Free-ranging chickens is one of those personal choices that the chicken farmer needs to decide. We are excited to be able to free-range our chickens it makes them feel more like pets than just a source of eggs. But to some they just wanted them to be a source of eggs or a meat source. Either way, your chickens can have a healthy life!
Deciding to free range:
When it comes down to it we free range because they are pets and we want them to be as happy as possible! We have a nice coop and large covered run for the chickens. But giving them the ability to wonder in the grass and allow them to be near us is something that we wanted from the start!
How we free-range
We have good automation for our chickens so this is how the works out for us:
– 6:30 AM Chicken food is lowered and available for the chickens
– 7:00 AM Chicken run & Coop lights come on and the chickens start moving around the run
– 7:45 AM Chicken run opens allowing the chickens to wander the backyard
– 7:00 – 8:00 PM Chickens start migrating towards the run on their own
– 9:00 PM Lights in the run turn off
– 9:15 PM Chicken run gate closes locking chickens in the run for the night and keeping them safe from predators
– 9:30 PM Lights in the coops turn off (This encourages the chickens to go into the coop)
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