I open our barn door and coop door (inside the barn) every morning, weather permitting. I close it at sundown or soon after, since it is now pretty dark when I get home. Some chickens choose to stay in the barn, some spend most of the time outside. If something spooks them, they run inside hollaring then come back out a few minutes later. I choose to give them the choice. I don't force them all outside other than the first couple times I let them out at about 9 weeks- prior to that outdoor time was in a small, covered run under the supervision of a human or 2 and my white Boxer). Have I lost chickens in the past three years to predators? Yes, 3 of them. One to a hawk soon after I got my first flock and two in a raccoon or fox attack one night this paat summer. Am I sad they died? Of course. But I will keep free ranging as I believe doing so is best for my chickens overall. I believe the older ones teach the younger ones how/where to forage, when to run and where to hide, just like a mama hen would. To each their own.
