[Jacinta]

I'm considering letting the girls free range in the evening and at weekends, when we are about.  They have been in a 12'x6' run between 3 of them so far but would love to see them potter about the garden.  I have two ponds which will be tricky to fence off and the edge of the garden meets our garage and a 5' gate, then on to a lane if they strayed that far.  My cats seems to be loosing interest now but i am just a little concerned they will wander too far or not come back.  What is their range and do they tend to potter near what they know?  They definitely associate me with food, will that be enough to keep them near?       

[Fisherman]

I would suggest you get them to associate to a sound such as whistling or shaking a food container in order to get them to come home. Start off by whistling (or whatever) when you're going out giving them treats and the will soon put two and two together!

However watch out as they will take the first opportunity to take advantage especially of a newly dug garden patch (yours or your neighbours). Turn your back for 1 minute and the little devils take advantage. For example I planted some French beans yesterday under a cloche but left the end open to prevent it from overheating. Went for a brew and on my return found 4 chickens having a sand bath under the cloche.

Mine travel no more than about 75 yards from their coop but generally stay within 50 yards or so. A lot depends on a food source.

I wouldn't worry about ponds.

You will enjoy watching them free range.

Good luck

[Jacinta]

I've built netted frames for over my veg plots so they should be safe!  Most of the flower beds are well established too so hopefully there won't be too much havoc.  They already run over to me in the run expecting treats and i keep their wheat/mealworms in a tupperware box that they definitely recognize.  

[evie2]

Don't worry about the ponds, they'll probable drink from them anyway even though you'll give them a nice clean bowl of water.  Ours like to stand on the pond when it's iced over

[wildy78]

I used to let mine wander completely free range on our yard, if they have the room and a clear view they will wander a good distance, i reckon ours wandered at least 150 yards from the coop but always came back when i shook a metal container filled with mixed corn.  I would be wary of the cats.

[retribution]

i have to keep a close eye on mine, as they dig up the wifes bulbs and plants. my daughter takes great pleasure in keeping them inline but i do not dare leave them alone as it looks like a bomb has gone off with stones and plants everywhere. is nice seeing them roll around in mud

[New shoot]

I would put some chicken wire along the base of the gate if it is not solid.  Depending on which birds you have, they may fly up to the top of gate.  My smaller banties can get that high but the orpingtons and wyandottes have no hope.  Most chickens are cautious about free ranging at first and stay fairly close to home, but as they gain confidence they may go further.

They will damage flower beds and make a couple of dust baths, but they enjoy these so much I haven't got the heart to stop mine.  I also have a wildlife pond that they usually ignore, but I have to keep a close eye on them in the spring when its full of frogs as they go in quite regularly then 

When they are out and you want them in, stand by the run door and rattle the tupperware treat box and chuck a bit in the run.  Mine pelt back like loonies the minute they see me come out of the back door with the mealworm bag now - they are back in the run looking expectant before I even get there 

[evie2]

Our chickens have got us well trained

[Jacinta]

Cheers everyone, i'll give it a go this weekend!

[evie2]

Don't be too surprised if you find them following you into the kitchen

[gracie]

Ours free ranged for the first time at the weekend and we got so much joy watching them. We do live down a lane so I am hoping to not wing clip but will address that if they do start dare devilling a bit too far. With all that garden to potter about in I am surprised how often they go back in their coop and eat their chick crumb. A bumble bee spooked them and the noise and commotion as they raced back to their run was hilarious. I was nervous to start with but as said they don't go too far to start with, might not be so entertaining when they grow in confidence and I have to entice them back