Chicken bald back

[GQsm]

Hi,

 

I move into a new house soon and this will allow me to begin my first foray into chicken keeping.

The bottom of the garden backs onto council owned woodland that is free for public access. There is already our own gate in the fence to access the woodland direct. The woodland is quite big and the section near our garden is quiet and unaccessed, the footpaths people use being at the other side side of the woodland.

 

When I visit farms I like seeing the chickens free to wander around as they like in the large grounds, but our new garden is not huge and their run won't be a great expanse.

I am considering the idea of letting my pet chickens onto the woodland on occasion (only when I can supervise them) to give them some extra free range stimulation and a chance to forage for natural food.

 

I have done some research and have not found anything regarding it being a problem with the council.

 

Does anyone else let their chickens roam on public access or common land?

 

Thanks.

[Olly]

Welcome to the forum. There's a place on the edge of Epping Forest, near where I live, where the owner has geese and hens grazing every day - it's quite near a road but they never seem to wander off. I would be concerned about foxes, but otherwise I should think your hens would love it.

[The Dogmother]

I agree, but you may find that they decide to 'lay wild', and you can't find the eggs.

[sparkysmum]

have only just seem this thread, sorry. My fear would be dog walkers. We have permission from the people who own the land behind us, to let the hens use the land for pecking about but since a couple of dog walker use the grounds to exercise their dogs, I cant let them do it ;[[[