Should You Free-Range Your Backyard Chickens

I’ve been asked multiple times if it’s a good idea to free-range your backyard chickens. There’s really no right or wrong answer. You first need to determine your predator load and the risk to your chickens.

Being in the city plus having Sugar, our Livestock Guardian dog, on duty has reduced our risk tremendously.

What are the Benefits of Free-Range Backyard Chickens

Pest Control

Backyard chickens eat all sorts of pests, like mice, rodents, and bugs. I’ve even seen our girls chase a squirrel away. We still have mosquitos but the amount of bugs has definitely decreased. 

Healthy Chickens

Chickens that free-range are physically active and healthier than those that don’t. Our girls get lots of exercise everyday (and thanks to Sugar, maybe a little more than they’d like).

If you don’t lose one to a predator, it’s thought they will live longer. 

Healthier Eggs

Free Range hens, because they are getting more exercise, are believed to produce eggs that have less cholesterol, lower in fat, and higher in Omega-3.

Save on feed

If your chickens are free-ranging, they are eating bugs, grass, seeds and other goodies they find. So ideally they are eating less feed. 

Why would you not want to free range your backyard chickens

Predators

If you decide to free-range your backyard chickens, there is a high probability that you will lose a chicken to a predator. Everything wants to eat your chickens. 

For birds of prey, make sure you have places where your birds can escape to if needed. We have lawn furniture placed strategically around the yard plus our deck they can run and hide under. Additionally, they love to hang out in our red tip bushes.

For more info on predator proofing, check out that blog post. 

Chicken Poop Everywhere 

Chickens poop everywhere.

I no longer go barefoot in the backyard and have to be careful sitting on the furniture. If you don’t want poop on backyard furniture, you will need to fence off. Any time we are having guests, I hose off the patio and check the lawn chairs.

Chicken poop makes excellent fertilizer. However, it’s high in nitrogen and needs to be composted for 4-6 months. It can cause damage to your plants or grass, leaving burned spots.

Damage to your lawn and landscape 

Chickens live to scratch. If you have nice landscaping or a garden, it’s hard to keep them out of it. So far, our yard has been fine but their run hasn’t had grass in years.

They love plants and if they can gain access to yours, they will eat them (if they didn’t already dig them up). 

They may even decide there’s an area in the yard that would make the perfect dust bath.

Ours have several spots even though we provide a dust bath in their run.

Supervised Free-Ranging for Backyard Chickens

Some people have adopted supervised free-ranging for backyard chickens. This is a great alternative if you don’t feel it’s safe for your birds to have full access to the yard outside of their run. I love to sit outside in the evenings and watch the girls scratch around. It’s quite the stress reliever. 

Just be aware, if you turn your back or go inside for a minute, you could lose one. The Bearded Rooster was working in the garden and went in for a drink, and in that short time, we lost a baby chick to a hawk. 

Free-Range your Backyard Chickens with a Chicken Tractor. 

Another alternative to free-ranging is a chicken tractor. A chicken tractor is a portable coop and run that you can move from place to place. This gives your chickens access to grass and bugs.

There is still a risk that digging predators could get in unless you place hardware cloth or rocks around it. I have a friend that uses a large chicken tractor and moves it every week. It works well for her. 

If you decide not to free-range your backyard chickens, make sure your birds have adequate space.

It’s recommended 10 square feet per bird but I’d try and do 15. The coop should be 3 square feet per bird. 

There are several things you can do to your coop and run to provide entertainment and exercise. 

• Chicken toys
• Add roost bars at different levels so the birds can hop/fly around. 
• Logs or tree stumps that are different height and sizes
• Old Ladder they can climb on
• Dust bath
• Chicken Pinata or chicken garland
• Hanging Basket for vegetable scraps 
• Flock block
• Bale of Hay
• Mirror

Free-ranging your backyard chickens is really a personal choice and you need to outweigh the pros and cons. 

So whatever you decide, just know there is no right or wrong answer. What works for your neighbor, may not work for you. I do know that whatever you decide, your girls will be happy and provide you with an abundance of eggs.