ChrisEllis Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Hi, We kept our chickens in their pen for roughly 3 months now, much to people saying we let them out too early they have been fine and are growing extremely well. We live on a plot of 6 acres and was wondering, is it ok to let the chickens roam? as in open their pen door to let them roam? We do have cats, but our neighbours have many cickens and a cat has never killed them. Also would they still return to their coop at night, obviosuly we would spend some time with them going out their pen first so they learn where is where. But is this a good idea to let them roam, where they live is quite shaded and so would like to let them roam round where the sunlies, and also we dont want their pen full of poo, whereas spread across 6 acres wont be as bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 What about foxes and dogs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisEllis Posted January 17, 2010 Author Share Posted January 17, 2010 well we dont keep dogs and there arent any foxes where we are, ouor neighbours who kept 15 years of chickens has said his have never died because of a fox, i would only let them out hilst we were home for the full day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 How big is your pen? Roaming over 6 acres sounds idyllic, but I would have thought they'd be very vulnerable to foxes - especially this time of year. I personally wouldn't risk it. Saronne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Going from a confined run to 6 acres is a bit of a leap. I'd limit them to a much smaller area to start with, using netting, so that they get the hang of finding their home. I always recommend actually putting them away at night rather than waiting for them to find their way home. Have a routine and call them in, using something like sweetcorn as a lure. Unless you live on the Isle of Man, the danger of foxes is always present I'm afraid....especially at this time of year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auntie FiFi Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Hi - when I first got my four chickens they did wander around our 2 acres - but I always kept an eye on them and always put them away in the run when I was going out or just before dusk. Eventually I got a netting fence for them as they started escaping into the field next door and I was worried about my neighbours dogs. Then sadly in January (2 years ago), our favourite chicken was taken by a fox - and I was in the garden at the time. January is the worst time for foxes taking chickens I think - for this month, and especially during the really cold weather, I only let my girls out of the run when I am in the garden, close by. It is a dilemma as you want them to have a lovely free-range life, but really do not want them taken by Mr Fox. Good luck and happy free ranging if you decide to go for it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 We kept our chickens in their pen for roughly 3 months now, much to people saying we let them out too early they have been fine and are growing extremely well. If I remember rightly, your pen is very big anyway so I don't see the need to as you only have 6? little bantams, it's not worth IMHO, they could get lost and you would never forgive yourself if a fox gets them. However a fox could get them in your run anyway so I guess it's just luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisEllis Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 Well, you could say luck, but i would have put a netting roof over the top if we did have a fox problem, i know people say they are everyhere, but we live surrounded by people that shoot, our neighbours shoots them and his 15 years of experience keeping over 20 chickens, that fly out of theur pen during the day and every evening when he puts them away see's his bantam come running back to the gate to be let in - not once has he had a problem with foxes, so i would say we are pretty safe - and anyway i wuld make sure they go in at night which they do themselves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Even though you or your neighbour haven't had problems with foxes it doesn't mean there aren't any around does it? There will always be foxes somewhere around you, they just haven't found your hens yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Polands have terrible eyesight due to their crests and would easily get lost in such a large area. They're also more susceptible to predators than most other chickens because they can't see danger approaching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisEllis Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 Even though you or your neighbour haven't had problems with foxes it doesn't mean there aren't any around does it? There will always be foxes somewhere around you, they just haven't found your hens yet I didnt say they werent around but if the chickens enjoy having some time outside and i know and see from watching them that once it gets darker they walk back into their coop then I would say its ok to let them go out - as like i said over 15 years of experience with chickens and no foxes id say its not just luck and taking more precatusion even so than my neighbours to keep them safe it should be ok, its not me you should be telling im doing wrong, the amount of people i see lose chickens to foxes because in their circumstanes havent done enough to keep them safe. Im sorry if i sound ignorant but im going by my neighbours advice as i have done. I just like t get more opinions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisEllis Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 Polands have terrible eyesight due to their crests and would easily get lost in such a large area. They're also more susceptible to predators than most other chickens because they can't see danger approaching. Well thats fair enough, i wa actually going to have them a seperate pen so that silkies wont bother them and there is no chance of themn falling in the duck pond we get. They are quite happy sitting on a bar for a lot oft eh day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 It's up to you Chris, if you wont take my advice then fine but I'm just trying to help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Netting would be no protection against a determined fox I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Ok, I see both sides of this... It IS easy to be lulled in to a sense of security about foxes, I see them about here all the time but if you dont and your neighbour hasnt had a problem then I can see why you'd think its secure and thats ok But what I think what Tom is trying to say is that there is not some sort of force field around your garden thats going to keep foxes out and the worst may well happen despite normally having no foxes, I am with Tom I have to say Two differing views but thats what forums are all about What I would personally say is that Silkies make good sponges when its wet and Polands have bad eyesight and are not the brightest of birds so two breeds not really suited to large scale free ranging on the whole, they dont really need it either and the run you have built is loads of room for them Foxes or no foxes why rock the boat if your set up is big enough and works for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Thanks Tasha. TBH, it doesn't make much difference if you let them out or not as your current run isn't fox proof anyway. As Tasha said, Silkies & Polish aren't really suited to FR anyway even a run like yours isn't ideal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisEllis Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 Thought the chickens would enjoy it more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 I think they probably would do if their run was small, yours are quite spoilt and already enjoy a lovely big area Too big an area brings more dangers (ponds, troughs, brambles, cats, machinery etc..) and so may not be worth the extra 'happiness' that it might give the chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 I am sure the chickens would enjoy it more. However, going from an enclosed pen to 6 acres of free ranging might not be the best plan. What about Omlet netting to keep them confined? It could then be moved around when the grass needs a rest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 .. as like i said over 15 years of experience with chickens and no foxes id say its not just luck and taking more precatusion even so than my neighbours to keep them safe it should be ok, its not me you should be telling im doing wrong, the amount of people i see lose chickens to foxes because in their circumstanes havent done enough to keep them safe.Im sorry if i sound ignorant but im going by my neighbours advice as i have done. I just like t get more opinions People are only here to offer opinions - I know what you're saying about your situation but there is more than 15 years of experience combined here I don't think its fair to blame some people that the fox got their hens as it is unlucky, I don't think you can ever be 100% safe from any predator ... ours are in a WIR with a wire skirt under the grass with slabs around the edge, but some how something got one of our bantams when we first started out ... Babs on the other hand used to run around the garden FR'ing on her own all day (she was kept separate because she hated other chickens ) and we never had a problem. People aren't telling you, you are doing wrong just saying what could go wrong so you can plan to prevent it. They're only little and so don't need as much FR time as hybrids. I think if you did want to give them more space, Christians idea of Omlet netting is a good one, then you can electrify it if needs be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 I just wanted to say that foxes don't only come out at night time..when they are hungry they come out at any time of the day...I thought our garden was completely fox-proof not least because the foxes have to cross at least two gardens in either direction to get into our garden which is fenced all round...nevertheless the fox took Not in the middle of the day, ( and now that he/she knows we have chooks is a regular visitor to the garden. Our (albeit small) dog is no deterrant, but neither is the labrador next door whose garden it crosses regularly. Every time we see it we watch to see where it is getting in/out and block that area off, and yet still it comes back. And I am not talking about an Urban Fox...this is a fox which lives down the road in the nature reserve with plentiful rabbits etc.. I'm not convinced that a full happy life in a good sized enclosure is any worse than a short life being allowed to free-range... Mine only free range when I am out in the garden and near them too these days...I'm not feeding any more foxes!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Chris, I think you think this anyway, but do always remember the polands physically can't see well enough to get out of way of a predator. I know they can FR, Patricia W on here does it very successfully, but they so don't need 6 acres to do it in. Actually I'm not sure their little legs could walk that far Please take extra care of them - I think that might be your plan in any case; so thanks in advance. As for the rest, yes everybody is right. There is no such thing as a fox free area. And I think anybody who has had to deal with the aftermath of a fox attack will tell you how shocking and appalling it is. There is always mass and wanton destruction. And guilt. My solution is to electric fence the polands (still a large pen - you can get 100m netting if you want) and let my big girls FR - on 0.25 of an acre which is plenty for a flock of LF orps. I work at home, I am very careful during the day, and fanatical at dusk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
