Chickens in nature

[Chicken_Obsesser]

Giant wood moth I think. Like its name implies, it's gigantic.

It was hiding amongst grass and leaves, and kind of looked like the head of a snake:

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Thanks lol!

 

[No Coop No Problem]

The isabrown mom abandoned her young a week ago when they were exactly 30 days of age. She returned to tree-roosting and her babies began to copy her that same evening. They're extremely flighty and fly away when I get too close

Just about an hour ago my wife noticed the human imprinted rejected-chick (that we had to personally raise and then eventually set outside with the other abandoned young) beginning to tree-roost for the first time at 37 days of age. This is what prompted me to go outside and take pictures

5 of the 6 Game/RIR moms babies (44 days old) went to sleep on my doorstep again and so we set them out into the trees for the first time. They hopped around for a while until they found a spot they liked. Number 6 (the rejected black baby that we got adopted by this game/RIR mom) was discovered already tree-roosting

The only two mothers still brooding and on the ground are the Cubalaya/RIR with seven 33 day olds, and the Asil with seven 52 day old chicks. It's probably my fault that the Asil is still on the ground. I clipped her wings after she repeatedly wrecked multiple protected areas where I'm trying to grow bahiagrass

 

[No Coop No Problem]

New hatch two days ago. 6/7 eggs with a first time RIR/AGF mom

Having a constant stream of broodies right now. I let two chickens out of broody jail yesterday then found three new broodies later that evening

 

[No Coop No Problem]

There are a small number of black chicks right now with golden-brown lacing in the pattern of Fayoumi. Very beautiful looking and I've seen them trying to mate at very young ages already. Hopefully their behavior doesn't grow anymore Fayoumi like

I'll have to catch one sometime and post a picture

Well here's one of them. The first young cockerel to begin crowing this season

 

[No Coop No Problem]

 

[No Coop No Problem]

Picked up some ducklings two months ago. They grow extremely fast compared to chickens

 

[WingItRanch]

I forgot to send this. I remember when I first got chickens, I was so worried about predators that I never let them free range. Now they get about 3 hrs free time in the afternoons and they usually go straight to the woods when the hawks are patrolling and then closer to dusk, I see them in the open field. You inspired me! Figured they're healthier and happier so it's worth the risk. I'd let them out full time but I don't want to be hunting for eggs.

 

[Yardmom]

I forgot to send this. I remember when I first got chickens, I was so worried about predators that I never let them free range. Now they get about 3 hrs free time in the afternoons and they usually go straight to the woods when the hawks are patrolling and then closer to dusk, I see them in the open field. You inspired me! Figured they're healthier and happier so it's worth the risk. I'd let them out full time but I don't want to be hunting for eggs.
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It is rare for a chicken that has been laying in a coop not to go back to the coop to lay

 

[WingItRanch]

It is rare for a chicken that has been laying in a coop not to go back to the coop to lay

Good to know! I have some pullets that are close to POL right now in addition to my adult hens so maybe once they all are laying regularly, I'll give them more free range time.

 

[Sinadrea]

These are not new, I have taken these pictures 1-2 years ago:

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What type of rooster is that? He looks like mine, coloring-wise.