Daytime Free Range Questions

[WhoDatChick]

GO SAINTS!!!! .... sorry, I just couldn’t help myself WHO DAT!!

 

[Peppercorngal]

It’s so crazy to imagine a life in which it hasn’t rained SINCE MARCH.
We live in South Louisiana and even when it’s not raining, the air is so saturated with water sometimes it makes it hard to breathe! For the last two weeks our temps hit 103 and it has rained, at least for 30 mins, every single day.
I’d send some your way if I could!!
Thank you for your advice on water and Oyster Shell!!! Will do!

I would love some rain, but that won't happen here for awhile. Our humidity is like around 20% at the max and usually more like 7%. I just can't imagine rain everyday!! Oh well, lets just be grateful for what we have! Enjoy your chickens!

 

[flyin-lowe]

Am I going to have no grass?

How many hens do you plan and how big is the yard? If you just have a couple in a 1/2 acre yard you should be ok. If you plan on 10-20 hens you could be down to mud before you know it depending on the size of the lot....

 

[Reilyjarm]

How many hens do you plan and how big is the yard? If you just have a couple in a 1/2 acre yard you should be ok. If you plan on 10-20 hens you could be down to mud before you know it depending on the size of the lot....

Hmm, I couldn’t say how big my chicken yard is, Im not particularly good at estimating, I posted pictures though!! And I have 5 hens now. And I don’t think I’ll ever have more than 6 !!

 

[NinjaChicken617]

View attachment 1543386 View attachment 1543381

I never even thought about adding protection from an attack from above! I’m so sorry to hear about your losses! They have two large trees , but will totally heed your warning and make them something extra to hide under!!

I made the newbie mistake of not providing protection overhead and as a result lost my favorite Plymouth Rock to a hawk. After that, we constructed a web made of fine climbing rope and then suspended a net overhead. However, that works for us because we have a fenced-in yard just for the girls (see photo). While we were busy constructing the fence and netting, we set a pallet on some cinder blocks to provide some cover. We ended up leaving it in the yard because they really like it. They take turns flying up and jumping off all day long. You could get a few and put them in different spots and you'll have an easy, practically free solution. It's not foolproof, of course, but it will give them a chance in the event a hungry hawk shows up.

 

[WhoDatChick]

I made the newbie mistake of not providing protection overhead and as a result lost my favorite Plymouth Rock to a hawk. After that, we constructed a web made of fine climbing rope and then suspended a net overhead. However, that works for us because we have a fenced-in yard just for the girls (see photo). While we were busy constructing the fence and netting, we set a pallet on some cinder blocks to provide some cover. We ended up leaving it in the yard because they really like it. They take turns flying up and jumping off all day long. You could get a few and put them in different spots and you'll have an easy, practically free solution. It's not foolproof, of course, but it will give them a chance in the event a hungry hawk shows up.View attachment 1548994

How big is that yard? It looks like you have 8 birds(me too).. do they not demolish ALL the grass? I see you have grass or was that when it was first built? I’m just trying to get an idea of how big to make my extra yard. Thanks!

 

[NinjaChicken617]

How big is that yard? It looks like you have 8 birds(me too).. do they not demolish ALL the grass? I see you have grass or was that when it was first built? I’m just trying to get an idea of how big to make my extra yard. Thanks!

The fenced yard is roughly 15' x 30' and the coop/run is 4' x 10'. You're correct- we have 8 girls. This photo was taken about 6 weeks after the fence went up. There are some bare spots now, but I'm actually surprised that there is any grass left. We try to give them grass clippings, fruit and veggie trimmings, and other things to forage through so that they don't completely tear up the grass. They have totally dug up the ground below the coop and in the run, though. The ground in the back left corner was mostly pine needles and leaves (no grass) when we built the yard, and they actually like hanging out and foraging there the best, which is helpful. I think this size yard is more than adequate for everyone's needs. There is a nice mix of sun and shade, and it's a manageable size for us to maintain. We rake every couple of weeks to get rid of any leftover compost scraps, excess poop, and grass clippings. Even so, I really don't expect the grass to last for another year.
ETA: We are planning to take down several large pine trees in the spring, and so will have lots of pine chips which I think will be OK substitute ground cover once they kill all the grass.

 

[WhoDatChick]

The fenced yard is roughly 15' x 30' and the coop/run is 4' x 10'. You're correct- we have 8 girls. This photo was taken about 6 weeks after the fence went up. There are some bare spots now, but I'm actually surprised that there is any grass left. We try to give them grass clippings, fruit and veggie trimmings, and other things to forage through so that they don't completely tear up the grass. They have totally dug up the ground below the coop and in the run, though. The ground in the back left corner was mostly pine needles and leaves (no grass) when we built the yard, and they actually like hanging out and foraging there the best, which is helpful. I think this size yard is more than adequate for everyone's needs. There is a nice mix of sun and shade, and it's a manageable size for us to maintain. We rake every couple of weeks to get rid of any leftover compost scraps, excess poop, and grass clippings. Even so, I really don't expect the grass to last for another year.
ETA: We are planning to take down several large pine trees in the spring, and so will have lots of pine chips which I think will be OK substitute ground cover once they kill all the grass.

I put wood chips in my yard and they work great! I have a 12x12 coop/run.. it is completely covered so it stays nice and dry and stink free. I am planning on adding on another yard for them (just cuz).. I just want them to have more space.. and that’ll make easier to decide if I should get more birds later on Thank you! p.s. I like your set up!

 

[NinjaChicken617]

View attachment 1549076
I put wood chips in my yard and they work great! I have a 12x12 coop/run.. it is completely covered so it stays nice and dry and stink free. I am planning on adding on another yard for them (just cuz).. I just want them to have more space.. and that’ll make easier to decide if I should get more birds later on Thank you! p.s. I like your set up!

Thank you! Your coop is super cute and I love your nice, big covered run! It's good to know that the wood chip idea is a good one. I'm just learning as I go along...

 

[jolenesdad]

@Reilyjarm from the looks of your photos, you will keep your grass. Just guessing but if they’ve got your whole yard you could probably have 8-10 easily.

I would strategically provide them with spaces to dust bathe in. They may have already picked favorite spots in the sun and shade. Do what you can to encourage them to those spots or provide them an area in a tub or something and as far as foraging and scratching you have plenty of space. They will have their favorite spots and it’ll be easiest if you follow their lead and then work around that while you are planning your landscape elements for cover.

I THINK I read once that it’s 80 chickens an acre for the grass to keep up with the manure and scratching. That would be 5-6 chickens on 3000 square feet of grass. Also, you’re probably not technically sun up to sun down on that grass, you’ll have a fair amount of poop in the coop so you should be good.