Can we talk about whether free ranging is worth the risk or not?

I've been keeping chickens for about 3 years now in my backyard outside of Portland. For the first two years I let them free range all day and they loved it, great egg taste, happy birds. But after losing three to a hawk last spring and two more to a neighbor's dog, I switched to a covered run full time. The eggs are still fine but the birds seem bored and I've had more pecking issues since then. Now I'm wondering if I'm being too cautious keeping them locked up or if the losses are just part of the deal. What do you other folks do, let them roam or keep them penned?

2 comments

2 Comments

wright.cole6d ago

You mentioned the pecking issues really jumped up after you penned them, and that's the angle nobody talks about. I've read that confined birds actually face higher stress and disease risks because they're stuck in their own waste and can't pick clean spots to dust bathe or hunt bugs. So maybe the "risk" of free ranging is balanced by better flock health and fewer vet bills from those cramped living problems.

amygonzalez6d ago

Our neighbor had a rooster that would chase the mail carrier every morning. That thing eventually started attacking cars.