Free ranging chickens

From today, our six hens have free range across the bottom third of the garden, instead of just a restricted pen. Overall, they'll now be able to wander around in an area of about 40m by 12m, which should hopefully spread the poo across a sufficiently large area that it doesn't cause any problems with the grass.

Interestingly, they stayed pretty close to us for most of the time and when we came indoors they wandered back closer to their house. I suspect that they'll travel further when they feel safe enough. There's plenty of cover from overhead menace, perceived or real. Chickens, being descended from Jungle Fowl, don't appreciate wide open spaces that much as they fear attack from airborne predators. They should be OK in Sussex, although we do occasionally get Common Buzzard overhead. My other reason for giving them much more space is that should a fox get into the garden, they've at least a fighting chance of escape. The Marans can fly quite well, and given a run-up, the Orpingtons can make a decent fist of it too. Better than being in a pen where they're a Fox ready-meal.