Chickens in the wild?

[chics in the sun]

Quote:
Almost every animal was wild once, but that doesn't mean that centuries of human interference hasn't made them completely unsuitable for life in the wild once they have been domesticated for a very long time as most breeds of chicken have. Yes, feral domestics can often "get by" ok even in non-native habitats, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea to intentionally create a feral population of domestic animals.

i would give the chickens some feed and water and a coop to sleep in but i would let them do what they want and see if they would use the coop. and these chickens would be the hens that i let my BO's raise up and then let out

This, IMO, is not at all the same as turning the "extras" loose into the wild. This is called free ranging. You are still providing food and shelter, therefore still caring for these chickens, but you are not providing much if anything in the way of predator protection. If they're "extras" that you don't particularly care about loosing to predators, then there's nothing wrong with that. Free range chickens lead shorter lives than those that are kept confined to predator proof runs, but those lives are enriched by their experiences, both good and bad, while they are free ranging. Turning them loose into the wild implies that you are planning to dump them in the woods and then ignore them, providing absolutely no care or shelter whatsoever and expecting them to find everything they need to survive on their own. While this might be doable in a warmer climate (not that I think it's ethical regardless of where you live), it's most likely just going to end in a bunch of dead birds. It's also usually illegal by most county animal control laws as it falls under the category of neglect.​

Thank you, this was just what I was thinking needed clarified. Sorry if you considered my own comment as one of the rude ones - I am down here in Florida where people "releasing _____ into the wild" is wreaking havoc onto our ecosystem, so it's a sensitive subject. The original post sounded like AinaWGSD clarified - that you were just going to dump them out in the wilderness. I'm all for free ranging, and yes, we have flocks of chickens all over Florida - one a few mintues from me - but they are not 'in the wild'. They are living among people, often off their scraps and finding shelter amongst their buidlings (and among fewer predators, except dogs).

 

[andrew6d9]

i should have gave the people more information before i posted it. i would put out places for the chickens to be protected from hawks too. i wouldn't really give these chickens a "nesting box" but a more natural type one in the coop that they could lay their eggs in if they wanted.

 

[GiddyMoon]

I find it hysterical people are freaking out about chickens in the wild when there are chickens in the wild in many places all over this earth, even in cities....who do just fine & even flourish. Leave it to man to think he is sooo dang important nature cannot survive on it's own. ..meanwhile, on this forum alone; let's not even calculate all forums or the 90% of chicken owners who never step foot in a forum.... who come in daily crying their eyes out because they had their chickens; sometimes groups of them, "safe" in their own yard and they die horrible deaths from dogs, coyotes, bobcats, house cats, owls, hawks, raccoons, weasels, accidents, diseases, and poor care.

So much for human safety!

 

[chics in the sun]

Although I see you point, I'd have to argue that: a) chickens in cities are not "in the wild", and b) those are mostly chickens that are closer to their original ancestors - game birds and jungle fowl types that can still fly and are very quick and alert. You don't see flocks of Buff Orpingtons and Barred Rocks wandering around little South American towns. For the most part, we have spent generations making these birds too fat to fly, and put their reproductive system on overdrive, requiring more calories to survive than a wild bird. We owe them the best protection we can give them, and yes, sometimes that fails. And if they aren't even safe in our back yards, what do you think would happen in 'the wild'? The OP really is refering to 'free ranging', which is fine, just know there will be a few losses.
When I read the original post I pictured someone setting loose a flock of dual-purpose hatchery birds out in the middle of the woods or a swamp somewhere. And no, they wouldn't survive.

 

[dandydoodle]

That doesn't sound like a good idea and kind of cruel.

 

[andrew6d9]

actually it is not cruel because a lot of chicken owners treat their chickens worse than that and i have other chickens and not even one has ever been killed or died from my own cause.

 

[Nambroth]

Quote:
Yes, this! Thank you.

 

[andrew6d9]

why would anyone put their extra birds out in a swamp? dah

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
Andrew,

Your initial post was quite vague leaving lots of room for imaginations to go all over the place. It was kind of fun watching that.

 

[andrew6d9]

sorry about that but still, why would anyone leave chickens in a swamp.