Jessica is an experienced pet mom with dogs, cats, rats, fish, axolotls, a gecko, chickens, and ducks.
If you have ever joined a pet care group on social media, you know that people have strong opinions about the right way to do things. Those who raise chickens are no different. I regularly see debates about which is the right way to keep backyard chickens.
Personally, I do not see the free-range vs. chicken-run debate to be a black-and-white issue. Every situation is different, and there are many factors to consider when choosing how you will be keeping your chickens. This article will dive into the pros and cons of free-ranging your chickens or keeping them in a chicken run.
Pros: What Are the Benefits of Letting Your Chickens Free-Range?
First, I will go into the pros of letting chickens free-range. Free-ranging can provide a lot of health and wellness benefits to your birds, here are just a few.
1. You Will Get Better-Tasting, Nutrient-Dense Eggs
Free-range chickens are known to produce a much darker egg yolk than chickens that are not able to forage for their food. Although this alone does not necessarily mean that the eggs are better for you, many people (myself included) swear that the darker yolks taste better.
The reason that the eggs will be more nutritious is that your hens will be out all day foraging and getting nutrients that they can't get from just eating chicken feed. To get the best quality of eggs, your chickens should be getting a combination of laying pellets, greens, and insects.
Rooster Booster vitamins are what I give to my chickens to ensure they are getting all the nutrients they need.
2. You Will Save Money on Chicken Feed
This one is pretty simple. If your chickens are out foraging all day, they are not going to consume as much chicken feed. Saving money while getting higher quality eggs is a huge plus when considering letting chickens free-range. This can be mimicked if your chickens are in a run by giving them lots of scraps and healthy treats, but it is not as easy as letting them run around the yard.
3. It Will Keep Your Chickens Busy and Healthy
Foraging is a great activity for chickens. If they are in a small space all the time they can get bored. Chickens that are cooped up can sometimes start picking on each other if they don't have enough to do. Free-ranging also gives them exercise, which helps to prevent obesity.
Obesity can be a huge problem for backyard chickens' health. If you are in a position to let your chickens free-roam, it can be incredibly rewarding to watch them get some exercise and interact with the world around them.
