Feed Management Methods [Poll]

[Brooks_]

I don't see a way to make everyone visible

I think it was an option to make it public when you created it.

I did not want to mass tag, however.

No, of course not. Certainly not at the beginning. But after some time, others don't mind tagging. Like "Get over here".

 

[TheFatBlueCat]

My main flock (which is what I have answered for because everyone ultimately ends up in the main flock) live each day until 2pm in a run that is approximately 1000sq feet for 11 birds. They spend the rest of their time free range on my 1/3 acre property until bedtime, so in summer they get more hours and in winter less hours. All my broodies/chicks/juveniles free range the property until they're big enough to join main flock (about 16-20 weeks). The juveniles just climb or fly over all fences so I gave up trying to contain them. No chickens choose to leave my property even though they could technically fly over the fence in some places.

 

[Shadrach]

Here is where we are so far. I'd love to see more like 500 responses from the community, but some trends are starting to be evident.

View attachment 3153395

I think 500 will be a hard target to hit.
I've asked people to vote on my thread.
What you could do is every time you post on a feed topic link to the poll with a request to vote. Probably more acceptable than tagging people.

 

[Ribh]

My flock has a 1/4 acre backyard with an established garden they are let loose in @ sunrise. I secure them @ night when they go to roost. The fences keep most of them in [Campines & Vorwerks excepted] & there are few predators.

 

[NatJ]

Interesting that the graphs give a very different impression from what surprised me when reading the answers : almost two third of the people who answered have their flocks free ranging for at least a few hours a day!
I guess it depends if you see the glass half full or half empty .

I suppose there is a bias as people who can not have their flock free range at all would maybe be less willing to answer a poll on that subject.

When I look at the graph or the poll responses, I see a lot of people keeping their flocks confined all the time. When I read the answers in the thread, I see a lot of people allowing some free ranging.

I think it's because people want to explain what amount of free ranging their chickens do, but the ones who keep the chickens penned all the time feel less need to explain any details of that.

I do wonder if the first answer (always confined) is more common at the present time because of Avian Influenza, or whether it would be almost the same at any other time.

 

[pennyJo1960]

We have about a 1/4 acre for the birds to frolic eat bugs, gartener snakes.
They are out daily able to forage at will. Rooster protects calls to them when a threat is there.

 

[Shadrach]

When I look at the graph or the poll responses, I see a lot of people keeping their flocks confined all the time. When I read the answers in the thread, I see a lot of people allowing some free ranging.

I think it's because people want to explain what amount of free ranging their chickens do, but the ones who keep the chickens penned all the time feel less need to explain any details of that.

I do wonder if the first answer (always confined) is more common at the present time because of Avian Influenza, or whether it would be almost the same at any other time.

Graphs can be very misleading. To get a proper understanding you need to examine the poll results. The comments, while interesting to read are really only usefull to work out if the participants understand the voting options.

 

[Silexian]

Living in a rural area. There are plenty of natural predators. Along with the occasional stray or unresponsible owner allowing their dog to run loose. So I keep my chickens in the coops and runs most of the day. I let them out every afternoon. Giving them access to about seven acres.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I do wonder if the first answer (always confined) is more common at the present time because of Avian Influenza, or whether it would be almost the same at any other time.

I considered that... currently my flock is confined 24/7 due to AI in my county/nearby counties, but I answered for how I'd normally handle things, not for the current and hopefully temporary confinement.

 

[RoyalChick]

Breaks out calculator to see if 1k sf each. yes, but they don't utilize all of it.

I answered based on my adult flock - I am in the process of introducing some young-uns and they would tip me to below the 1k sf each for their range area.
I need to decide whether/when to increase their ranging space but I am not in a hurry as mine do not make full use of the space they have access to now. They have their favorite areas, but I I think some parts may be too 'open' for them to feel secure, so when I expand I will try and do so in areas with more shrub cover. Maybe then they will use all of it.