The idea of true free range chickens is great, but in reality it's dangerous. To balance freedom and safety, we use a modified free range system which we describe in detail, along with tips on fencing, layout and location of chicken yard, providing cover, choosing appropriate chicken breeds, etc., so that you can develop your own limited free range system.
A free-range flock is at higher risk of predation than confined birds. Providing natural and artificial cover in the form of bushes, boxes, branches will provide a degree of security and safe-haven when predators are detected.
These easy, cheap to build waterers save both your back and time and are easy to clean. Our design is shown and list of materials. Self-filling, they make less work and give the chickens fresh water all day long, find out how.
Save money on chicken feed, reduce dependence on industrial monocultures, make your chickens happier and their eggs healthier. Give them access to good habitat, let help in the compost, feed them from the vegetable garden, grow fodder, and raise grubs are just some of the possibilities discussed here. In short, think of chickens as part of a permaculture design.