free range

  1. C

    Panting, Limping, Pulsing Vent Area

    I have a 2 year old chicken who just started limping or raising her leg and breathing with her mouth open. She got up on the roost tonight but was breathing with her mouth open and gave a little cough (but just one). When I noticed the limping I saw that her backside was pulsing - very...
  2. VTChicky

    Can you train chickens to stay in your yard?

    I have some new chicks, approx. 4 weeks old at this point. They have a coop and run all ready for them, but ideally, we want to free range them. We live in a small neighborhood, on approx .3 acres and have lots of neighbors close by. Many of our neighbors have chickens, some even free range them...
  3. brooder

    Raccoon info? **Warning--Graphic Imagery**

    Hi, For those of you familiar with the predatory habits of racoons, I have some questions. Three days ago, I went to lock up my ducks at about 9:45 when I saw that one of them was missing. I found her feathers strewn at the trunk of an oak tree, and upon looking up, discovered her decapitated...
    • brooder
    • Thread
    • dead duck ducks free range pest predator raccoon raccoon attack
    • Replies: 19
    • Forum: Predators and Pests
  4. M

    Help with feeding Free Range Cornish Cross

    Hello, first time meat bird raisers but have over 35 egg layers. :) My son is going to raise about a dozen cornish cross chicks for 4-H and ultimately for our freezer. We want to free range them with the rest of our flock to help keep them going until fair in 11 weeks. The chicks we're...
  5. beans2

    foraging abilities of different breeds

    I always ask people who keep various species and breeds how good they think their animals are at self-selecting good food when given choice. I find that my Scots Grey rooster, welsummer hens and cream legbars are all excellent at finding forage. they also tend to favour leafy greens over corn...
  6. H

    All use same coop?

    My chickens free range all day, 9 chickens. I had 4 in a very nice “6 chicken coop” and added 5 now pullets to make the 9 and added another coop that holds about 3 full size (I used it to acclimate the chicks outside till they were big enough to join the others). Both coops have runs (actually...
  7. A

    Chicken behavior He. help

    Hi! New member here. I had 1 backyard chicken named Pidgey who was totally free range and would even come hang out with my cat and dog on the porch and share food occasionally, and even come inside. Shes basically a pet. Well, she IS a pet. We live in a small, tight knit community and nobody has...
  8. Walkbarefoot

    Wondering about temporary enclosure to move around yard...

    I am new to chickens... I have 10 who are 5 weeks old and am getting ready to move them from my basement to my garage. We have a 5 x 6 coop and a 20x20 enclosure. I am looking for something that I can enclose them in to move them around the yard so they have access to grass and bugs. We have a...
  9. Henrybelle

    To young to free range?

    Hello there I’ve been wondering how soon can you start free ranging your pullets. It’s probably by preference but I was curious to see when others had started letting theirs roam. I’ve got 8 young ladies 4-5 weeks old who are still in the brooder at night but during the day from around 11 to 4...
  10. EggEgg

    New part time free ranging - getting less eggs

    Hi Folks! We have 14 2yro girls in a VERY large coop and run. Recently we have been able to let them free range for at least part of the day (Yay!) but we are seeing our egg production drop from about 12 - 13 a day, to 10, and now about 8. I know they can find hiding spots but we have not been...
  11. MotherOfPeepPeeps

    Egg-Mobiles

    I have been in love with the idea of Egg-Mobiles ever since I first saw a YouTube video of Joel Salatin's laying hen setup on Polyface Farm. I just discovered five acres of nice level but overgrazed pasture that is available on a reasonable rent-to-own option. I am trying to crunch the numbers...
  12. C

    First time to free range?!?

    Brand new to poultry... i have a mix of chicks (and ducklings, goslings, poults...yeah, I’m addicted already!) in the brooder, and am busy preparing their coops and runs. I’d like to let them have time free-ranging, as my entire property has 6-8 foot perimeter fencing. I’ll let them get...
  13. LaurenElayne

    Where to build my coop?

    I have 12 chicks and they're about ready to move to their coop. I’ve got the design down and bought all the materials, but I keep going back and forth on where to build it. I have a lot of space so should I put the coop in the front yard or the backyard? What are some considerations I need to...
  14. M

    Newbie Question: Keeping Ducks w/ Slow Moving Creek??

    Hello Everyone, new to the group for the purpose of research and getting answers from those with experience. My wife and I have a small creek in our back yard. Its only about 15 ft wide, has a nice swimming hole in our spot that's several feet deep. Below the swimming hole is a series of...
    • MattDana
    • Thread
    • ducks free range lake pond river
    • Replies: 4
    • Forum: Ducks
  15. MyChicagoCoop

    When can I let my new flock out to free range?

    Long story short - I picked up 5 new chickens yesterday. Two are 6-month old silkies (they had a large run, but did not free range). Three are 9-week old large fowl (orpington, rhode island red, black star). They are currently in the coop. When would you say it is safe for me to let them venture...
  16. KHBaker

    Free Ranging Decisions...

    Hello! This forum has been so helpful already, and as a new chicken owner, I'm finding myself needing advice yet again. Last night with the storms, we moved our chickens into the barn. They love the barn stall and we are considering moving them in full time! The issue is that we can't be there...
  17. M

    Setting up coop for cornish roasters

    I'm new to chickens and my cornish roasters are very ready to get outside. I've already got the coop built, but i'm not sure what to fill it with (aside from the dirt it's setting on). There seems to be quite the division between straw vs pine shavings/chips vs hay..and since they're only going...
  18. N

    Free range vs run for ducks

    Hey everyone! I'm so super excited to be getting 9 ducklings in a few weeks (*eekk!! *) I'm trying to decide what to do with the ducks. Free range in our yard or keep them in a run. We have hawks and coyotes so I'm leaning towards a run. I just feel like they'd thrive in our yard more. Any wisdom?
  19. H

    Rhode Island Red basic questions

    My family is thinking about getting some Rhode Island reds for eggs. I’ve got a couple basic questions: 1) I know some breeds differ from others in their foraging behaviors. Do the reds eat the garden, or are they pretty garden friendly. Would I need to protect my garden or just let them roam...
  20. ZurcherFarms

    Raising broilers with livestock

    Hello! I just wanted to bounce some ideas off of you all. I know chickens LOVE cattle and pig poop, and though it seems disgusting, it's actually pretty good for them, and creates less feed waste, and helps break up the actual livestock waste as they're scratching it around. Seems like a win...
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