me because of their young kids who would feed the chickens bread and get them to follow them to their house. This went on for months before one day I came home to their dogs in my yard killing my flock. I lost over half and thanks to my yard cameras I was able to take them to court. The cams showed them bringing their dogs to my yard and letting them go.

Ever since then I keep my flock in large coops and runs for fear that something like that would happen again. I envy anyone who could let their flock run free.

 

[Foster's Freehold]

I started my flock out free range but neighbors down the road from me were always fighting with me because of their young kids who would feed the chickens bread and get them to follow them to their house. This went on for months before one day I came home to their dogs in my yard killing my flock. I lost over half and thanks to my yard cameras I was able to take them to court. The cams showed them bringing their dogs to my yard and letting them go.

Ever since then I keep my flock in large coops and runs for fear that something like that would happen again. I envy anyone who could let their flock run free.

Yikes! Those would have been dead dogs. And I'd still have sued them. What creeps.

 

[blackdog043]

At present it's pretty ridiculous for me to chase 3 inside. Of course that happens one at a time and once the first one is in I can't leave the door open for the next 2. So we play quite a game of Red Rover, Red Rover before I can go inside or make an appointment.

Here's a trick to get them all into the run, the easy way. Put some scratch in a container, (I use a gallon plastic pretzel container)shake the container so it makes noise, then use the same word or phrase and call them as you go to the run door. throw some scratch into the run and they will all go in, then close the door. It works like a charm, anytime of the day. Only use that word or phrase when you need them in the run for any reason. I use come,come.

 

[FluffyButt789]

I live in Northwest PA. I have a flock of 12. One rooster. We free range ours all day, sun up to sun down. We do have problems with predators - raccoons, possums, coyotes, hawks, minks, etc. Over the last two years, we have lost a few birds. Most died naturally. One was hit by a car. None were killed by an animal predator but there have been hawk attacks. I work from home so I am able to keep watch over the birds. Our neighbors are retired so they are home all day as well. I think our success has to do with all the cover we have - bushes, pine trees, porches, anywhere the birds can go to hide.