dame egna Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 We have had our lovely ladies since last Saturday now, and are thinking of letting them free range possibly next weekend sometime (possibly before). At the moment, they are in a fairly large run (fully enclosed) but I think they would definitely appreciate being able to roam around. I am really worried about them escaping though! I have clipped their wings (just one side), and we have a 6 foot fence all the way round on the back and right side, a much higher fence with a hedge in front on the left side, and a lower fence (about 4 and a half foot) at the front (we have a dog area in front of that, so it's 'dog proof' with mesh along it.) Are they likely to get out?! There are no holes in the fence or anything like that, but we do have a table next to one side of the fence, and a swing bench at the back - and I'm just worried they will get onto these things, and then over. Am I just being a worry guts?! I just hate the thought of them escaping, and it'd be a real pain to get them back in again!!!!??? Not ever having free range chickens, and only having had them for a week, I just don't know what to expect Any advice for a complete chicken dunce, much appreciated! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Hi there I don't think you have a lot to worry about and remember they can always be bribed back into their run Good luck Jx PS Love the washing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidygirlsuk Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 your patio chairs may be a risk so close to the fence. They might not bother though. I've got an escape artist but i call her name and shake the corn bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dame egna Posted April 24, 2009 Author Share Posted April 24, 2009 The only worry is though that they might get over the fence and not be able to get back again? I did wonder whether to part mesh (simple meshing) around where the swings and trampoline is, so they have that side away from the chairs and adult swing etc? The fence is obv much higher over there.... If only the swings and trampoline weren't there and they could have a permanent, much larger enclosure! I'll have to rehome the kids! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southernchicken Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 My tip would be ''treats'' , I kept my girls in their run for a week like recommended, but during this time i'd give them sweet corn treats every day , not lots but after about 4 days they knew what was in the tin and now they could complete the agility course at cruffts if I were to run around with some corn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Why would any chicken want to leave your garden? There is so much there to occupy them. Mine try though. They are really funny how ingenious they can be. Flimsy bushes are quite good for jumping up on but it took them 4 months to work that out. Yours can't see what is on the other side so I'm sure they won't go. If they do just rattle their corn pot or whatever does it for them. Failing that you just pick them up when the daft things crouch and hope your neighbours don't catch you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 hey I don't think you'll have many problems you might want to just drag the table and chairs over a bit to disencourage temptation but i don't think they will try and escape mine free range all day and we have never had an escape attempt at all and you apear to have quite a lot that will keep them occupied within the garden. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Firstly do not let them out for a week, so they establish where is home. I use the omlet netting to give them a restricted 'freerange' area and it is very good. At 25m it gieves them a lot of room. Also do they all have 1 wing clipped? This obviously reduces the chance of flying away. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dame egna Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 Yes they have one wing clipped Over the weekend we meshed off a smaller area where the kids swings and trampolne is, and let them in there., It was lovely to watch them scratch about - and they seemed too busy eating bugs to even think about escaping!!!! The only thing is, I won't leave them unnatended as I have seen foxes in the field out the back (you can see the field from the piccy). My next door neighbours have three chickens out there, in a taped off run, but it's not fox proof at all I saw two foxes less than 3 months ago, mid morning. Those chickens won't stand a chance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I agree, blackmail with a trail of corn would lead them anywhere anytime if they are anything like mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dame egna Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 Oh yes - corn! What wonderul stuff, they learnt on day one of buying it where it was, and what the tin sounded like. It's fantastic when I need to get them back in!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I agree with the others. I don't think you need worry. We don't clip their wings by the way, and we know they can fly - but they choose to stay within a confimed area ( 6 ft fences like you) They are actually cautious to begin with and all you need to get them back in is a handful or two or treats. If you do that every day about the same time they will be waiting in the run for you to arrive. We kept ours in for about 4 months, then fearfully let them out. They now free range all day every day from 7.30 am -7.30pm and they are so happy. We have bought Omlet netting to electrify so we can be sure they are safe ( no foxes - so far... ) I really recommend free ranging - that's when you see the real natural behaviour - go for it! Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 hi i dont think you will have anything to worry about they will be too busy wrecking your garden to even think about escaping i have never clipped my girls wings and they are out all day making a mess, i dont think they know there is any more world to explore over the fence good luck, it is very stressful the first freerange i remember, but sweetcorn always rules the day sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidygirlsuk Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 Oh yes - corn! What wonderul stuff, they learnt on day one of buying it where it was, and what the tin sounded like. It's fantastic when I need to get them back in!! Can we have a free ranging pic please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dame egna Posted April 28, 2009 Author Share Posted April 28, 2009 Of course - we took some at the weekend. I also took the one at the bottom today - yesterday and today we have had 4, double yolkers! Kids enjoyed them after school today Probably next year we'll take the swings out of the enclosure, and possibly move the trampoline too so it's just a chicken area, and not a chicken/child area Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 Lovely photos . Four double yolkers . I've not had four in 18 months . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaches Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 I'd pay good money to see trampolining chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dame egna Posted April 29, 2009 Author Share Posted April 29, 2009 Lol well they haven't tried the trampoline yet, although they did have a ride in my sons plastic wheelbarrow Only because we put some corn in it....... but they didn't seem to mind as long as they were getting something out of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidygirlsuk Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 A wheel barrow Great pictures. Thanks for that. It lovely watching them free ranging. I could watch for hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheryl Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Well, I let mine out to roam and there are 14 of them all clipped..they dont really want to escape why would they?..and clipping them does help.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...