Why I’ll Never Free-Range My Chickens Again

[roosterhavoc]

I wonder if you would also respect the right of a chicken making its own decisions regarding incarceration, or freedom.

I normally don’t agree with you but here I couldn’t agree more. Leave a pen door open and the chickens will do what they want. That’s whats best for the chickens. Chicken breed makes a big difference.

 

[MissChick@dee]

I wouldn't, because chickens have notoriously poor risk-benefit analysis capacaties.

Made my day!

 

[Amer]

I think it depends on the location.
I've lost one bird to a hawk. (A super duper tiny one.)
And one stayed out and got eaten by a racoon.
That's out of over 40 chickens for 4 years.
So I rest my case.

 

[townchicks]

I can't really call it free ranging, it's really just access to the rest of my fenced backyard, but when I leave the run door open, my girls do make their own choice. Agatha says "nope, no way, nohow". Harper says " well, maybe, just to here, uh, never mind." (here being 5 feet from the run door) Nevada (aka Miss Piggy) follows me around, saying, "say, do you have any mealworms?" So, yes, chickens can be happy in their run. Mine have plenty of room, things to do, and they obviously feel more secure in there. I certainly feel they are more secure.

 

[Fishkeeper]

If your chickens are unhappy in the run, they need more enrichment. Give them the same things to do inside as outside. That doesn't mean they won't like being let out, there are new things to explore out there, but it makes going out a treat rather than a necessity.
Think of it this way; chickens will go nuts for spaghetti. That doesn't mean they're starving, or that they would be unhappy if you never gave them spaghetti. It just means that spaghetti is fun.
And it does depend a lot on the area and the amount of predators. Most of rural Africa, for example, would be a very bad place to let chickens freerange.

 

[roosterhavoc]

If your chickens are unhappy in the run, they need more enrichment. Give them the same things to do inside as outside. That doesn't mean they won't like being let out, there are new things to explore out there, but it makes going out a treat rather than a necessity.
Think of it this way; chickens will go nuts for spaghetti. That doesn't mean they're starving, or that they would be unhappy if you never gave them spaghetti. It just means that spaghetti is fun.
And it does depend a lot on the area and the amount of predators. Most of rural Africa, for example, would be a very bad place to let chickens freerange.

Sure about that? Guinea hens seem to do pretty well.

 

[Bryant Redhawk]

Quite a lot depends on which breed(s) you have. We have BCM's (black copper marans) and the rooster is very protective (has chased off hawks and owls). We have a neighbor that lets his chickens live and forage with his Guineas and the chickens are always catching up to the guineas as they move along.

 

[Shadrach]

It’s been two years since the hawk attacks that decimated my small, free-ranging flock. I’ve finally just this month bought a new coop and restocked my flock.

I respect the right of all chicken-keepers to make their own decisions regarding free-ranging, but as for me, after what we went through, I will never again free range my hens. I have invested in a top-quality and large chicken tractor that keeps them as safe as they can be made safe while still allowing them access to fresh grass and bugs.

I’ve just blogged about my new, anti free-range stance and I’d love to get your feedback on what I have to say. You can read my blog at BigGoodThing.com

I’ve had a look at your blog Katie. .
You say your happy to receive feedback. I’ll oblige.
It’s not really about chickens. It’s mostly about you and encouraging people to sign up. You are what I believe is described as a self publicists these days. I understand its become very common. I don’t like it very much.

 

[alexa009]

Free ranging chickens mostly depends on the environment on which they are located. I believe predators are more daring to killing their prey on a country landscape then a crowded neighborhood. As for me, I keep my flock penned up because of the hawks, coyotes and even my dogs. I've had hawks surround my pen multiple times but are afraid to fly down because we keep them pen in a field closely connected to the main yard where the dogs, cats and even us are. I have lost some of my birds from escaping their penned area and definitely won't make the mistake of letting them have the ability to free range. I also don't agree with the fact that chickens are happier free ranging then penned up. My chickens get just as bored free ranging after awhile and try to get back in their pen almost like it is their home. They also get a lot of entertainment in their pen such as dustbathing, tearing up greens etc..

 

[alexa009]

My rooster isn't a flock protector either, he has left the chickens endangered in front of dogs and hawks and has went into hiding.