Tinkerbell Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 Hi all I have had my chooks now for just one week and I feel that the 2m run is too small for them so i have been letting them out to free range.quite a bit and they love it. I have 5 cats so when I let them free range I have to put the cats away as I don't trust them. How long do you let your chooks free range? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 I have the omlet netting - s a secure-ish area for them to be in. On a day like today when I'm about and so are the neighbours they were out all day and had a great time. Just be wary of Mr Fox - there are lots around with hungry cubs at this time of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 My girls free range for a couple of hours Mon - Fri and longer at the weekends. How many chickens do you have? I also have 3 cats and the chickens soon show them who is boss! They all share the garden quite happily and don't really bother each other. One more thing - it has been recommended that you don't let them free range until about mid morning at the earliest to make sure they are eating enough pellets/mash before they scoff everything in the garden! I've just looked at your signature and noticed you have 3 girls the same as me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 My cats run at the chickens and I too would not trust them one bit! - One of them caught one at the beginning too. Brat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 im lucky because I work days and my hubby works nights so my chooks free range from 9am to 7.30 pm every day. Also im quite a bit of a homebird (I like to potter around at home/garden etc) so even on my day off/weekends we dont go very far at all. My chooks are extremely lucky, so anytime you can afford your girls is great (even if its an hour)...they are quite good at making us feel guilty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 Hi Tinkerbell During the week the girls free range when OH gets home between 4 and 5. At the weekend they come out around lunchtime, that way I know they have eaten lots of proper food (aka pellets). They get a bowl of pellet porridge mid afternoon too at weekends which they love and stops them filling up on grass. We're waiting for a run extension to be delivered to give them a bit more room during the day. We don't have a cat but our neighbour does. It ventured into the garden, got confused by the netting and was then spotted by Charlotte. The noise she made was enough to frighten any cat!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinkerbell Posted May 4, 2008 Author Share Posted May 4, 2008 thanks for your replies, I just feel guilty when they are locked up and am trying to let them out enough not to upset the cats. I really cant let the cats out with them I just would not trust my cats they sit ontop of the eglu waiting and stalking round the pen. I have cat proof fencing round my garden which is 2.3m high, do you think a fox would be able to climb this height? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 I get home from work around 4.30pm and they're freeranging until bed time so thats around 3 1/2hrs during the week and from midday at weekends.I tend to keep them inside the run until midday so they fill themselves up on layers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 I have cat proof fencing round my garden which is 2.3m high, do you think a fox would be able to climb this height? I would never under estimate a fox. So it is likely a cunning fox would be willing to climb anything to get at a flock of chickens. Best to be cautious if you have foxes in your area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
