CatherineH178 Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 Hello, we are pretty new to keeping chickens, having had our girls for about a month. Just wondering what other people do about letting their chickens out. How often and for how long do you let them free range????? Thanks Catherine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 Hello - in the week my girls probably get 2 - 3 hours a day at the weekend they get longer. Usually from about midday unless I'm going out in which case I put them back in the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineH178 Posted October 4, 2009 Author Share Posted October 4, 2009 Hello - in the week my girls probably get 2 - 3 hours a day at the weekend they get longer. Usually from about midday unless I'm going out in which case I put them back in the run. Do you just leave them in the garden if you are in the house then?? If you are out all day do they just stay in the run. We haven't been letting them out much and am getting concerned we should be letting them out more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 Mine are out all day if I'm in....confined to their own area, which is approx the bottom third of the garden. If I'm not in, they are confined to their walk in run. I do try to let them have at the very least a couple of hours a day playing out where possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 If the girls are out I am usually in the house - but I don't have a big garden and I can see them. Yes I leave them in the eglu run if I am out. I only have 2 girls at the moment but when I hopefully get 2 more next year I will build a walk in run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
House MD 221B Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 unless we are going out somewhere, or we're doing something in the garden that may be hazardous ours free range all day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 My lot free range when I am home to supervise, I try to ensure that they have a few hours every day, more at the weekend, however with the nights drawing in they will have less over the winter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 for the first 6 months mine were let out only when we were home but not necessary in the garden. Then when summer arrived I got brave and allowed them to free range all day long on the paddock 8.00 til 8. They are still going out now but I make sure they are in bed by 6ish. (their run and eglu leads onto the paddock so they can come and go as they please) I know it is very dangerous but I'm trying to convince myself that they love pottering about, sunbathing and doing their own thing that it is worth the risk. Also my next door are rebuilding their house so the workmen are very noisy and will probably scare any foxes that comes by. I may stop taking the risk soon as winter food will become scarce for foxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcatz Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 I let mine out in the afternoon for a few hours each day, but only when I'm home. So its anything from 1pm to 6.30pm then they put themselves to bed. They have about half the garden and patio near the house. When I'm out I leave them in the secure run all day. I tend to sit in the garden so I can watch them and only pop into the house quickly. I have only had them since August and am probably being over cautious. I was wondering what to do in the winter as I can't imagine sitting outside in the freezing cold for too long! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 mine get let out when I get back from work between 4-5pm till they put themselves to bed which is about 7pm at the moment I leave them unsupervised till about 6:30pm then stay with them the rest of the time sundays they get let out when I get back from the allottment until tea time partly supervised I was only ever going to let them out every other day when I first got them they soon put a stop to that idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Mine freerange whenever I'm at home. They often spend their time in the walk in run even though their door is open. Makes me feel much less guilty about when they are locked in - they obviously like their run . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jos Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Like Kit, mine freerange all day in their paddock. I am always concerned about foxes but feel the advantages outweigh the risks. I let them out just before I leave for work and have them back in their run two hours before dark. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanTheDiver Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Mine are in their cube + extension run most of the day, but they get 2-3hrs in the play pen (netted off part of the garden) during the week and more hours at the weekend when we are home. They seem happy enough with that. But if we are out they are in the Cube more. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 We let ours out for a couple of hours a day usually early afternoon. In the summer this gives them a chance to dust bathe and lie in the sun. In the winter we get very little sun in the back garden but it gives them a chance to eat some grass and stretch their legs. We have a fairly fox proof garden so they are unsupervised unless the older ones and younger ones are out together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 We let them out when we are in to supervise. They have a fenced off area but I still check them every half hour or so as Prue has a habit of escaping and wandering off down the road the grass on the verge outside is so much nicer. They go into thier run even when the gate is open and they could be out in the bigger area. when we are out they are in their run even if we only go out for half an hur we still put them in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 I'm lucky in that although there are foxes in our estate, a combination of Joe dog and my big bruiser tomcat keep anything out of my garden so my two are pretty much out all day everyday. They come knock on the back door for breakfast at 6ish and then are left to their own devices til I get home at 5. now if only I could teach the rabbits to do the same! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beulah59 Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 We're home most of the day, in and out, so we free range them from about lunchtime so we know they've eaten a reasonable amount of mash first. Sometimes I let them out earlier, but only if I'm sure they've done laying for the day as I don't want to lose eggs in the garden! They're in and out of the run all the time, so they're not hard to get back in before dark (I'm not convinced they'd find their way if they got distracted by a ripe fig and it started getting dark before they'd finished So I use a plate of treats ... pellets, mixed corn, cooked veg, rice or pasta ... to tempt them back in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Mine are out everyday, fortunately OH works nights and I work days so there is always someone home. If we go out they are put back in the run. It's harder this time of year though for people who work 9-5 as the nights are pulling in now.....I don't think the chickens mind though, it's just the owners who worry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhesus Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Ours come out about 9 in the morning and can get back if they wish. They normally go back in around 4pm when they get corned and that is it for the night, They take themselves off to bed about 6.30 but as the nights are getting darker, this is likely to get earlier. At Weekends, they range all day and if we go out, we just leave them to it. Fairly enclosed garden and foxes not a problem for us, but always need to be wary. Just be mindful of things that create steps, garden table, near a chair, near a shed etc, or else they can find hopping up a game and give you a heart attack when you think they make a break for next door !! Its like having children sometimes. You'll be fine ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Hi my ladies are in their fenced off bit of garden pretty well all day. Now and again they decide they want the whole garden and simply fly over the fence leaving my ex batt lady behind. Always makes me laugh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
