My birds free range all day. The distance they will free range from the coop and run is proportional to their comfort with the pasture. If an aerial predator has been spotted recently, they don't range far. If the weather has been awful, they will be close to the front of the barn (because the whole barn blocks the prevailing winds, and because it has a large overhang - 6' deep and about 14' wide), or on one of the long sides or the barn (2' overhang, 40'+ length if needed to block the wind.
They come home to the run and coop at night because I only feed them once daily. It works for me. ***BUT*** you need to watch them closely - I'm adjusting how much they are fed pretty constantly. You don't want them eating everything you put down in mere minutes, then mobbing you for more. Neither do you want them walking away with a large amount uneaten. As we come into what passes for "winter" around here - in another month or so - I may go back to twice daily feedings to even out their nutrition some.
They come home to the run and coop at night because I only feed them once daily. It works for me. ***BUT*** you need to watch them closely - I'm adjusting how much they are fed pretty constantly. You don't want them eating everything you put down in mere minutes, then mobbing you for more. Neither do you want them walking away with a large amount uneaten. As we come into what passes for "winter" around here - in another month or so - I may go back to twice daily feedings to even out their nutrition some.