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

[Ms Biddy]

Problems we've had with free ranging are coyote/dog attacks (even in daylight), chickens going in the garden, on the porch, digging up flower beds and hiding eggs. As a compromise we let them out in the late afternoon and only when someone is home. They have less time to get in trouble and we police them fairly closely. Helicoptering is good too. If I cannot let them out that day I will usually pick them goodies from the garden. ETA: we keep our grow outs in a chicken tractor. No one free ranges until they are in a permanent coop.

 

[lazy gardener]

It depends on how willing you are to risk your flock. Sooner or later, you will loose one or more birds to local preds. I did fine for 3 years, then the hawks found me. I lost 3 birds in that many weeks. The hawks would come around and circle constantly. I had to give up free ranging and build a covered run. Now, I can only let them out to free range occasionally. Often, the hawks will sit on my fence, or even pace back and forth on the ground in front of my grow out coop. They will sit in the trees and taunt me. When I let the flock out to free range, the hawks will start screeching from the woods behind the run, and show up within 10 minutes. There are also plenty of ground predators. It's imperative to secure birds in their coop every night to protect them from the night prowlers.

 

[leighks]

What are your experiences? Predators, containing flock, behaviors, food, health, everything! We have tons of coyotes(they are actually wolf-coyote hybrids) raccoons, minks, hawks, fishers, etc.

Your area sounds just like mine- we have all those critters too. Right Before we started keeping chickens, my neighbors got 30 pullets and the first weekend he free ranged them, half went missing to predators. Sadly they have had barn kittens snatched up too!! Needless to say I keep mine in a run when no one is home, but they do go into a tractor and rotate through grassy areas when I’m home to keep an eye on them. In my area- mostly woods and fields- there are too many predators for my flock to totally free range.

 

[mizsteffieb]

We let the girls out just about every day, only supervised — they have poor boundaries and we have all the predators! They love to hang out with us and each other. They’ll put themselves to bed at dusk, but otherwise we have them trained to come to a bell. Best thing I ever did. Haven’t lost any to predators or otherwise yet!!

 

[Conan]

I free range both my adult chickens and my ducks. I have a seasonal creek, lots of willow and brush to hide in but overall, a very open couple acres. I see bald eagles every day. Hawks every day.
I lost my favorite bantam to a hawk. She was in a covered run where the littles get used to the great big world. It killed her through the wire.
I lost my favorite EE and a duck to a coyote (found her feathers along with the neighbor's cat on a path they use near the property line).
I have had out of control neighbor dogs tearing apart my pens, caught one with my Welsummer in his mouth - (she lived) and chasing my birds in a free for all. The humane society won't come out for animals attacking on your property, but if you say that the owners are mistreating the dogs, THEN they show up Dogs removed. Problem solved. That and letting the neighbor know that their dogs are going to be fertilizer if they are caught again.
I have lost a duck to a mink.
I still can't find it in me to pen up my birds. Every year, I get better at battling the predators. A .22 pellet gun works really well for most and having pigs on the property has completely gotten rid of the coyotes and mink. I have big dogs too, but those turds sleep inside.
I do make sure to have super secure night enclosures/coops and I haven't had any breaches of my coops ever.
I know that I will lose birds in the future to predators, but I also know that my birds are so happy and healthy. Nothing makes me happier than coming home from work and getting followed to the door by silly chickens wanting their daily meal worm treats...

 

[Foster's Freehold]

I'm going to set up crow feeding areas because my paddock is bare of any cover. I have two mature pecan trees on either corner slightly outside my paddock. If I can entice a murder to take up residence, hopefully they will deter the hawks. I figure 6 ft chain link and a Ft Knox coop with hotwire all around, two dogs (ok, maybe just seeing them would deter something, they are not really hunters at all lol) and me out there frequently will take care of the four footed kind.

 

[kre8ive1]

Our neighbour two houses up (which is a good distance away!) now has an annoying 8 month old dog who they let run free and refuse to tie up....so he often comes around. If my chickens range this spring/summer/fall, it will be for maybe an hour before dusk and only when I’m outside the whole time. Otherwise, helicopter free range here from now on!

Ugh, isn't that annoying! I used to let my chickens free range quite a bit losing one maybe once a year to a predator but since our neighbor got a new dog last year, she comes over here all the time and they don't keep her contained!! I've lost two chickens to that dog now and all she can say is sorry. She tells me that she'll only let the dog roam free when it's dark and tied up if it goes outside during the day. Well they're not doing that because I've caught the dog, by the coop, several times on my wildlife camera I have set up!! It's so maddening!

 

[Erin80]

Ugh, isn't that annoying! I used to let my chickens free range quite a bit losing one maybe once a year to a predator but since our neighbor got a new dog last year, she comes over here all the time and they don't keep her contained!! I've lost two chickens to that dog now and all she can say is sorry. She tells me that she'll only let the dog roam free when it's dark and tied up if it goes outside during the day. Well they're not doing that because I've caught the dog, by the coop, several times on my wildlife camera I have set up!! It's so maddening!

It’s incredibly annoying. We have such a great free range property....lots of pine trees which means lots of coverage. We let our chickens range all summer/fall last year and didn’t lose any. Now with this stupid dog though, they will be staying in their run unless we are out there just before dusk.

 

[Foster's Freehold]

I dunno about you guys, but I've found powerful pellets popping a butt is a dog deterrent. I'd try a pellet gun first, then the three S's. Shoot, shovel, silence. Works every time.

 

[tuesdaylove]

I have tried both, and found that free-ranging is not a safe option where I live.

I do believe chickens are happier when they are able to free-range. However, they are much more likely to be killed at any time. I think it's up to each chicken keeper to weigh the options and make the decision for themselves: "Do I want my chickens to live more naturally, maybe more happily, knowing they are in more danger? Do I want them to be safer and possibly guarantee a longer life, and deprive them of some things?" I think there is really nothing wrong with either option.

The only chicken I've ever had who free-ranged her whole life was attacked by a hawk twice -- the first time, it carried her off in the woods and she returned a few days later, but it killed her the second time. Predators are bad enough here that I have had four chickens killed inside my coop and run. I've since re-built and repaired the entire structure, and fingers crossed it doesn't happen again.

I see birds of prey flying over the yard all throughout the day. We have owls at night. Also at night, I can walk outside and hear coyotes yipping in the woods just behind our property. There's known to be foxes in the area, as well as many feral cats. Most people around here let their dogs wander freely, so that is a concern as well. I've always wanted to let my flocks free-range, as I know they'd be happier, and it'd be less work for me. But I know they're safer in their re-inforced coops and runs, and to me, their safety and long lives are worth the extra work of taking them greens to eat, cleaning their runs, adding shavings, and giving them enrichment opportunities.