What are your opinions on free ranging?

[3KillerBs]

If one of my babies wandered into your yard and you cremated it, instead of taking it home, I'd spend the rest of my life making yours miserable.

It is 100% your responsibility to keep your animals on your own property and your neighbors have every right to do what they need to in order to protect their flock and their business.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Well, I take the view that the best biosecurity is a strong immune system that’s been exposed to and beat a plethora of pathogens.

I’m not sure that true free ranging can gel with fears about cross contamination between strange birds. Keeping strange chickens out is one thing, but keeping other wild birds out isn’t possible. On any given day my chickens can be intermingling with wild ducks, herons, ibis, curlews, killdeer, crows, turkey, songbirds, and quail. There’s no keeping birds separated free range in the deep woods.

Recently someone’s leg banded pigeon showed up.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Well, I take the view that the best biosecurity is a strong immune system that’s been exposed to and beat a plethora of pathogens.

I’m not sure that true free ranging can gel with fears about cross contamination between strange birds. Keeping strange chickens out is one thing, but keeping other wild birds out isn’t possible. On any given day my chickens can be intermingling with wild ducks, herons, ibis, curlews, killdeer, crows, turkey, songbirds, and quail. There’s no keeping birds separated free range in the deep woods.

Recently someone’s leg banded pigeon showed up.

Its all risk management. Much lower risk from foreign species - not zero, but much lower. My birds are already resistant to the coccidia in my soils - because let's be real, there is no place humans have been where we haven't brought coccidia with us. That said, I don't put wild bird feeders in the middle of my pasture to encourage visitors, either.

Courtesy the local mosquitoes, I've already suffered thru a round of the neighbor's fowl pox this year. That's manageable, if annoying. My closest chicken owning neighbor is the next property over - about a 1/4 mile. They wewren't irresponsible, mosquitoes are simply a vector none of us can control - and we have good distance between our properties.

But as a practical matter, there are some poultry diseases easily transmitted to other poultry which would be absolutely devastating, and for which there is no effective means of ensuring any form of herd immunity. While a flock of carriers of some diseases would shut down my business - can't responsibly sell them to others, and risk their flocks.

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

Mine free range and I have not lost one yet and it's been 3 year since my last loss which was before I got 4 dogs to protect my chickens

 

[SummerTheAnimalGirl]

Hello everyone! I want to thank you all so much for commenting on my post and taking my poll. I enjoyed seeing all of your opinions and knowledge. I respect and understand each and every side. I hope you and your chickens have a wonderful day!

 

[enrgizerbunny]

When I had birds, they were semi-free ranged. They had a 30'x40' run consisting of a 4' fence (easy for them to fly). No overhead protection, just locked the pop door each evening. Never lost one to aerial predation even with a local hawk. Too much structure and I think the red tail hawk is too small for a 5-7lb bird. Lost one to a neighborhood dog once, and I had to dispatch her. Came back with a nasty wound that was for sure mortal once infection was considered.

I'll be doing free range next time, but the coop will have a caged run underneath it with an automatic pop door.

 

[boatagor]

I've had chickens for 5 years now. We used to live in a suburban neighborhood and I would allow them out into a fence when I was home to supervise. Otherwise they were in a run covered in bird netting. In that time, I only lost one, to a skunk.

We recently moved to 14 acres in the country. I've been letting them out of their covered coop/run combo when I am home to supervise. We have about an acre cleared where our house is, and the rest is woods. They mostly stay near the house and coop. I've caught them in the woods a few times, but they come when called so it's easy to get them back to "safety." They get LOUD anytime they see anything out of the ordinary, and then I come running to make sure they're okay lol.

I try to make sure my dogs do their business all around the coop and the area where the chickens hang out. Not sure if that helps, but I figure it can't hurt. Our woods are full of trails that I walk the dogs on 2-3 times a day, too. Hopefully spreading their scent deters a lot of predators!

 

[TillyD]

I'd love to free range my flock full time, but I don't know if I dare to due to risk of a predator. I do, however, let them free range a lot when I'm outside. I'd say some weeks my birds are 50/50, half penned, other half free ranged.

Same. If I'm out there, with them, they free range. Otherwise, they have to be inclosed.

 

[SleepyChickens]

Hello everyone! I was wondering what everyone’s opinions on free ranging nowadays are? There was a time where there was no other way of raising chickens, but I know that has changed. Especially during the midst of avian influenza. So what are your opinions?

Personally, I am all for free ranging, and can’t imagine raising a flock any other way. I believe my flock would pick a short happy life of freedom, versus a long life of enclosure. But this is just my personal opinion! So I was curious of what you guys thought!

Thanks for everyone that takes my poll!

I'm still free ranging my chickens. I raised them inside an enclosed run but they still have access to the outdoor.

For me, free ranging saves time, cost, and energy. I've cut my feed cost about 50% with that. So i'm all for free range system.

As for predator issue, I built several covers so the chickens can hide themselves if there's any aerial predator and I have 2 guard dogs that sleep inside the run with the chickens at night.

Here if you want to check out my chickens: https://www.youtube.com/@sleepychicken19/videos

 

[The Birb King]

I used to free range sometimes a few years ago but I was kind of worried about their safety while I was not around. I would like to let some free range this spring and summer while I am around.