How to Raise Free-Range Chickens: Everything You Need to Know
Are you wondering how to raise free-range chickens either entirely or alongside coop confinement, too? If so, you’re in the right place! In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about successfully raising free-range chickens and answer common questions.
Allowing chickens to roam free comes with various pros and cons. Some chicken keepers prefer this method, while others go with raising their flock in a coop. You can also do a mixture of both.
Let’s take a look at the top tips for raising free-ranging chickens!
How to Raise Free-Range Chickens
There’s a lot to know about letting chickens free-range for the first time. But once you have the hang of it, it’s incredibly rewarding for both you and your flock.
Research Hardy Breeds
While many chicken breeds can survive as free-range chickens, some breeds do better at thriving. Hardy breeds that don’t require much attention, handle harsher conditions, and protect themselves from predators are the best free-range chickens.
These breeds are known to adapt well to being free-range: Ameraucana, Ancona, Andalusian, Araucana, Australorp, Barnevelder, Brahma, BuckeyeBuff Sablepoot (Booted Bantam), Campine, Delaware, Dominique, Dorking, Holland, Jaerhon, Java, Jersey Giant, La Fleche, Langshan, Minorca, Naked Neck, New Hampshire, Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island, Spanish White Ear, Sussex, Welsumer, and Wyandotte.
Be Mindful of Predators
Predators such as snakes, raccoons, foxes, and wild cats love free-range chickens, and it can be tricky to keep them away. You want to be sure you can secure free-range chickens, especially if these animals are known to frequent where you live.
A few suggestions for keeping predators away include having a guard animal, using motion-activated lights, and blocking all opened spaces.
Learn more here about how to keep predators away.
Make Sure They’re Getting Enough Food
If you’re wondering what to feed free-range chickens, you can leave it (mostly!) up to nature. One of the best parts about raising free-range chickens is that you probably won’t need to buy as much feed.
Chickens usually like finding grass, bugs, and other outdoor plants and creatures. With that said, you may want to provide some feed to ensure they’re getting enough.
Tip: If your flock seems healthy and hens are laying eggs, this is a sign of a balanced diet.
Chicken Proof Your Garden
This one’s a quick tip on how to raise free-range chickens! Speaking of food, you’ll want to make sure you chicken-proof your garden so they can’t enjoy your plants as their next meal. Adding a simple fence is a great way to keep your flowers and herbs safe.
Observe Your Flock’s Health
Free-range chickens have the opportunity to have optimal health since they’re able to be more active, and they’re not in close quarters with the rest of the flock. With that said, they’re also prone to more illness when they roam free. One common issue is your flock finding harmful things to eat, such as treated grass.
To ensure your free-range chickens stay healthy, observe them regularly to ensure everything seems okay. If you notice any issues, contact your vet.
Read more: Common Chicken Illnesses: Everything You Need to Know
Collect Eggs Often
When your chickens have ample space to lay eggs, finding and collecting them can be a lot of work. To make things easier, collect them often. You can also place faux eggs in designated spaces to train your chickens to lay in specific areas.
Check out these fun reusable acrylic eggs holders!
Train Chickens to Return to Coop
You may want your chickens to return to the coop at night or when you’re away for a while. If so, you’ll need to train them to go back to the coop. An easy trick for this is training them to come when called. You can use food to do this and have your dominant hen lead the way.
How to Raise Free-Range Chickens: FAQ
Still have a few questions about free-ranging chickens? We’ve got the answers!
What are the pros and cons of free-range chickens?
There are several pros and cons to free-ranging chickens. Knowing what they are helps decide if letting your flock roam free is right for you.
Pros of free-range chickens:
- You may not need to buy as much feed.
- They can keep insects and other pests away.
- You don’t need to have large coops.
- They’re able to be more active.
- They’re likely to have better health.
Cons of free-range chickens:
- They may eat your plants.
- Collecting eggs might be more challenging.
- They can attract predators.
- They get used to not being in a coop.
- They’re susceptible to more illness.
How far will free-range chickens roam?
Typically, free-range chickens will roam up to a few hundred feet away. While they like to explore, they usually won’t get too far from their shelter and water unless they feel like they’re in danger.
To make sure your chickens don’t roam too far, make sure you’ve predator-proofed their space and that they know where their shelter and water are.
Do free-range chickens need feed?
This depends. If they’re foraging and getting a balanced diet, they don’t need feed. You can usually tell this by their egg production and overall health.
If you want to supplement what your free-range chickens are finding in nature, you can always provide some chicken feed and refill their feeder as needed.
How to Raise Free-Range Chickens Final Thoughts
Raising free-range chickens is gratifying in many ways. Not only do they enjoy exploring, but you can also appreciate watching your flock run free!
We hope this guide has helped you decide if free-ranging is right for you and has you feeling confident about raising a happy and healthy flock.
