Deciding to free range your flock can have a lot of benefits. It can also have some downsides. This can be a big thing to consider when you’re getting chickens.
In this post I will be outlining three pros and three cons that may effect your free range decision.
I’m sure you’ve seen arguments from both sides of the table. The goal of this post is not to persuade you one way or the other, but rather to let you know some really great things and really annoying things about free ranging your flock. I didn’t consider all these things when making my decision, and while I’m not sure that it would have changed the outcome, it would have been nice to have a heads up!
Pros of Free Range Chickens
You can see your chickens out your window
There isn’t anything quite as enjoyable as looking out your window or opening your front door and seeing a bunch of happy chickens dancing around your yard. Truthfully, it’s usually the highlight of my day. If you spend enough time with them and talk to them enough, they will even come running when they see you or hear you call!
Free range chickens don't get as bored
Chickens can get bored in the coop or the run, especially if they don’t have much room. When chickens get bored, they can get mean towards each other; pecking other chickens and one becoming an alpha are not things you want to deal with.
Allowing your chickens to roam gives them plenty of things to do and see. They can spread out and escape the other birds if they are feeling targeted or annoyed with each other.
If you can’t free range, don’t panic. Just because they are in a smaller space doesn’t mean they can’t live as fun of a life! Try making different toys and obstacles for your birds. They like to perch at different heights, so make fun ladders that they can get on. Hang snacks like corn or apples from the ceiling or walls that give them an entertaining way to get some extra food. You can even use things like old bike tires to make chicken sized merry go rounds that they can spin on and ride. Any idea like that should keep them occupied enough that they stay nice to each other.
There are more bugs, grubs, and nutrients for them to find
Chickens are great at eating bugs. They are the ultimate tic eliminator (or at least a very cheap option that you can get.) When your birds have the freedom to roam, they can get a lot of their nutrients from the bugs and grubs around the yard. I’ve been told this can be up to 30% of their diet during the spring and summer months! Meaning you’d even be saving on feed since they won’t eat as much.
Cons of Free Ranging your Flock
They are more susceptible to predators/injury
This is a big thing to consider when deciding on whether to free range or not. When your birds are free to come and go as they please, they have more things to get into. This could mean they are deeper into the woods where predators could get them, or they’re more out in the open so the hawks can see them. Maybe you live by a road, if they get comfortable getting close to/on the road, there’s a chance for them to get hit.
Poop...everywhere
If you are someone that likes a clean, poop free yard…free ranging is not for you, my friend. These birds will poop all over the place. ESPECIALLY the ducks. Fun fact: ducks don’t have anal sphincters. Meaning they can’t hold their poop. When they gotta go, they go with no control. If you don’t want poop everywhere, don’t free range. Or, be ready to clean it up on a regular basis.
If You Want Eggs, They Might Be Hard To Find
Sometimes when your flock ins’t used to being in close corders with the nesting boxes, they don’t know to use them. There are some different ways to go about this, wether it be using fake eggs to help them get used to eggs being in the nesting boxes or keeping them closed in the run for a while while they are laying to help them get used to it. However, either one will be a hard transition if they are used to being free and plopping those bad boys where ever they want.
Be ready to do a little bit of an easter egg hunt for your breakfast if you let them roam.
