Went to clean my coop and...

[LegHorn-BusHorn]

I went to clean my coop and one of my chickens (apparently the smartest) had gotton out and was just walking around minding her own business. I have a small coop and and a covered run which no one has gotten out thus far. Well, when I saw her, I wanted to panic, but I kept my cool just kept walking toward the sunflower seeds which I feed them as treats. As soon as I got the seeds she just followed me right back in the coop.

I would love to free range but its impossible with all the preditors around here.

 

[Mahonri]

I sometimes let mine out for about an hour before sunset. The love me when I do that....and it's so healthy for them.

 

[Bridget399]

Quote:
I let mine out an hour before sunset, too. They are so content, eating the grass and bugs. They don't wonder too far from the coop, either. I was so nervous letting all of mine out at first, but now I look foward to it!

 

[Uppity Peon]

I have deer netting over the top of the run that comes down over the outside of the fencing. The other day I saw one of my RIR pullets try to fly over the top of the fence, and she ended up on the ground between the fence and the netting. With a little wiggling around she probably would have gotten under the netting and been free but I caught her and put her back inside. Now I have to work on "sewing" the netting to the top of the fence.

 

[Serrin]

Our girls have always been free range birds. Yes, it was a bit unnerving the first few days when they were very young. Their first forays into the great outdoors came when they were about 2 months old.

In the beginning we only let them out for a few hours and then they were herded down to the fenced in garden area where at least ground based predators couldn't reach them. The garden was well established at that time and there really wasn't much damage they could do to it.

Ohhh the fun they had!! Running here, running there. Pouncing on bugs, test tasting every green thing in sight. Denny and I must have wasted two whole hours that first day, just watching the girls. We were completely new to keeping chickens at that time, and we had NO idea just how much fun and entertaining they could be. Now, I can't imagine a life without the girls wandering all over the place. They're such good company while I'm outside doing all of the things we do in any given day.

We have just shy of 11 acres here. The girls have free reign over the entire place, with the exception of the four vegetable gardens. They're plenty big enough now to do some serious damage should they gain entry into those areas!

Yes, predators are a concern. But, so is the quality of life for our girls. I'd rather see them out and about, having the time of their lives, enjoying every minute of it, and run the risk of attack, than to see them miserable in a little run and coop.

We did have one serious Cooper Hawk attack back in November last year. Fortunately I saw it happening and ran like the wind to rescue Abigail. Astoundingly to me, not only did I scare off the hawk, but Abby didn't have a mark on her. We were very lucky, I know. That bit of drama could have had a sad ending. These days, the girls and I both keep a closer eye on the skies.

My next door neighbor is terrified of letting her girls out. I understand and respect her concern. Her place is wide open with not much in the way of cover for her girls to run and hide under should a hawk or owl come cruising by. Nor trees to escape to should coyotes or dogs become an issue.

I fully understand and respect the need for many of us to keep our flocks contained at all times. Wouldn't it be a wonderful and perfect world if we could let them all roam as they choose?

 

[BeckyBird]

I tried freeranging. Every single attempt has ended in tragedy. I've had every kind of predator kill my birds over the years...fox, weasel, hawk, neighbor's loose dogs (they are the WORST), black snake eating chicks & eggs IN the pen, etc. After losing so many, I give up. The birds live in roomy walk-in pens, and they are still alive. My oldest are 3 hens, all 3 years old. I really enjoy free range birds, and that is my #1 preference. But after going through so many losses, I have resigned to #2 solution--pens. I guess I could let them out if I supervise them the whole time. I might start doing that....sitting outside in my chair, watching the birds for a while. Sounds like a nice idea!

If you can freerange, then that is great! But some of us truly can't, and trust me, I've tried! Even my large Americauna roosters and a very fat big Delaware rooster couldn't stand up against the dog attack. And I thought my fast little OEGB's would surely be able to get away from predators...the list goes on! All my *special* birds are in jail for their own safety, hehe.

 

[Uppity Peon]

I have been letting them out when I am around to watch. It's so fun for them.

 

[Serrin]

Oh please! I'm so sorry...I meant no offense to those who cannot free range their birds.

Going back and re-reading that, it indeed sounded arrogant to even my ears/eyes. I apologize to any and all who may have taken offense to what I posted.

I know if you could, if it were safe to do so, you would most certainly let your flock range free. I feel blessed that we live in an environment in which we can let the girls have their freedom. They're such happy birds.

But, of course, if they had never had any taste of freedom, they probably never would have known what they were missing.

When we first made the decision to let the flock range free, it was rather humorous. At first they didn't understand that they didn't have to make the long march from the coop to the garden. Without any prompting from us, they all made the trek to the garden without us for about the first week or so.

They soon discovered new areas in which to peck and scratch and generally just have a good time. Did you know that nobody turns a compost heap better than a chicken??

That was their first discovery and remains on their top ten list of places to scratch around.

BeckyBird, you have my most sincere sympathies on your misadventures in free ranging your birds. If our first experiences had been the same as yours, I'm sure I'd be inclined to keep our girls contained as well. I hope that some day you can find a way to treat yourself and your flock to some outside time, without the worries of unhappy endings.

 

[cmom]

I love to watch them. I put up an electric fence. I have no predator or critter problem since.

 

[007Dawn]

Yeah an hour before sun set is a good idea. Because as soon as it dusk hits they will go back on their own. That way they get a little extra treat for the day!