beach chick Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 my birds have got more and more into the art of escapology. after going out 5 times in the space of an hour this morning and finding any combination of the 4 out of their omlet fencing and roaming the garden, I have just given up! so now they are all out having a whale of a time. I just hope they go back to bed when it's time... I have left a wide opening into the run so they can find their way back, and that's where the food and water is, 3 had laid in the nesting box this morning, so I am hoping that they are in a good enough routine to keep laying there rather than just going wherever takes their fancy. if I could find a way to keep them inside the fencing I would, but nothing seems to work! (altho we havent wing clipped yet, but I've read on here that others found it made no difference). am I mad, or do other people find complete freeranging ok (in terms of the garden, being able to find the eggs, shutting them in at night, foxes, etc etc)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 free ranging is fine.... as long as you don't mind plants being eaten & poo all over the patio We have now compromised- the girls have home-made netting that cost under a fiver made from Wilkinson's fruit netting & really tall garden canes. They are confined to the bottom of the garden from the front of my shed to the fence. Thet have quite a good area, they love going behind the shed for snails & we now have plants again & can walk on the grass barefoot They free range 5 days out of 7 , & I have never seen a fox around here, but I am still on guard for them. At night the girls put themselves to bed & we just lock the run door securely (checknig in the nesting box for no cats first- but that's another thread that someone posted recently!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 Mine free range and always have and just automatically go back to the pen during the day as and shen they want to eat - and lay eggs in the nesting box of the Eglu. They have fresh water in the pen, but are not fussy and drink from anywhere the find it in the garden. Never had any problem with them going back in at night. But as mentioned before - with hybrid sized hens - the poo and digging up plants and lawns if often a problem - especially in the winter when the grass is not growing so does not have time to recover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SallyD Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 Mine did have the whole garden to free range in but have now made a run with omlet netting for them. My little grandson has just started walking and as he spends a lot of time at our house i couldnt bear the thought of him getting covered in chicken poo in the garden! They don't seem to mind their new area and always lay in the nest box and put themselves to bed at night. It's also good to have got control back of some of my plants!! I feel i've made a good compromise and we're all happy! Sally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 That's what its all about Sally isn't it. Mine go in their big pen when my little toddler grandson is about for the same reason - and if it hasn't rained the paths are hosed down and the lawn is cut before he comes - keeps everybody happy then But mine are little bantams so I don't get any damage - other than poo here and there and some of the gravel off the paths has to be swept back - a small price to pay for such joy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted July 19, 2007 Author Share Posted July 19, 2007 thanks all, that's really encouraging. we have a huge garden, so I am hoping the poo problem wont be too bad - not as if they always have to go in the same place! but the really cheap netting and tall canes is a great idea for a reserve plan. I have to say we sat out with a glass of wine tonight, and it was lovely just to watch them foraging. most of my plants are shrubs and perennials, I dont really go in for bedding plants, and I have some cages of chicken wire that I use against the rabbit when plants are babies. we are going to make sure they only get treats in the run area as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 Sounds like you have it sorted - you just can't beat seeing them running around and foraging - so relaxing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 We're the same as Dilly. Our 2 have had total free range since day 1, they go back to the run/eglu with ease and will drink anywhere around the garden (we have a large drinker on the decking outside the back door). I regularly hose down the decking throughout the day. Our girls suprisingly dont touch any of my plants.. even my busy lizzies and pots are intact and the only bit they have made for themselves is a dust bath area under a large fatsia plant in one of the borders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 I am envious - I would love to let mine free range, but I estimate that they would have around 30 minutes of fun, possibly less, before the fox got them. Tonight I was on the phone at around 7.00 pm, glanced out of the back door, and saw him sniffing hopefully around the run; the girls were safely inside, because I've already learned that they can only free-range safely if I am physically present in the garden. There was a lot of bawk-bawking going on, though! I don't blame the fox, he's doing what instinct tells him, but it is very frustrating; after this evening I think I am going to get a foxwatch, in the hope that it will deter him from using my garden. You may well not have a fox around, or if you're in a more rural area the fox may only come around at night - I do hope so, and hope your girls can enjoy their freedom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Olly - have you tried hanging human hair all around your garden (stuff some in tights) Or more all around the chicken netting area you have? You can get bags of it from any hairdresser - if you don't mind their quizzical looks. It does work though - honestly - and keeps away deer too. (Well it works on rural foxes ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 It depends if they are at risk from foxes, or even cats. Apart from that they'll be very happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 If there are any adult male humans around then their excess "water" placed around the garden boundaries is supposed to keep foxes away Unfortunately as much as DS2 who is 3 tries to help me in the garden fox watch with his excess water he is not much use until he is an adult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Sometimes I have to work all day at the weekend but mostly mine freerange 6 days a week. My garden is a reasonable size and they started with one dustbath site and have now progressed to 4 favourite dust bath sites in the border. I only have shrubs not flowers and they don't touch them much. Mine have their water and food in their run, so they are used to going back to the run for this and so far they have laid all their eggs in the eglu. I shut mine in the run at dusk. I find the only drawback them having my entire back garden to enjoy, is the amount of poo. It's everywhere. I seem to go on a poop collection trip 4 times a day. Their fav place to poop is right outside the back door so I'm working on a solution to keep them away from that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Their fav place to poop is right outside the back door Why IS that????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Beats me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milly Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Because they spend ages there, hoping to be let in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 True Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 We are all as bad as each other aren't we Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
