patsylabrador Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 I was wondering if I am the only one who's chickens don't free range at all? I'm sure they are very happy, I can see them now, digging round the plants in their run. The funny thing is that when I cleaned them out on Saturday I forgot to shut the WIR door and they didn't seem to notice, they just helped me clean out the coop ( or not). They will come to the door when I approach them but make no effort to leave. It's some kind of conditioning I guess but works in my favour as we seem to be surrounded by foxes, rats, cats and dogs. Also my garden isn't completely secure and I can't imagine the mayhem if they got onto the busy main road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legend21 Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 mine plan escape committees and when I go into the run they all rush me It is very successful, I think it is a case of dont miss what you dont have Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayleybug Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 i'm sure if you have a WIR then they will be fine without full FR, i obviously speak as someone who doesnt yet have any chooks but this is what i plan to do with mine since there are gaps in the boundaries either side of my house and i dont want them to move in next door! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 Most of mine dont free range, I have one group that gets to, some get a bit of time out at the weekends and one group doesnt get any - that group (the 'flighty' birds) take great delight in barging the door of their run hoping it will open, we have had a couple of escape commitees Some of my Pekins got out last week when I turned my back to fill their water and I had to leave for work with one cockerel still loose having jumped over the fence in to a neighbouring field and flapped in to the distance hubby went out at lunchtime to find the cockerel trying to get back in his run - I dont think he liked the outside world! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 I had to actually shoo them out of the WIR the last time I cleaned it out, I think they've conditioned themselves not to go out now. Too many foxes in my neighbourhood unfortunately. I do let them out as I say when I'm cleaning but its so stressfull trying to keep an eye on them and clean, its such a relief when they go back in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 Thats what the man at Thornes told me when i first got hens, if they are never let out they are none the wiser. I think its true as when i got my last lot they didn't want to come out and i had to encourage them out. Now they all rush to the door to be let out at lunchtime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 Mine make no attempt to come out of the run in the morning when I feed them but in the afternoon its a free for all as to who can get out first. It must be conditioning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 mine would not be happy with no FR'ing they have been out, oooh close to 7 hours spoilt madams cant expect it like this all the time though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 I've got one group of 5 that free ranges from 7am to nightime every day. My other three live in a cube and run and have never had any FR time. Both seem happy. Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 I let mine freerange as much as possible-weekends they're out from about 6.00am till dusk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 Mine make no attempt to come out of the run in the morning when I feed them but in the afternoon its a free for all as to who can get out first. It must be conditioning. Same here too. Mine usually only get to come out after 3pm - if I open the run door in the morning on a day off they just get this confused look for a couple of minutes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beulah59 Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 Mine free range when we're home ... some days it can be all day, and others they don't get out at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 At first my girls free ranged alot, but that all changed when I lost one of them to a fox. They are now in a WIR with some supervised free-ranging (mainly during the winter months only - I got fed up with them trashing the garden). They come out occasionally in the summer, a maximum of two at a time, under very close supervision and with much shooing off the borders. Don't feel guilty if you are not able to let your girls free range. They still have plenty of space to do normal chickeny things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 Mine rush out when I open the door but 20 minutes later, I usually see them all happily scratching about or perching back in the WIR . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 Mine only get very limited free ranging and all seem happy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
