13 cons of a not-so-good free range

Some of the cons are directly related to the pros.

• POULTRY may not be able to find enough food, especially protein, if a range is denuded of cover and insect life, or they are out in cold or very hot weather.

• YOU will need to provide a good quality commercial feed at extra cost to make up for what poultry cannot find within the range.

• EGG production may be restricted due to a lack of or incorrect feed.

• TOXIC plants can cause health problems, discoloured egg yolks, and can be fatal.

• THEY’LL eat just about everything, including your favourite flowers and vegetables.

• THEY can ‘ till’ your gardens, even the ones you don’t want them in, meaning you need to build a barrier to keep them out.

• THEY’LL scratch up your flower and/or vegetable beds to make a dust bath.

• THEY leave poo everywhere they go, eg on your pathways, decks, lawn.

• THEY’RE at risk for being taken by predators like hawks, stray dogs and cats, stoats etc.

• CHICKENS may find their way next door and become annoying to your neighbour/s.

• YOU’LL lose some fertiliser because it won’t be in a confined space for you to collect.

• UNLESS you’ve trained them to roost in their coop, they won’t go back inside at night where it is safe.

• YOU may get unexpected flock increases when missing hens come home with chicks.