Where do your free range chickens sleep?

[Roseynights]

My Easter Egger nesting in a pine tree, she's has 3 coops..but loves the trees. Her 2 week old chicks sleep on her in the tree. Wondering if anyone else has their chickens nesting in trees

 

[Madie'sOddFlock]

Ours nest in the bushes(they really like the large amounts of milkweed that have popped up this year) and in the coop, but they always come home at night. Our house chicken has her own tiny a-frame nesting box next to the front door that she turns up in every night at about 7-7:30. But I used to have a friend who had bantams who would nest in her trees. I don't think it's that odd of them. I'd like to think that because wild turkeys roost in trees it might just be a natural instinct for most poultry/birds, but I don't really know.

 

[av8torcrj]

I've got a Delaware and a leghorn that are currently roosting in a huge pecan tree with heavy foliage as opposed to coming in the coop at night with everybody else. There is a very wide perimeter electronet fence so I guess they aren't totally free range but unfortunately here totally free = totally dead. Once fall comes and the great horned owl returns, these girls will either need to come inside or be reduced to a pile of feathers unfortunately.

 

[centrarchid]

I have had many chickens roost in trees. Long ago that was the norm for most not confined to pens or roosting on hay rope in large barns. These days something has changed markedly with respect to either abundance of behavior of Great-horned Owls (GHO's). The owls eventually find the birds picking smaller individuals off roost. Then the cleanup crew in the form of Red Fox goes after chickens hiding in the weeds. Have backup plan for birds roosting in tighter confines if owl starts working flock. Also be on stick with traps or fencing to deny terrestrial predators access to those trees.

Now I go out of my way to make certain every single bird is roosting in a pen of some sort. The only practical alternative to that would be killing four GHO's which is not legal.

 

[BirdGirl2004]

Well, as long as they are safe i don't see a problem! BUT, during the winter I would make sure they are getting in. To make sure that they are getting in at night, especially when they are free-ranging, I have always locked my chickens up in the coop for at least 2 weeks before letting them out. That way they get used to sleeping in the coop at night where they are safe and warm from the elements! It's always so much fun to have free ranged chickens, because they have access to all the yummy bugs, clover and grasses that other chickens don't have access too!

Good luck!