[CameronS]

OUt of interest, how far do your hens range when out of the pen free roaming?

[whitby_sam]

Only as far as next door's flower beds LOL!

We have 2 acres and they tend to stay fairly close to their huts most of the time but occasionally they wander a bit further. I guess it depends on what food's on offer. Some of them like to roam to the far end of the field when its raining as the worms are easier picking at that end of the field.

[MiriMaran]

We have a 2 acre field that has our garden on one side and a bridle path on another side.  If it wasn't for the puppy they would be in the garden and they do somtimes go on the lane, but no further.

[shetlandpaul]

a good hundred metres. you should see how fast they come back when their maize is thrown for them.

[jameslindsay]

My lot can go off for a good distance, some days some of them are down the river bank with the goats! The second they think there is food they are back like whippets.

[CameronS]

i was just curious as mine have taken to visiting the neighbours about 1/2 a mile away, and twice my cockerel has "stolen" one of their hens from inside the hut    (not so good) fortunately our neighbours are kind elderly people who actually like it when my hens visit

 luckily all i have to do is blow the dog recall and they come hurtling up the road,     

[doganjo]

Ha ha - We really DO need to see a video of that Cameron!

[Roxy]

Maybe you could come and blow your dog recall at my unruly hens, Cameron?

Mine have a couple of acres to roam in, they are all free range.  But some of them go out on to the farm track and scratch at the grass verges, and even on the lane itself, with cars going by.  I have seen them in next doors garden, and even way up the lane at times. But they always return at dusk to go in.

Where my ponies are kept, the hens there walk over a 10 acre field.  One of my young cockerels is with them, and you can see him leading his ladies over the fields.  Before I gave the cockerel to the land owner, the hens would go off down the village and were right by a busy road when we found them one day, but the cockerel does keep them in a check a little bit now.  Another day, I looked up the hillside, and they had walked up the track, gone in a neighbours field, and were right on the skyline, having walked up a 7 acre hill field!!  Again they returned to go in to their shed at night. 

This proves hens have a homing instinct!!