Converting The Flock To Free Range

[Browser8]

Well I keep finding out things that I have, apparently, done wrong.

I have 24 chickens or so. 19 of them are about 12 weeks old.

The 5 older chicks have been roaming around and doing the free range thing pretty well but I am running into a problem with the large group of youngsters.

After cleaning out the chicken coop recently we have come to the conclusion that we have raised these little ones with too much dependence on chicken feed. They hang out in the chicken coop all day eating the chicken feed and pooping everywhere.

If they were to roam free and eat bugs like all the other chickens they wouldn't be having such a terrible effect on the condition of the coop because they stay there most of the day while the older ones leave in the morning with occasional visits back to the coop to lay an egg etc.

So... we decided to feed them a certain amount each day and try and force them to begin foraging around the property like the others day. I am assuming that as long as they can sit in the coop and eat and drink to their hearts content that they will never roam around all day like the others.

We fed them this morning and they are acting like they are starving to death.

I'm not worried about starving them... they are just being overly dramatic...

What I would like to know is if anyone else has had this problem and if they have any suggestions on how to get them more interested in roaming around.

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

I'm watching this hoping you get some answers!!

Is it possible for you to close up the coop and not allow them the luxury of being able to go back in? I know you said you have older ones who go back in to lay an egg, so do they do this in the morning and then say at 12noon you close the coop until evening?

Mine are only 5weeks old so just put in the coop yesterday so I'm new at this as well, but that's what I would try. Lock them out..........tough love!!

 

[Browser8]

Quote:
Well... so far not making food available in the chicken coop is very effective for getting them out of the coop. Now they all huddle at my back door and peck on the door.

My wife went out with some chops and it was pandemonium. If there had been any animal rights activists standing outside we would have all gone to jail because they were putting on a show I am here to tell you.

Today is the first day they haven't had food available in the coop and they were acting like they haven't seen food in a week.

I assume that, over a few days, they will get the hint and begin to look around and say WOW... LOOK... BUGS>... do you think they're edible? LOL

I am also thinking that, when we do throw some chicken feed out there, we might put it farther out in the field as well in an attempt to get their idea of where food comes from farther and farther from the coop.

 

[gritsar]

I think what you are trying so far should work eventually. Feed treats further away from the coop.
I'm really surprised that they aren't taking the hint from the older chicks. Generally if one chicken pecks, the others just have to peck to see what its all about.
Good luck!

 

[Browser8]

Quote:
Well... segregation is alive and well in my little coop.

We had 2 RIR/RIW mix hens + 1 full blood RIR hen at first. Then we incubated some of their eggs (which were 2/3 RIW & 1/3 RIR... they are white chickens).

The RIR/RIW mix hate the whites and won't let them forage with them. (Especially the one full blood RIR... since the old roo is gone she has decided that she rules the roost)

Now we have 19 Production Reds and the whites hate the reds and, while the mix hens don't treat the Production Reds badly they won't have anything to do with them.

So... due to my racist chickens they don't spend much time with each other. I have 3 distinct flocks which have nothing to do with one another. I had to get rid of my roo because he was too mean and my new neighbors had a 5 year old girl.

I have some roos in the 12 week old group and I am hoping that once we get a roo servicing the hens again that he will bring some unity to the flock. The women are running the place and jealousy and hatred runs the show.

Hopefully a roo will come in and humble them all a little bit and everybody can work together a little better than they have been so far.

 

[sherrydeanne]

Have you thrown some feed out into the yard/grass? They'll start gobbling it up and realize there are other things there too, hopefully. It worked for me

 

[Browser8]

Quote:
Yeah... that is what we are doing now...

Hopefully we will have as much success as you did.

 

[RuffTuffCreampuff]

What breed are they? Some breeds forage better than others.

Pam

 

[Browser8]

Quote:
All of the younger ones are Production Reds from McMurray (RIR).

The older ones are RIR & RIW mixes.