Evil chicken mother?

[Backyardexplorer]

First time chicken owner here! I have owned chickens for the past year that we allow to free range in our average size backyard everyday, we currently have 6 hens.

They have destroyed our beautiful yard.

We have a nice coop and enclosure that I feel is very comfortable for 6 hens. In fact, I recently visited another chicken owner who housed 20 chickens in the same size enclosure size.

My husband worked so hard through the weekend cleaning up the yard. Filling in holes with dirt, spreading grass seed, raking up mulch that had been spread from all of our flower beds. Not to mention there is poop everywhere.

I am struggling now feeling like an evil chicken mother wanting to keep our chickens inside their enclosure rather than free range in the backyard. Everyone I know that has chickens keeps them in an enclosure. I have always believed the right thing was to allow them to free range.

Yet, here I am, with a toddler that loves to play outside and with summer coming up, I can’t help but want my nice yard back.

Do you keep your chickens in an enclosure?

 

[500Chickens]

I keep my chickens in a enclosure in my sheep pen because they used to be free range in there but they could've spread diseases to the sheep... and they were digging up the bedding

 

[500Chickens]

It's not wrong to keep chickens in an enclosure. Your coop and chicken space is definitive enough for 6 hens.

 

[500Chickens]

*Definitely

 

[Backyardexplorer]

Thank you for the responses.

I would also like to add that we have made many upgrades to this coop, including a roof for shade.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I used to let my chickens free range on about 3 acres.. but the dog we had that protected them died. Now we keep them enclosed in a very large yard. It's sufficient for them. I hope to be able to free range them again some day, though. But safety first.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Sometimes you have to keep them in an enclosure, whether it's to protect your property or to protect them from predators. You are definitely not evil for doing so. The chickens might yell at you but will eventually calm down.

I would also like to add that we have made many upgrades to this coop, including a roof for shade.

That is good. You can also add fun things to the run to keep them entertained and provide hiding spaces. Grazing frames, dust bath, chairs, perches, dog house, etc.

In fact, I recently visited another chicken owner who housed 20 chickens in the same size enclosure size.

That is sad. That coop should not house more than what you have in there.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It is not evil to do what is best for your chickens.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I will say that while your run looks to be fine for 6, it is extremely barren. Some clutter will go a long way in preventing behavioral issues from popping up: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/page-6#post-25037140

 

[FrostRanger]

Sometimes you have to keep them in an enclosure, whether it's to protect your property or to protect them from predators. You are definitely not evil for doing so. The chickens might yell at you but will eventually calm down.


That is good. You can also add fun things to the run to keep them entertained and provide hiding spaces. Grazing frames, dust bath, chairs, perches, dog house, etc.


That is sad. That coop should not house more than what you have in there.

Agreed, 20 birds should not be in that size setup. The coop is big enough for what you have now, but I wouldn't add more. General rule of thumb is you want 4sqft of coop space and 10sqft of run space per bird

And yes, your birds will be fine in a run. Mine are only occasionally let out to free range 'cause I don't fancy having to herd them away from the neighbor's yard every few minutes. If they only get let out occasionally around dusk they tend to stay in the yard