Goldstar Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 Yesterday I let my chickens out to free range. I let them out at 12.30 and they put themselves to bed at 9.10. My question is - is this length of time ok, or should it be less? How long do other people let theirs out for. Also when you give them treats do you give them on the lawn or in the run? Yesterday they didnt have any because they ate lots of snails and slugs and didnt want to over feed them, but then felt guilty this morning for not giving them anything. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crankycookie Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 I used to free range my girls all the time, but then we had some predator issues and now they just FR when I am home to supervise. As long as they are secure as soon as it gets dark (and you don't have any issues with daytime predators, like hawks or foxes) I'd say you could probably let them FR all day. They find treats enough in the grass and bugs they find, but they do come running as soon as I walk out with anything resembling a dish in my hand. If I need to round them up in a hurry, I feed them their treats in the run. Food is the great motivator, and it saves me from having to chase each one down. Otherwise I just toss their treats onto the lawn for them to peck at throughout the day. As far as overfeeding, I never really have to worry about that- letting them out in the afternoon ensures they fill up on their feed first so egg production isn't affected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 I wouldn't leave mine out that late unless I was watching them - too much risk of a fox visiting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 I always put mine in the run well before twilight. If the light drops below a certain level before they have made theuir way home, they will be unable to find it, and they will be very vulnerable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txswanie Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 I let my ladies out at 7.30am and they free range until 8pm when they put themselves to bed. No problems so far. Colette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 Mine are out between 8ish and 9ish in the summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 At the moment we are putting our girls in the run about 8:00 / 8:15 ish. If I am doing little jobs in the garden the girls will stay out longer and probably go straight from free ranging up to bed but that is only if I am physically with them. Being daylight doesn't automatically mean that they are safe from foxes but I think the chance of foxes is greater as it gets darker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliec Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 mine free range all day, the get let out about 8 am and then put themselves to bed around 9ish although it is getting earlier as twilight gets earlier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 6:00AM-9:00PM There sometimes monsters and take half an hour to put themselves to bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldstar Posted July 30, 2010 Author Share Posted July 30, 2010 Thank you everyone for your replies. If they free range all day do they go back to the coop to lay their eggs or do you find them in the garden? This moning I found a soft egg that must have been layed yesterday laying on the lawn. I would be happy to let them in the garden all day (as long as I am there) if I knew they would lay in the house, I dont fancy going on an egg hunt everyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennydavies Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 Ours F/R in the garden, but always lay in the nestbox. The WIR gate is left open while they are in the garden and they return when they want to. They come back to the hen-house at 10ish each night, but we are out there watering the veg garden (we have very late sunsets down here - 11.15 last night) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 Mine free range from about 6am till they put themselves to bed. These days it's about 9ish, athough the ex-bats seem to stay up longer. They are behind an electric fence so are OK. The Polands go back to their cube to lay eggs and the ex-bats go back to their eglu. The ex- bats would like to move in with the Polands, but Phillip, the cockerel and Mrs Phillip aren't having at the moment. They perch in the doorway in the evening and the ex-bats can't get past them! Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Rhode Island Red Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 I let mine out at about 8.45 in the morning. During the winter I lock them up during twilight During the summer they are locked up at 9.00. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallyChook Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 same as most on here, mine are let out at the same time I have breakfast in a morning, then they return themselves to bed at twilight qand I just keep an eye thru the kitchen window and lock them once they're all inside. There are a lot of foxes around us, so far they've not been too interested but I'm sure that will change one day. I had the best watch-cockerel ever in Sir Lancelot , but since he passed away Monday I have been more watchful. New cock arrives this evening and hopefully will be as good at getting the alarm signals right too. My aunt lives in the house and doens't often go out, so there is always someone around to hear the alarm and keep checking on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 Mine FR most of the day. They will go back into the eglu to lay a proper egg but a soft egg just seems to be dropped anywhere when it happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 Having read how long most of you let your hens FR I am feeling quite guilty I've been letting mine out about 4pm in the afternoon and then putting them back in after about an hour and a half or maybe 2hrs weekdays. On the weekends they are out longer as there are two of us keep an eye on them. I do worry about the possibility of a fox coming when I'm not in the garden with them and once I'm back in the house it's not easy to see them as they tend to go under the shrubs or to other parts of the garden that I can't see from my living room. Would it be safe to leave them out for longer? I'm also a bit worried about how much poo 4 hens would do during a longer period of being out. I seem to be forever walking around with a bag in hand picking up poo from the lawn or the patio as I get paranoid about it being walked into the house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 You could use some omlet netting to restrict them to one part of the garden if you are worried about poo. I leave a hose out as well to wash it away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 You could use some omlet netting to restrict them to one part of the garden if you are worried about poo. I leave a hose out as well to wash it away. Good idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
