good_egg Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 In a happy turn of fate our neighbours dogs have moved away and the neighbourhood has become much safer for chickens! I am trying to get used to leaving the girls to get on with running around the garden unsupervised and am currently sat inside watching them chase magpies. We have been here a year and have been refining the chicken setup over that time. We were going to put them on concrete/slabs under the bedding soon but while we have been sat watching have been debating the possibility of just removing the run for the cube and letting them completely FR! Does anybody do this? How does it work for you? Our concerns are escapees and foxes really. There are foxes here but as we live near a pheasant stocked wood they seem to stay away from the scary houses (or we have never seen and the FR chooks/geese/ducks etc nearby have never been taken). The major advantages of freedom for the girls and less crawling around on knees poo picking seem quite attractive. What do you clever omlet people reckon I should do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 It's up to you really but you run the small risk of them being taken. I free range mine only when someones home and I regularly check out the window to see them (one of the benefits of having a small garden!). A safer option would be to buy electric fencing and sit the cube in this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 It's a personal decision, but I would keep the run on. Then you have the best of both worlds:- a safe enclosure for when your out/away on holiday, but with the run door open free range heaven!!!! You'll just have to chicken proof your garden!!!! Also as has already been said I too only free range mine when I'm home and keep an eye/ear out for them!!! Emjoy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 I would keep the run on even if you choose to free range them because the eglu run is fox proof so you can leave the house door open. You won't have to get up to let them out the house then and makes it easier for people to look after them when you go on holiday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redcharlie43 Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 I have a halfway house setup. I don't have a walk in run. But like you i don't seem to have foxes roaming around as they seem far more interested in the pheasants and bunnies! I have a cube with a 3m run. I have an area taped off with the omlet netting. If I am at work I let them out of the cube run and they are enclosed with the netting and put themselves to bed at night if i am at work. I close the run up at night when i get home but leave the cube door open. In the morning they can let them selves into the secure cube run. I then let them into the netted area before i go to work. If i am around then they are let out of the omlet netting and they can free range in the garden. (much to my lovely OH annoyance as they leave presents on the patio! ).It works well for me and the chickens are thriving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surf_space Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 My 5 free range all the time and love it! We have never had any trouble yet! (touch wood) We still have a run with their food in or incase they need to be kept in/ if we are on holiday, however, they barely use it for full days (they free range even if we are out). Our set up and routine is dead easy, we let the hens out in the morning and they put themselves to bed at night. We check on them to make sure they are all safe then lock them up for the evening. We have made our garden escape proof so no breakouts occur (though they once escaped under our old gate but came back when we called). I feel it is really nice letting them out in the garden and they are either following us round or pecking nearby. Its such a joy to watch them roam and forage. We have seen foxes near our house but our hens have never been taken. And the cats well ...we once saw a big orange fur ball by our hens and thought it had eaten them, but to our surprise it was sunbathing with the hens foraging around it (maybe a chicken massage ) so they seam to get on. Hope this helps, and good luck with what you decide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 Thanks for replying everyone. I think we will probably leave them where they are (boo to crawling in run more) and then we have the option to let them free range but its not a necessity. They loved being out over the weekend when we were about, but I'm not brave enough to have left them today while I'm at work. Worried about them being defenceless in their beds in the dark. Has just dawned on me there's another option of moving cube and one run (so no extension) up to back - I do wish I was capable of making a decision! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Oooh! That is very brave! My FR area has an electric fence because sadly we have a few foxes - so I envy the chance to let your girls have complete free range. Have fun - I love letting my girls out and seeing them go crazy at the grass and dust bathing in funny places x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
