Tuesday, June 1, 2010

[CHICKENS-101] Free Range? Yes or no...

 

Hi,

I was hoping I could get some advice on whether or not I should free range. I live in rural RI on a 3/4 acre piece of property. The back yard (where the coop will be located) is fenced in - some stockade and some chain link. Not critter proof. Area predators are coyotes, foxes, racoons, possoms and hawks. I have not seen any of the four legged animals in our actual yard. I do see hawks flying. We have several big evergreen trees and a couple of deciduous trees in our yard. I think trees provide protection from predators? We have RI Reds, Araucanas, Barred Rocks and Black sex-linked. They are all the same age born around 5/15/10. There are 12 chickens. We have no other pets. We will have a garden but it will be fenced in separately.

I would really like to free range them because I think they will be happier and healthier (other than if they get eaten) and that the eggs will taste better...But, I can make them a really nice large run if that is the best option. It will just be very expensive...

Thanks in advance!

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