When is the best time to let your girls free-range?

[Kataloo]

When I go out in the morning to let my girls out of the coop, they want to free range. I have let them do so for about an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. Those are the cool times of the day and I think those would be the most enjoyable times for them.

But today I started to think, are these the same times that predators might also be out. I live in a rural setting by a farmers field and I am sure there are predators in the area. Would it be safer to let the girls free range from about 10:00 a.m. to say 6:00 p.m.? Or does the time really matter. I haven't seen any big birds in the sky this year, but I am sure they are there. Turkey Vultures are usually circling the farmer's field. I assume they are looking for mice, but would they take a chicken?

I don't want to lose my girls, but I do enjoy letting them free range, and they LOVE it.

Thanks

 

[Michael OShay]

Some predators are more likely to kill chickens early in the morning or late in the evening when the light is low, but other predators will strike any time of day. No matter when you let your chickens free range, you run the risk of losing some to predators. The best defenses if you free range is to either be outside yourself, keeping an eye on things while they are free ranging, or else having a couple of good dogs to guard them (just make sure your dogs don't become the predators). Also, some breeds are more difficult for predators than other breeds due to their alertness and flightiness, or their coloration (camouflage). A few good, protective roosters can also help defend the flock against some predators. As for Turkey Vultures, they will not take your chickens, but Hawks, Owls, and Eagles certainly will.

 

[KayTee]

Michael OShay is right - whenever you choose to free range your girls you run the risk of losing them to predators. However, as you have noticed, they absolutely LOVE to free range, and there are so many benefits, both to you and your girls. Not only will they eat plants and grass, they will also chase down and eat insects. This means less insects in your garden, and less feed that you need to buy for them. (It is also hilarious watching them trying to catch flying insects!) They will get a lot more exercise, and be generally happier and healthier chooks.

If you can leave their run / coop open and they have access to it then it is perfectly reasonable for you to let them free range all day. They will be able to go back to it whenever they want. Although they may not show it too often, chickens aren't that stupid! If it gets too hot then they will find the coolest place possible - it may be back in their run, or it could be under a bush, trailer, terrace.... you name it, chickens will find it!

However, if you are going to let them free range, then there are two main things to consider:

1 - Is the free ranging area fenced, or do you have a lot of space around where you live? If you live in an urban area then you risk the girls wandering off onto neighbouring properties / roads. The longer they free range, the more confident they will get, and the further they will go from the coop. I thought that 2000m² of garden was enough for my girls, and for the first month they stayed close to home, but then they started to wander a lot further away, and onto the road, so I had to put an electric fence up (12v battery and 2 strings of wire - not very expensive) to keep them on my property.

2 - What predators do you have in the area? Hawks, eagles, foxes, raccoons, dogs...? You have to balance the predator risk against the benefits of free ranging. Here in France we have several birds of prey, foxes by the dozen, badgers, stoats, dogs, cats .... In the beginning when I left my girls free ranging and went out I worried myself silly, rushing home to check on them, even if I had only gone out for 20 minutes or so! Now I can go out all day, and not worry at all. I know that they recognise aerial predators and will hide at the first sign, and the electric fence provides a basic defence against dogs, foxes etc. so I am very happy to leave them to their own devices. (Doesn't stop me checking on them the minute I get home, but at least I'm not worrying about them all day!) Even when I had white day old chicks with a broody hen, I didn't lose a single one to a hawk attack (even though I know that they kill wild birds that come to the feeding station in my garden).

In the end, as with every decision we make, it is down to your personal situation and your own judgement. I know some chicken owners who could never live with a predator attack, and keep their chickens in a predator-proof run 24 hours a day, and that is fine by me - whatever you are comfortable with. Personally I prefer to give them the freedom they adore, but I am not oblivious to the fact that one day I may find a predator has managed to get to them. However, should that happen, I will personally still feel that the years they had free ranging were better than a longer life span in a caged environment.

Good luck with whatever you choose - and whatever the outcome, trust in your instincts, and believe that you did the right thing for your girls.

 

[Kataloo]

Michael OShay is right - whenever you choose to free range your girls you run the risk of losing them to predators. However, as you have noticed, they absolutely LOVE to free range, and there are so many benefits, both to you and your girls. Not only will they eat plants and grass, they will also chase down and eat insects. This means less insects in your garden, and less feed that you need to buy for them. (It is also hilarious watching them trying to catch flying insects!) They will get a lot more exercise, and be generally happier and healthier chooks.

If you can leave their run / coop open and they have access to it then it is perfectly reasonable for you to let them free range all day. They will be able to go back to it whenever they want. Although they may not show it too often, chickens aren't that stupid! If it gets too hot then they will find the coolest place possible - it may be back in their run, or it could be under a bush, trailer, terrace.... you name it, chickens will find it!

However, if you are going to let them free range, then there are two main things to consider:

1 - Is the free ranging area fenced, or do you have a lot of space around where you live? If you live in an urban area then you risk the girls wandering off onto neighbouring properties / roads. The longer they free range, the more confident they will get, and the further they will go from the coop. I thought that 2000m² of garden was enough for my girls, and for the first month they stayed close to home, but then they started to wander a lot further away, and onto the road, so I had to put an electric fence up (12v battery and 2 strings of wire - not very expensive) to keep them on my property.

2 - What predators do you have in the area? Hawks, eagles, foxes, raccoons, dogs...? You have to balance the predator risk against the benefits of free ranging. Here in France we have several birds of prey, foxes by the dozen, badgers, stoats, dogs, cats .... In the beginning when I left my girls free ranging and went out I worried myself silly, rushing home to check on them, even if I had only gone out for 20 minutes or so! Now I can go out all day, and not worry at all. I know that they recognise aerial predators and will hide at the first sign, and the electric fence provides a basic defence against dogs, foxes etc. so I am very happy to leave them to their own devices. (Doesn't stop me checking on them the minute I get home, but at least I'm not worrying about them all day!) Even when I had white day old chicks with a broody hen, I didn't lose a single one to a hawk attack (even though I know that they kill wild birds that come to the feeding station in my garden).

In the end, as with every decision we make, it is down to your personal situation and your own judgement. I know some chicken owners who could never live with a predator attack, and keep their chickens in a predator-proof run 24 hours a day, and that is fine by me - whatever you are comfortable with. Personally I prefer to give them the freedom they adore, but I am not oblivious to the fact that one day I may find a predator has managed to get to them. However, should that happen, I will personally still feel that the years they had free ranging were better than a longer life span in a caged environment.

Good luck with whatever you choose - and whatever the outcome, trust in your instincts, and believe that you did the right thing for your girls.

Thanks to both of you for your replies. (Michael OShay and KayTee) I have a completely fenced in back yard, but on the farmer's side it is only chain link. The other sides are 6 foot wood fences. I think the farmer's side is the most obvious predator threat. I do see eagles and hawks, so I know that is a threat. I have had a weasel and multiple skunks visit, as my lab could attest to. I got very good a giving him his skunk bath. About 6 times one summer alone.

Originally I had only planned on letting the girls free range about an hour a day when I was there. I may go back to that, but am undecided. They seem to love being out so much, plus the benefits that have been mentioned. I agree that their life of freedom would make up for being taken by a predator.

Still thinking on the decision. Would I need to eventually clip their wings so they don't fly over the fences. One neighbor has 2 dogs that I think would gobble them up quickly. For some reason that would make me more sad than a chicken being taken by a hawk, fox, or eagle. There is a 6 foot fence between us though. Would that be tall enough to keep them in. I have 2 EEs and 2 buffs.

 

[Michael OShay]

Thanks to both of you for your replies. (Michael OShay and KayTee) I have a completely fenced in back yard, but on the farmer's side it is only chain link. The other sides are 6 foot wood fences. I think the farmer's side is the most obvious predator threat. I do see eagles and hawks, so I know that is a threat. I have had a weasel and multiple skunks visit, as my lab could attest to. I got very good a giving him his skunk bath. About 6 times one summer alone.

Originally I had only planned on letting the girls free range about an hour a day when I was there. I may go back to that, but am undecided. They seem to love being out so much, plus the benefits that have been mentioned. I agree that their life of freedom would make up for being taken by a predator.

Still thinking on the decision. Would I need to eventually clip their wings so they don't fly over the fences. One neighbor has 2 dogs that I think would gobble them up quickly. For some reason that would make me more sad than a chicken being taken by a hawk, fox, or eagle. There is a 6 foot fence between us though. Would that be tall enough to keep them in. I have 2 EEs and 2 buffs.

Clipping a wing (you only need to clip one wing) is a double edged sword. On the one hand, it will probably keep them from being able to fly over your fence (assuming your buff is an Orpington I know it won't be able to fly over the fence, but on the other hand, it will make it easier for any predators to catch them that do get into your back yard. I'm sure you can get a number of opposing opinions on this, but since the neighbor's dogs might be a greater threat than predators in your yard, I would probably clip one wing to keep them in the yard.

 

[KayTee]

None of my girls' wings are clipped, for precisely the reason that it gives them more of a chance to get away from a predator. My garden where they free range is separated from the field next to it by a three foot high wire mesh fence and the electric fencing on the other side of the garden is low enough to step over. Not once have any of my girls tried to get over the fences - if they are happy where they are then they won't try to escape.

 

[Kataloo]

I don't see any need to clip wings yet...they are only getting 2 to 3 feet off the ground when they fly. I will keep an eye on them though and if they start getting up to four feet, I think the scissors will have to come out.

 

[Michael OShay]

I don't see any need to clip wings yet...they are only getting 2 to 3 feet off the ground when they fly. I will keep an eye on them though and if they start getting up to four feet, I think the scissors will have to come out.

If you do decide to clip wings, just remember that you will have to do it again each year after they moult or you will have the same problem all over.

 

[Kataloo]

Thanks, good reminder.

 

[KayTee]

Even if they do start to fly high enough that they could get over your fence, it doesn't mean that they automatically will. One of my girls can fly up onto the top of the 1000 litre water container in the back garden, and from there up onto the terrace railing, but has never once gone over the (much much lower) fence.

It's basically due to the fact that she is desperate to get up onto the terrace because that's where I stand when I give out the treats, and so she comes onto the terrace to call at me through the patio doors to come and give more treats!

However she knows that there are no treats in the next door field, so she doesn't bother to go over there! Chickens may frequently be daft, but they're not at all stupid!