How old do chickens have to be before you can free range them?

How do you free-range your chickens?

• I want to get a chicken coop :) I would love to have the chickens free-range, but there are hawks in my neighborhood and I dont think I could bear it if one of them was caught. How ...show more

• Answer:

  My flock is out of the coop every day by daylight and run around all day in a fenced area that's' about 1/2 acre and they have a pond grasses weeds a shed many half tubs up side down to jump on or set on and a toilet full of hay for resting or laying those eggs old empty milk crates a huge spool the roo uses to get higher on to express him self with a very loud and long crowing session., plus a nice coop the yard is fenced all around and the coop is chicken wire and a cement floor to keep other animals from digging under have 3 pens for peeps or injured birds or to keep to roos apart.There also are several trees in the yard so big birds would have a tough time to get a bird since they would have to swoop under a tree and try to get back up with the weight of a chicken which are the heavy breeds. At night when the birds get ready they enter the coop and proceed to a roost area they all have an order as far as this goes as well the roo gets the best seat the hens will get one as well either beside the roo or on another area of this coop I use dirt to cover the floor with dead leaves to protect the birds feet and wings when they leave the roost in the morning...... You have to have a good coop or fenced in area to keep all predators out this may also include a over head net or wire to keep birds out but a net other critters will tear apart.so wire must be the source to use. Some people do allow the bids to run about while they are present to be sure they are safe but the birds like to peck and scratch for foods and a few days a week is ok but I think they do better out running around. When I 1st started I didn't know wild animals do get the birds by ripping the heads off this is a coon or by ripping the body apart that's a weasel they are killers as well and will leave the birds all piled up or ripped apart. a snake will will eat the entire thing with no trace. Cats kill eat soft areas will leave feathers and wings, Skunks are egg stealer's and could kill smaller birds, Opossums rob the nests eat small birds right where they kill it and can attack the birds while at rest. Rats will roll the eggs away can kill baby birds, wolf will kill and take the whole bird, Fox will kill for the spot of it and could carry off one to feed on for self or for cubs.Bobcats will get the heads and leave wounds on back sides and necks. Hawks, Eagles and Owls are after smaller birds and can carry off and will find feathers only. When you want to know what critter is in your coop area place some soft sand around the outside of the coop area pen shed and see what tracks are present the next day if any....