Free-Ranging Your Flock This Summer: Benefits For The Chicken and The Egg

1. A Bounty of Natural Forage 

Summer weather brings forth a backyard buffet of nutritious bugs, weeds, and wild plants - the perfect spread for an omnivorous bird! 

Supplemental protein from insects like beetles, grasshoppers, and worms helps with feather growth and boosts egg production.

2. Healthier, Happier Chickens 

Keeping chickens cooped up leads to boredom, competition for resources, and bullying in the flock. Chickens are intelligent, curious creatures, and free-ranging provides the mental stimulation they crave!  

Chickens who lead an active lifestyle will encounter fewer health problems and live longer. In addition, exposure to natural sunlight helps chickens produce vitamin D, which is essential for calcium absorption, creating strong bones and eggshells.  

3. Tastier Eggs  

It's widely argued that eggs from free-range hens just taste better, and we have to agree! Free-range eggs typically have a deeper, more vibrant yolk and a richer flavor, due to the variety of foods available to the hens.  

Nutritionally, free-range eggs have been found to contain more omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and beta carotene, compared to those from confined chickens. With the right balance of forage and feed, you'll be flush with fresh, nutritious eggs all summer long! 

4. Pest Control 

Chickens are great at reducing pest populations. They’ll happily snack on ticks, mosquitoes, and other unwanted bugs in your yard and garden. 

Just be sure to supervise your flock around the veggies! Consider using portable electric poultry netting to protect your flock – and your most vulnerable plants.  

5. Less Mess  

More time outdoors means less mess inside the coop and run, and less for you to clean up at the end of the day.  

Simply put: Free-range chickens take their lunch and do their business outside. Any questions?  

Free-ranging has benefits for people too!  

Slowing down to sit and watch our chickens while they explore the yard is one of our favorite parts of backyard chicken keeping. It brings us so much joy to watch them foraging, chasing bugs, or sprawled out in the sunshine.  

Free-ranging can also reduce your feed bill, because your chickens will be spending their days dining at nature's salad bar!

Important Reminders: 

With a little planning and care, you can free-range your flock safely, and enjoy the benefits of healthier birds, tastier eggs, and a cleaner coop and run.  

Whether you're a seasoned chicken keeper or just getting started with chickens, RentACoop has everything you need—from chicken coop supplies to electric poultry netting and accessories. 

🐓 Need help choosing the right fencing for your flock? RentACoop is here to help! Reach out to our EGGsperts anytime at info@rentacoop.com. 

Happy Summer, and Happy Chickens to all!  

~The RentACoop Team