DH decided to free range-the week they start laying!

[sparkles2307]

Um, is it just me, or should they be kept locked in (the pen is HUGE just doesnt have the nice, un-pecked grass of the yard) since they are JUST getting ready to lay? They have never been free-ranged, so this is a big change, and they are so excited about it, who knows where they'll decide to lay their eggs. I think that they should get the hang of it before getting let loose...or am I being silly?

 

[JestersEye]

I opted to let my flock get good and settled in their routine before giving them the freedom of the yard. Like you, I was worried that they wouldn't know where to go when the need to lay came upon them, or that they would hide their eggs all over the yard. I also have other animals (dogs and goats) and I didn't want them tempted to go after any eggs they might find lying around unattended. All in all, I'd probably reccommend leaving them cooped up a bit longer, until they get the hang of laying first... one change at a time or they might get too stressed out.

 

[Judy]

My free range flock was free ranging long before they started laying, and they always return to the coop to lay. Just depends on the flock, I guess.

 

[yellowchickensmomma]

My girls have always been able to free range. They come back to the coop to lay eggs.

 

[suburbanminifarm]

Mine are full time free range (except at dark) and they just know to return to their little home to lay.

 

[busybme]

I was checking under the shrubs several times a day, watching for the first egg from my free range girls. I was so sure that they were already laying somewhere on the property and we just weren't finding the eggs!

But they wander back to the coop mid-morning to lay their beautiful eggs in the nesting boxes each day. They have such good instincts.

We tried the trick of putting a golf ball in their box to give them the hint. Don't know if that helped or not.

 

[sparkles2307]

Our problem is that being on a large farm our yard is HUGE and half of it is never mowed due due machinery and grazing cattle once a month. So, with 13 outbuildings, countless machines, and a half acre of knee high grass. egg hunting isnt really practical!

 

[aimeeinwv]

Not that I know anything about this.. but I am wondering... would it help if she put fake eggs in the nesting boxes?? Just curious!

 

[sparkles2307]

I plan to put some golf balls in there for sure! Just have to GET around to it lol