California - Northern

[Wishing4Wings]

here's a random question -- my chicklets have been let out of their coop/run every afternoon for a few hours, which they love -- and then this weekend was a big bonanza, as i was home almost the entire time, so they got let out in the mornings and roamed around to their hearts' content. but alas, tuesday has come & i must head back to work, and there they all are, standing expectantly by the door of the run, hoping to be let out again.

is it "mean" to go back and forth between out all day vs. only a few hours? will they be discontent in their run now? (especially since thurs-sun this week i'll be in a huge four-day sailing regatta on the bay, & won't be home during the day much at all, so they'll probably be in jail for four days straight)

just curious as to how others manage this!

I have often wondered the same thing with my girls. They looooove being out and only return to the coop on their own to lay or for bed time. If you're worried about them being bored you could try changing around or adding something to the run. The novelty of something new will last quite a while and you know how, well... "chicken" they are of new things. Much neck craning and careful inspection of all that is new must occur!

There was a whole thread about alleviating boredom. Some ideas were to hang a head of cabbage for picking and a hanging swing for roosting. This is an important issue, because I think boredom is big factor in stress/health problems and behavioral problems.

 

[lawatt]

My sister sails in lots of regattas. Do you know Mark and Tiffany Lewis?

I don't, but i'm terrible with names -- do you know what kind of boat they sail on?

this week is Big Boat Series, the big end-of-the-summer-season extravaganza at the St. Francis -- four days of craziness. i'm trying to gather my strength...
laura

 

[debs_flock]

here's a random question -- my chicklets have been let out of their coop/run every afternoon for a few hours, which they love -- and then this weekend was a big bonanza, as i was home almost the entire time, so they got let out in the mornings and roamed around to their hearts' content. but alas, tuesday has come & i must head back to work, and there they all are, standing expectantly by the door of the run, hoping to be let out again.

is it "mean" to go back and forth between out all day vs. only a few hours? will they be discontent in their run now? (especially since thurs-sun this week i'll be in a huge four-day sailing regatta on the bay, & won't be home during the day much at all, so they'll probably be in jail for four days straight)

just curious as to how others manage this!

They'll be fine, they'll just enjoy it that much more the next time you are home. I have 23 pens, since I'm keeping my breeds separated for breeding, the most often anyone can get out is every couple of weeks. They all have to take their turns.

Deb

 

[lawatt]

They'll be fine, they'll just enjoy it that much more the next time you are home. I have 23 pens, since I'm keeping my breeds separated for breeding, the most often anyone can get out is every couple of weeks. They all have to take their turns.

Deb

thanks, that's helping alleviate my feelings of guilt this morning... i'm going to take them some kale to keep them entertained while i'm gone, the only question is whether i can get the coop door open without them all running outside!

 

[debs_flock]

Quote: LOL, that's what the side of your foot and a little nudge is for! Actually, mine will even jump up on the threshhold, but don't come pouring out unless I throw the door open completely and say, "Let's go girls".

Deb

 

[ronott1]

Quote: Hi Kim!

Love the new Avatar.

They were saying 50 per acre for a regular maximum and 100 per acre to not destroy the turf. I doubt the 50 per acre is correct for all nutrition. Definately not all year long. The problem with chickens is they do not always go that far from the coop. Large pastures would also have problems with hawks and etc. I think they would survive the spring and summer but not the fall and winter and egg production would be lower.

Corwin has off spring developing right now! I could not resist so put a dozen in the incubator last week. I saw veins on 10 of them when I candled on Sunday. Let me know if you are going to the Animal Exchange on Saturday. If not I can pick Corwin up on Friday Evening and get him to Orange Vale Saturday morning. I have to drop off some Heritage RIRs and a cute little GL Wyendotte.

Bye,

Ron

The second TJ egg was zipping this morning. The third one did not have a pip so could be a dud.

 

[debs_flock]

Wow!

We live on 5 acres, if we had 250-500 chickens free ranging, things would be totally denuded. They'd enjoy it to start, we keep at least a third landscaped/watered, at least until it's been consumed.

Deb

 

[ronott1]

Wow!

We live on 5 acres, if we had 250-500 chickens free ranging, things would be totally denuded. They'd enjoy it to start, we keep at least a third landscaped/watered, at least until it's been consumed.

Deb

The only way I could see this working would be to have a series of fenced off spaces and to seriously rotate the areas where the chickens are.

My flock of 11 completely denuded and tilled my back yard in the city. The grass held up until the winter and then it became a big mud pit! The chickens loved it.

I am just about ready to replant now that I have them in the side yard.

 

[egg-lady]

need help, my friend just called me and she has a friend that is moving into a rental and the previos rentors left a hen and 12 eggs and no food and water for her. the new rentors don't know what to do with her. she wants me to come over and take a look and see what I think to do. not sure about moving her would be good. what do you think? any other suggestions?

 

[ronott1]

need help, my friend just called me and she has a friend that is moving into a rental and the previos rentors left a hen and 12 eggs and no food and water for her. the new rentors don't know what to do with her. she wants me to come over and take a look and see what I think to do. not sure about moving her would be good. what do you think? any other suggestions?

Are you concerned about the Hen being Broody? Did the renter have a Rooster or was the hen there for 12 days and layed an egg each day?

Take the Hen home and put it into quarantine. Get her some baby vitamins without Iron or one of the rooster booster vitamins with electrolytes. I would get her some Yogurt and feed her an egg.

If she has been starved, you want to introduce layer feed slowly.

Good Luck!

Ron