Chickens in nature

[McChooky]

Roosters working in the field:

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.. and exercising ..

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Also, a video taken a few months back:

They picked a good place to fight

 

[Appalachickens]

Picked up some Orpington pullets a few months ago. Realized I really don't need hardcore survival chickens anymore, my dog actively patrols the place and we get almost zero predators these days. Just a handful of hawks and snakes
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I have to admit, that surprises me. So I take it these guy will live in a coop?

 

[McChooky]

Picked up some Orpington pullets a few months ago. Realized I really don't need hardcore survival chickens anymore, my dog actively patrols the place and we get almost zero predators these days. Just a handful of hawks and snakes
View attachment 4240846

My chickens free range in a fenced clearing next to the woods with my 2 dogs but they're toast without the dogs.

 

[chooki]

How do they survive with nowhere to hide?

They do have somewhere to hide, just not in the those pictures. They tend to go out in the open when there is no strong sunshine, i.e. late in the afternoon, when it's cloudy.

Also, they are only free ranging when someone is on the farm, which is close to half of the days. Rest of the days and every night, they stay in their wood, steel reinforced coop.

We have 3+ hectares, my rooster flock spend vast majority of their time in the middle paddock where our cabin, their coop and sweet potato plantation is. They used to be more adventurous, but as they grow older and more experienced, they also become more timid.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

... They used to be more adventurous, but as they grow older and more experienced, they also become more timid.

Or more wise/wary/canny/experienced

 

[No Coop No Problem]

I have to admit, that surprises me. So I take it these guy will live in a coop?

Nope, they're just as free as all the others. One of the Orpingtons even caught a mouse the other day (and then a bunch of hens regularly chased and stole it from one another)

My chickens free range in a fenced clearing next to the woods with my 2 dogs but they're toast without the dogs.

Having a dog really makes free-ranging easy mode. The only things that ignore the presence of the dog is birds of prey, however fortunately my land has a ton of blue jays that run those off

 

[McChooky]

Nope, they're just as free as all the others. One of the Orpingtons even caught a mouse the other day (and then a bunch of hens regularly chased and stole it from one another)

Having a dog really makes free-ranging easy mode. The only things that ignore the presence of the dog is birds of prey, however fortunately my land has a ton of blue jays that run those off

You have the perfect place for free range chickens

 

[McChooky]

They do have somewhere to hide, just not in the those pictures. They tend to go out in the open when there is no strong sunshine, i.e. late in the afternoon, when it's cloudy.

Also, they are only free ranging when someone is on the farm, which is close to half of the days. Rest of the days and every night, they stay in their wood, steel reinforced coop.

We have 3+ hectares, my rooster flock spend vast majority of their time in the middle paddock where our cabin, their coop and sweet potato plantation is. They used to be more adventurous, but as they grow older and more experienced, they also become more timid.

Most of our pasture is on the mountain top .

 

[McChooky]

They do have somewhere to hide, just not in the those pictures. They tend to go out in the open when there is no strong sunshine, i.e. late in the afternoon, when it's cloudy.

Also, they are only free ranging when someone is on the farm, which is close to half of the days. Rest of the days and every night, they stay in their wood, steel reinforced coop.

We have 3+ hectares, my rooster flock spend vast majority of their time in the middle paddock where our cabin, their coop and sweet potato plantation is. They used to be more adventurous, but as they grow older and more experienced, they also become more timid.

MIne spend most of their time near the house since losing 2 flock mates .I didn't see what got them but they did.They were traumatized for months.You have a beautiful place.

 

[Hablo]

Nope, they're just as free as all the others. One of the Orpingtons even caught a mouse the other day (and then a bunch of hens regularly chased and stole it from one another)

Having a dog really makes free-ranging easy mode. The only things that ignore the presence of the dog is birds of prey, however fortunately my land has a ton of blue jays that run those off

I'm very envious. The hawk kills most of our chickens and chicks.