I just built a run with a lifted coop and I've never had chickens before. The enclosed run measures about 13x6, and the coop is 5x6. We're only allowed up to 8 chickens and I have 4 right now. My original plan was to free range them in my quarter acre back yard. My neighborhood has a lot of wooded land, and we do have wild life, and I know that there is a danger associated with letting them out but ultimately I feel it's best for them to be able to roam free. I might think differently if a hawk attacks them though! ugh. Not sure what I want to do now that I'm getting to know them lol.. its only been about a week in the coop. I wanted them to learn that it's their home before letting them out. Anyways, you gave me some stuff to think about!
We have two coops, one is primary chicken and the other is where we put turkeys for the time we have them. When turkeys aren’t there the chickens get a bonus space. We have connected the runs to both coops for even more space. Currently hubs and I are working on extending the run area to behind the coops too. When done they will have about a half acre total of space to roam safely. We have a vicious fox that has taken over 30 chickens from us in the last three years so they simply cannot free range without some sort of protection
Free range chickens are the best thing you can do If you don’t have enough space, just get three or four. In my opinion, they are more fun than a dog, all have different personalties and are calming to watch
We give our chickens around 2-3hrs of free range time in the late afternoon when hawk predation is less likely to occur. They automatically return to the coop at dusk. The coop/run is enclosed by a 60x40 foot fenced chicken yard so we have multiple layers of security (including the roosters which have already fought off one hawk attack). Chickens are such curious little creatures that they do get bored when kept in small areas - it’s not only good for their physical health to free range, but their mental health as well. We have far less fights/conflicts when they’re allowed to range and spread out. Thanks for another great video, Tom!
I free ranged a dozen chickens for a year. I live in Iowa in a wooded area. We have coyotes, fox, bobcat, raccoons, opossums, hawks, eagles….I am down to 5. All victims of my own dogs.
I absolutely love that you share so much information without showing off how glamorous your homestead is and how your way is the only way and your product are the only products to use. Love watching you and you beautiful family. Stay humble and God bless you guys ❤
I learn so much from your videos that help me be a more confident chicken owner(and proud of the time and effort and $ I have spent). Sometimes I think I'm not doing it right, but you are so right that I am certainly better than a for profit factory!
We are lucky to have 5 acres. We used to free range our older hens but our new hens are going in the road so we blocked them in about an acre which makes me feel better that they are not going into the road.
I have 15 silkies and they free range in my yard and neighbors yards and i live in a small town where they say you cant free range. Been doing it for 7 years and everyone loves my silkies. 🐣🐤🐥🐓
The life of those factory chickens is not healthy for them, and that means it’s not healthy for us. ❤ Thank you guys for making those chickens have the best lives that you could give them!
We just chicken cooped a 10x20 carport from TSC for about $350.00. $159.99 for the carport, $79.99 for the chicken wire and the rest for hardware amd ancillaries.
Could you tell us again what kind of feed you give your chickens? I've never seen it in my area (from what I remember about the bag), but would like to check into ordering it if possible. Thanks in advance!!
We would like to raise meatbirds, so need to build a chicken tractor. I just worry about predators getting them. We have everything you can imagine, hawks, owls, raccoons, fox, etc. How do you keep them from digging underneath the run?
I wish I could show you how my nextdoor neighbour keeps his chickens. It's f#@king so cruel. I've tried reporting him to the RSPCA but they said they havnt got the resources or funding to attend the call... They are kept in a 4x4 metal dog crate with a plastic house with a peice of clear plastic on top... They don't come out they hardly get fed.. currently in a muddy puddle cuz its been raining in UK for 3 days straight. Least they have water 😢😢 it's killing me
I just built a run with a lifted coop and I've never had chickens before. The enclosed run measures about 13x6, and the coop is 5x6. We're only allowed up to 8 chickens and I have 4 right now. My original plan was to free range them in my quarter acre back yard. My neighborhood has a lot of wooded land, and we do have wild life, and I know that there is a danger associated with letting them out but ultimately I feel it's best for them to be able to roam free. I might think differently if a hawk attacks them though! ugh. Not sure what I want to do now that I'm getting to know them lol.. its only been about a week in the coop. I wanted them to learn that it's their home before letting them out. Anyways, you gave me some stuff to think about!
We have two coops, one is primary chicken and the other is where we put turkeys for the time we have them. When turkeys aren’t there the chickens get a bonus space. We have connected the runs to both coops for even more space. Currently hubs and I are working on extending the run area to behind the coops too. When done they will have about a half acre total of space to roam safely. We have a vicious fox that has taken over 30 chickens from us in the last three years so they simply cannot free range without some sort of protection
Nooice! 😎 STOC we just started chickens in November 2023 and i am learning a lot! Thank you for sharing the knowledge!
Free range chickens are the best thing you can do
If you don’t have enough space, just get three or four. In my opinion, they are more fun than a dog, all have different personalties and are calming to watch
This is true!
We give our chickens around 2-3hrs of free range time in the late afternoon when hawk predation is less likely to occur. They automatically return to the coop at dusk. The coop/run is enclosed by a 60x40 foot fenced chicken yard so we have multiple layers of security (including the roosters which have already fought off one hawk attack). Chickens are such curious little creatures that they do get bored when kept in small areas - it’s not only good for their physical health to free range, but their mental health as well. We have far less fights/conflicts when they’re allowed to range and spread out. Thanks for another great video, Tom!
I free ranged a dozen chickens for a year. I live in Iowa in a wooded area. We have coyotes, fox, bobcat, raccoons, opossums, hawks, eagles….I am down to 5. All victims of my own dogs.
Excellent video!! You made some really good points. The tractors are a great alternative.
Oh my gosh!! Two of my favorite Chicken people see each other's videos!!!!!
@@hurricanevolf7165 It's like when they crossed the streams in Ghostbusters LOL
@@WelcometoChickenlandia 🤭It is!!
Thank you! Love what you have done for the chicken community and hope to learn more from you as well
I absolutely love that you share so much information without showing off how glamorous your homestead is and how your way is the only way and your product are the only products to use. Love watching you and you beautiful family. Stay humble and God bless you guys ❤
4:20 Mine ditched their old nesting box and now lay under a bush 😂😂 and they won’t give it up at all
I learn so much from your videos that help me be a more confident chicken owner(and proud of the time and effort and $ I have spent). Sometimes I think I'm not doing it right, but you are so right that I am certainly better than a for profit factory!
We are lucky to have 5 acres. We used to free range our older hens but our new hens are going in the road so we blocked them in about an acre which makes me feel better that they are not going into the road.
I have 15 silkies and they free range in my yard and neighbors yards and i live in a small town where they say you cant free range. Been doing it for 7 years and everyone loves my silkies. 🐣🐤🐥🐓
Well sounds like you have great neighbors!
The life of those factory chickens is not healthy for them, and that means it’s not healthy for us. ❤ Thank you guys for making those chickens have the best lives that you could give them!
Thank you for the nice words 😁
We just chicken cooped a 10x20 carport from TSC for about $350.00. $159.99 for the carport, $79.99 for the chicken wire and the rest for hardware amd ancillaries.
Netting does not keep hawks from killing chickens. I had 2 layers of netting across my chicken run & still lost all my chickens to the hawk.
Definitely the better way if you can do it
Could you tell us again what kind of feed you give your chickens? I've never seen it in my area (from what I remember about the bag), but would like to check into ordering it if possible. Thanks in advance!!
We would like to raise meatbirds, so need to build a chicken tractor. I just worry about predators getting them. We have everything you can imagine, hawks, owls, raccoons, fox, etc. How do you keep them from digging underneath the run?
I'm on 4 acres and let my chickens free-range, luckily no loss to predators but it's time consuming having to scavenger hunt for the eggs
I'm new to the channel. Do you sell your eggs and meat or is it all for your family's consumption?
I wish I could show you how my nextdoor neighbour keeps his chickens. It's f#@king so cruel. I've tried reporting him to the RSPCA but they said they havnt got the resources or funding to attend the call... They are kept in a 4x4 metal dog crate with a plastic house with a peice of clear plastic on top... They don't come out they hardly get fed.. currently in a muddy puddle cuz its been raining in UK for 3 days straight. Least they have water 😢😢 it's killing me
I have 6, but they are not laying yet.
You will love when they start to do it!
Am new