Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[Beekissed]

If I had a water source within my free range, I'd sure do the same. But I don't, so I provide water where it can be easily accessed.

 

[stonykill]

Laffin'....Yup, they do find their own water....and that's how I find the house, by the chickens out in the ditch scratching for bugs and having a drink.

they are usually buggin there, much to my dislike. Lots of water available behind the house

 

[stonykill]

If I had a water source within my free range, I'd sure do the same. But I don't, so I provide water where it can be easily accessed.

as would I if I didn't have it close by.

 

[stonykill]

Seems like this is turning into "I'm free-rangier than you are"

not for me. Simply stating, when I say free range I mean no fences period. They roam over 2 acres most days.

 

[Dead Rabbit]

This is a "Take it or leave it" thread.....I while ago I chose to leave DeadRabbits post alone. Seems that there is no convincing some people that their choices border on abuse,,,,and I also learned a long time ago to not believe everything I read online....I am just glad that some people are not my neighbors, so I don't have to actually do anything about their choices except ignore them.

yes it would be wisdom on your part to leave things alone and mind your own business. esp. when your assuming something wrong and making an *** of yourself trying to stir up trouble for others. nuff said.

 

[Beekissed]

I would love to have a water source in the range area and had often thought of digging a small reservoir/pond for a more natural method of having their water sort of cleansed by nature. Never got around to it and am now in a place where I could not even if I wanted...not my place.

Free range has many meanings to many people and it's hard to pin that one down...but true free range with no fences at all is hard to come by if one doesn't live where it can be achieved. Sure would be nice, though.

 

[Dead Rabbit]

deadrabbit. I have one true free range flock. When I say free range. I mean it. No fences period. They find their own water.As in, they don't have their own waterer. They drink from the duck pond, mud puddles, etc. I feed them in the morning, and the rest of the day they forage. The hens go broody often, and the chicks survive just fine with mama. I don't coddle them in any way. They are stronger and smarter because of it.
By comparison, my penned birds are simply stupid. No other way to put it.

I lose few free range birds. Very few. It probably helps that 99% of the free range flock are Sumatra's.

good post. thankyou. your flock is better off for it. and if anyone wanted sumatras theyd do well to choose fowl from your flock over those that have been molly-coddled. its good to hear from those that actually know from experience instead of assuming they know.

 

[Dead Rabbit]

I would love to have a water source in the range area and had often thought of digging a small reservoir/pond for a more natural method of having their water sort of cleansed by nature. Never got around to it and am now in a place where I could not even if I wanted...not my place.

Free range has many meanings to many people and it's hard to pin that one down...but true free range with no fences at all is hard to come by if one doesn't live where it can be achieved. Sure would be nice, though.

you let drain pipes from guttering drain out into yard. but angle them upwards. they will hold water for days and days, it will be cool to from being under ground. frogs will use it, fowl choose to drink outa this than from filled waters. i believe it goes back to they prefer rain water over well water. even free ranged biddies will come to it. any thing that collect rain water, they will drink out of. just dont let it become a mosquito haven. if they are strong and smart they will find water, unless you got them in a lil pen. trust me. i would not mislead someone.

 

[stonykill]

good post. thankyou. your flock is better off for it. and if anyone wanted sumatras theyd do well to choose fowl from your flock over those that have been molly-coddled. its good to hear from those that actually know from experience instead of assuming they know.

actually my friend Cass did just that. She will have some fantastic birds when they grow up.

 

[Dead Rabbit]

does this look like abused, ill fed, under watered fowl to you? these are old pics perhaps 4-5 yrs ago. but everything holds true today. i just dont have gamefowl any longer.