Brahmas for free ranging

[shaw613]

I'm asking for experiences from other members who've had brahmas in a free range home. I've tried buff brahma pullets twice, and both groups were prone to roost outside at night and get picked off by predators; I lost them all two years in a row. All the other breeds go inside ..... anyone else with that experience? I'd like to try some again as they are really nice birds!

 

[aart]

That's odd.
I'd question why they would not go into coop.
Integration issues?
Crowding?
Not 'homed' to coop?

 

[shaw613]

They were part of a larger group of pullets and handled the same as all the others. The brahmas tended to roost in our trees rather than go in at night with the others.

 

[TwoShepherds]

I'm new chickens since May, but I have a few buff brahmas, and I like them a lot so far. We don't free range but all of ours go in the coop to roost at night. Brahmas are bigger than some other breeds, is the coop roomy enough? Are the roosts sturdy enough for a heavier chicken? Is the chicken door big enough? Could they have been getting chased off or picked on by more aggressive hens?

 

[Travis Brown]

I let my brahmas out to free range most days. They always go back in their coop on their own at night. Mine are too heavy to fly up in a tree.