Picking a breed that thrives free-ranging

Free-ranging chickens find a lot of their own food, scratch up pests and live a busy, natural life. They also face predators that a penned bird never sees. The best free-range breeds are alert, quick and good at finding food. Here is how to choose for your land and your risk.

What makes a strong forager

• Alertness. Birds that spot hawks and run for cover live longer.
• Speed and flight. Lighter breeds can escape on foot or by flying up.
• Camouflage. Brown, barred or speckled patterns are harder for hawks to spot than white.
• Drive to forage. Some breeds roam far and eat less feed. Others hang near the coop.

Matching breed to your property

On open land with lots of hawks, look for wary, camouflaged birds. The Welsummer is a good forager with brown coloring that blends into the ground. Barred birds like the Dominique are also hard to spot. On land with woods and cover, active birds such as the Leghorn or Hamburg can range widely, though white birds stand out more. If you only free-range in a yard for a few hours, calmer heavy breeds such as Orpingtons are fine, since they stay close and come back when called with treats.

Mixing breeds when free-ranging

Mixed flocks can work well. Some keepers pair a wary, alert breed with calmer birds, since the alert ones give alarm calls the rest respond to. Very flighty birds may lead others into a neighbor's garden, though. If one breed keeps roaming too far, it may set the pattern for the whole flock.

Pitfalls with free-ranging

• Losing birds at dusk. Most losses happen near sunset. Lock up every night.
• Eggs laid in hidden spots. Keep hens in the coop until mid-morning so they lay in the nest boxes.
• Garden damage. Chickens love seedlings. Fence the garden, not the birds.
• Toxic plants and sprays. Keep birds away from treated lawns and chemicals.

Common questions about free-range chickens

Will free-range chickens come back to the coop?

Usually, yes. Keep them in the coop for a week or so first so they learn it is home. Most head back on their own at dusk.

Do free-range chickens still need feed?

Yes. Forage varies by season and rarely covers a laying hen's full needs. Keep a balanced feed available.

How do I protect free-range chickens from hawks?

Give them cover like shrubs, decks or a covered area. Some keepers also keep a rooster, who watches for danger.