Single hen

[JB09]

Hi Guys,

 

I was just wondering... when letting your chickens free range do you let them out and leave them in the garden to get on with it or do you stay with them and keep a close eye? Previously when letting the chicks free range I have spent hours and hours outside with them to check they are safe and not getting up to mishchief! I feel however they would be fine on their own with me checking on them every 20mins or so. Need reassurance....

 

Thanks

 

JB

[scrambledhead]

Hello!

 

I got my ex bats 4 weeks ago and have been letting them free range for the last 10 days.

I don't let them out until after lunch and only if I know I'm not going out but other than that I let them get on with it, I do check on them through the window and they get their treats about 4pm. it's been great watching them explore. The only time I panicked was when they all hid in the pampas grass.

Naughty girls

[sunshinesupernova]

I used to only let mine out under supevision - but they now free-range from 8am until they go to bed and I shut them up. They are also out free ranging when I'm out.

 

I do live in a very rural area and the chooks are staing within the confines of the garden. Within 1/4 mile, there must be about 4 or 5 small holdings all with free ranging chickens. I've never seen one of "those ginger things with big teeth that like chicken dinners" round here - though I'm sure they will be in the vicinity

 

For the meantime - until I hear of a fox attack or see signs of them being around - I intend continuing to let the girls free range as I think the quality of life they have with so much more space must be far better.

 

I just pray I don't get caught out.....

[poachedegg]

When we got our chickens, we made the decision to always supervise them - it has worked fine and got us outside in the garden when we would normally be stuck in the house.

 

Wellies, thick coat and hat are essentials in the winter though!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I tend to let mine out when I'm in the house and check through the windows periodically. Having said that, whenever there's a report of a fox attack on the forum, I get more wary and keep an eye on them a bit more .

[3hens2cats]

Hi there,

 

I tend to let ours out after I have done the school run, as I know I will be in to keep an eye on them, and they stay out until dusk. If i am going out for a long period I secure them in their run (much to their dislike ). If I don't lock them in i do find myself worrying about foxes.

 

I agree there is nothing quite like looking out and seeing them roaming round, chewing your lawn and roosting on your wall.

 

difficult one, I do worry about old Renard but they do need to stretch their legs and if I don't let them out they have started to shout

 

Naomi

[madchickenlady]

Mine are out commiting acts of vandalism around the garden whenever I am home I can see them from wherever I am indoors, and tend to be in and out all the time anyway (washing, watering, egg collecting ) I don't leave them out if I have to go anywhere, but I don't constantly supervise them. I think it really depends on your garden/house and surrounding area as to whether it's safe or not.

[Olly]

I always supervise - I left them out when I first got them, and had a near miss as I saw the fox approaching them, I'd only gone back into the house for a few minutes.

 

You've posted your location as London, JB and I have to warn you that urban foxes are very different from the rural sort, which tend to be more wary of humans. Urban foxes are used to people and traffic, in fact they are often FED by people and they show no fear. I wouldn't risk leaving mine unsupervised.

 

You'll get loads of gardening done!

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Mine used to freerange on their own from about 9, ie after they had eaten their breakfast , until either I go out or they go to bed! However for the past few days, Lily has been creating blue murder to be let out of her run & into the WIR so she can lay her egg in Jasper's nestbox, so they tend to be let out when I let them out of their houses now!

 

I have 3 Labradors who also free range with them, so I am hoping this is keeping the fox away

 

I never leave them out if I am not at home, even if this means a longwinded lock-up, as I always shut the dogs in (although I did managed to leave one Orpie in the dustbath under the tree when I shut them in yesterday.....fortunately DH left after me & noticed her before he left the house ). To have them freeranging with the dogs in and out is one thing, to have them out with the dogs shut away is a risk I am not prepared to take.

 

I've had to resort to shutting myself behind Omlet fencing to keep my little helpers at a safe distance from my fork & spade, but my garden is starting to resemble a garden again, thanks to having the feathered ones who need watching from time to time!!

 

Sha x

[Egluntyne]

It depends on your fox situation locally, really.

 

I let them wander about, but always am no further than the kitchen. I never go out and leave them ranging.

[Old Speckled Hen]

I too live in a very rural area and mine are out all day whether I am in or not. I do tend to call them into their run if I expect to be out for more than four hours or so.

I do see one fox regularly on my run some two miles from home if I am out very early.

I have to echo Olly who says that urban foxes are very tame so very dangerous.

[ali-s]

Last summer when we moved to the cottage I would let the girls free range in the afternoons unsupervised, we would quite happily go out and when we returned the girls had gone to roost. We have a 3/4 of an acre garden and it was lovely to see the girls wandering about and exploring their new home.

 

Just before Christmas I had some of my girls taken by Stoats and more taken in the new year. The first time this happened I had been outside with them and had gone in for a couple of minutes to answer the phone. In the few short minutes the attacks had taken place The second time Andy was in the garden and Bertha wandered out of sight. we found a poor body down the lane, not a pretty sight

 

The girls now only free range if someone is in the garden with them. They are always kept in sight of us and if we have to come indoors even for a moment they are put back in the run.

 

We live in a rural area and have never seen a fox about and have never even heard their calls. I know when there are stoats about in the garden as the wild birds kick up such a fuss. I have only seen a Stoat in the garden once. I was hanging out the washing and the wild birds went crazy, next minute a Stoat climbed down one of the trees and scarpered.

[Mazzarina]

I only ever let mine free-range when I'm in the garden. This means they get about an hour or so 3-4 days a week (we both work full-time), but they'll get more now that we're on British Summer Time!

We have had a fox near our house, and I'm not happy about taking a risk (my view is that if I'm not visible to the fox, it doesn't make any difference whether I'm on the phone just inside or half-way to Scotland). From what I've read here, a fox attack can happen very quickly indeed, and I couldn't bear the thought of it. But really it's up to the individual to weigh up the pros and cons. I love watching them free-range, and wish I could let them have more freedom if I knew they would be safe.

[fluffyknickers]

Mine are let out usually after the 3pm school run and they go within their little area made by Omlet netting.

 

I cant stay out the whole time as have to make dinner etc so I go in and then look out regularly and count them! I also have the fox deterrent on when they are out.

 

If I go out at all they are always put back in the cube run.

 

At bedtime they put themselves to bed and i go out take the food in and shut them up.

 

If at all unsure, personally, I wouldnt let them out unsupervised.

 

Michelle

[Griffin]

Mine free range all day, from 7am until their bedtime. We're in a rural area, I would hope my three dogs were a deterrant and I'm nearly always here with them.

[Valkyrie]

Mine are out all day too, apart from an hour before bed and they get shut in their run with their tea. There are foxes, but daytime is not an option for Mr Reynard - too many people with dogs walking around, also cats, cars and lots of children. He might come at night, but the girls are tucked in the cube safely. I have only seen the footprints in the veggie patch once, but that was years before we had the girls.

[Olly]

There are foxes, but daytime is not an option for Mr Reynard - too many people with dogs walking around, also cats, cars and lots of children.

 

I hope that's true of your local fox - I have to say it's not the case with mine, he's been seen at all times of day, and long before dusk. A lot of people have had chickens taken in the daytime, and if you're in an urban area I don't think you can rely on foxes not coming out during the day.

[Barkisland]

Too foxy round here by far - a neighbour lost all her chooks to a fox because she got into the habit of leaving them out unsupervised, so I will only be free ranging mine within an electrified fence (yet to be purchased) and with me close by.

[sandyhas3chucks]

couldn't live with myself! ONLY SUPERVISED after reading ALL the fox posts!

[tania]

We used to let oure free range but I was getting too nervous about it and was constantly at the windows looking for them so now they free range completely when we're out and about in the garden otherwise they are kept within a 50m electric fence in the orchard, so pretty much free range. At night I still lock them up in the Eglu, within the run, within the electric fence -just a bit paranoid about Mr Fox! I know that we have a dog fox that is about at night although I have not seen him in the day. We have 2 dogs that are often out so I hope this is a deterrent. I work on the theory that I want the 'girls' to have a lovely life and if something dreadful happened to them I'd be very sad but I'd rather they were free than in a run all the time. It's finding a happy medium I guess and what works for you.

[Valkyrie]

I know I am sounding rather blase, Olly. I have got to thinking that whatever will be, will be (now try NOT singing along to that ). But I am more in danger from the dog next door - which is now trying to burrow under our fences to get into my garden. Next door put up a makeshift fence when they got it, then put up another higher one when it escaped into our garden last year. Before we got the girls we put another fence in our side and buried stones at the base - rather deeply too. That was mainly for our own safety - the dog attacks people and is forever growling at us when we are in the garden, pacing up and down the partition. So the dog now has to contend with a fence on their side, a thick conifer hedge and the fence on our side plus rocks. If the dog can't jump over, then I hope neither can Mr Fox. Wooden fencing is about 7ft high on the rest of the boundaries. We are on the edge of woods, streams and farmland. I have never seen it in the daytime, it usually skulks around about 2 in the morning. I haven't actually seen it for 2 years now, nor have I heard them. Hopefully it gets it's fill from the leftover pigeon shoots. We have electric fencing, and should anything bad happen then it will be put down to experience and the fencing will be electrified. Knowing me, I will be the only thing that gets zapped! Plus nine times out of ten, I am around - and as OH works from home, he is always wandering round for breaths of fresh air and yapping on his mobile (which has a rubbish reception indoors). Today he has my car, so I am in the study with the back door open and a whingeing Apache who is on her own, so I have been keeping her company. Housework - er, I've only emptied the dishwasher so far! I hear the greenhouse calling me . . .

[sandyhas3chucks]

oh dear poor you Koojie, I do know just how you feel with the dog.

Remember my new neighbours with the livestock obssesed boxer?

What about a fox watch, it is I believe the same frequency heard by dogs. (that's why I can't use one(got dogs) You could aim it at their fence!

[Valkyrie]

I'm not sure whether it is livestock obsessed - biting people obsessed definitely! They have been encouraging it to chase the pigeons too - I can only imagine it's frustration as the girls parade up and down grubbing without turning a hair/feather - the breeder had 2 sheepdogs, so they are well used to dogs before we brought them home. We actually have strategically placed weapons dotted around the garden for protection should it ever attack - it does like the groin area, soft and easlily rippable! I freeze when I'm in the front garden and it escapes - can I make it into the house, or do I jump in the wheelie bin, rats, I should have brought my car keys out with me . . . throw bin on side, vault over the side gate (my bulk would probably have it off it's hinges if I did that ) and grab the brick used for propping the gate open?

Not sure whether the fox watch would be any good here - we have a sloping garden and basically it has 3 different levels, while the hedge is just on the slope. We have added stone walling to the middle part so that the soil doesn't get washed downhill all the time. Some food for thought though, Sandy, worth investigating.

[Old Speckled Hen]

B****y H**l Koojie that sounds some awful dog.

[sandyhas3chucks]

for your own protection you might like to have a couple of those rape alarms strategically placed. Very effective fo bad dogs too. and inexpensive. Have you looked at te cotrol of dangerous dog acts. I don't like the sound of it if you are scared when it gets out. Maybe need reporting?