Daytime Free Range Questions

[chickengeorgeto]

... My questions are as followed,
1) Do they need food & water outside of their coop?
2) Now that they are out of their house, do I need to keep providing Grit? I’ve read conflicting options on this and would like to hear what y’all think!
3) Our flock is 23 weeks old and still haven’t laid an egg. Any tips on how to speed that along would also be appreciated...

#1 No on food and yes to water.
#2 Is there any possible harm that a chicken can suffer from doing things all chickens do by instinct? If not then give them dry grit free choice in a clean container.
#3 No way to advise you without knowing what breeds of chickens that you are keeping.

# 3.1 Some chickens are eye candy, some hens are egg producers, and there are few if any hens that fall in both families. The nature of chicken DNA results in a breed rapidly leaving one family and joining a different family, often in just a few generations if it takes that long. So chose wisely if you breed your own replacement pullets and cockerels.

 

[Callender Girl]

The first time I let my Salmon Favorelles pullets out to free range, I walked away for a moment to check on other chickens. Suddenly, I couldn't find my brooder babies and panicked. Camille and Celeste had instinctively headed for the thick planting of trumpet vines and amsonias, and were nestled safely in the greenery. Among the most submissive of the flocks (both also do a submissive squat whenever I need to recapture them), hiding is part of their nature.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! I agree, extra waterers outside, not food. Limit any food, including most treats, to inside their fenced area. It does help with predator visits.
Set up temporary shelters out there, as suggested, and plant more trees and shrubs for them. Native plants are great, especially with non-toxic fruits. I would avoid really toxic plants! Diversity is good, rather than only grass.
Chickens are jungle animals, and do prefer that sort of environment. It's cooler too. My coop is next to a spruce boarder, and has shrubs and a birch tree next to the south side for summer shade and cover.
Mary

 

[flyin-lowe]

You should be getting close to egg laying time for the barred rocks. Since they are out all day you might keep an eye out for them to nest somewhere in the yard. Once they start using the nest box they will go back to the coop to use it when it's time to lay an egg. But if they are out every day it is possible they will lay eggs somewhere outside.

 

[SueT]

You should be getting close to egg laying time for the barred rocks. Since they are out all day you might keep an eye out for them to nest somewhere in the yard. Once they start using the nest box they will go back to the coop to use it when it's time to lay an egg. But if they are out every day it is possible they will lay eggs somewhere outside.

I'd be concerned about this too. I only let mine out in late PM, after eggs are laid. It's especially important to make sure those first eggs are laid in the boxes, otherwise they'll get attached to their hidden nests and it will be hard to change that.

 

[Folly's place]

Mine also go out later, and I vary the time, to help foil (some) predators, some of the time.
Mary

 

[MissChick@dee]

Hawk hideouts sure glad those were mentioned. My garden/yard has many and I spent time when they were younger showing them where they were. Yes...I’d get a chair some treats and we’d spend time at each one as they ventured further away from the run. They KNOW the word “Hawk!” (I scream it). it sounds funny but where I live we have Hawk Drills far too often.
A turned over wheelbarrow a piece of plywood leaning onto the fence I have bushes next to the house I continue to add/beautify my hideouts.
Thanks @jolenesdad for mentioning that...so important!

 

[Peppercorngal]

Wow! You have green grass! Here in Northern California everything is dry and dead, we have had no rain since March. Our temperatures are still around 95 or so. Your girls must be very happy. Yes, give them water outside, no food. I would give oyster shell in a separate dish just to be sure they get what they need. If they want it they will peck it up! Waiting for eggs can be frustrating but they will lay when they lay! I know you have heard this before, but it's true! Good luck, your girls are lovely and I'm envious of your grass!

 

[MissChick@dee]

Wow! You have green grass! Here in Northern California everything is dry and dead, we have had no rain since March. Our temperatures are still around 95 or so. Your girls must be very happy. Yes, give them water outside, no food. I would give oyster shell in a separate dish just to be sure they get what they need. If they want it they will peck it up! Waiting for eggs can be frustrating but they will lay when they lay! I know you have heard this before, but it's true! Good luck, your girls are lovely and I'm envious of your grass!

I’m so terrible I see all that lovely grass and I say to myself....let’s see that yard one year from now. I know I’m terrible.....

 

[Folly's place]

I have grass, and 'various native plants' or weeds, to be crude about it. Not to mention the invasives, and as long as it's sort of green, it's fine here. The mower keeps it sort of under control too.
Hot and dry is not my idea of a wonderful climate, sorry, but Michigan is great (maybe not in January though).
Mary