First day of free ranging - I'm in love

[JimWWhite]

Last year after we got our first 6 hens I'd go out at dusk and let them out and give them lettuce or greens from the garden or table scraps as a treat and just sit and watch them run around the yard chasing bugs. And like you say they'd always go back into the run and coop right at dark and I'd lock them up and head in the house. Well, one evening Teresa asked our nine year old Granddaughter Halie where PawPaw was. She said "He's out watching Chicken TV..." Well, a new term was coined and a new tradition was established. Now when the girls come over they always want to come out and watch Chicken TV with PawPaw in the evening. They'll even climb up on my lap and sit there with me until the Gals go in. And you know, it don't get no better than that!!!

 

[Ponytrainer]

We moved our girls out to their "Chick-Mahal" (the coop) when they were about 9 weeks old. I left them in for a couple weeks so they knew where home was. Once we started letting them out, we have been blissfully happy ever since. I just love watching them pluck around in the yard. The funniest thing is watching Ruby, the cochin, panic when she thinks the others have left her and has to do the kamakaze run to find them. Nothing is more entertaining than watching the girl with chaps having to run at a break-neck speed to find them.

They occassionally go back to the coop for a drink, a dust bath and a snack throughout the day. But, at 8:00pm every night they head back to the run. They hang out there for an hour, then drag their tired selves up the ramp and in to their coop for bedtime. Really cute and it worked better than I had ever expected. I do love the idea of calling them with a can of food though, as a couple weeks ago, we had to put them to bed early and it was a bit stressful for all involved. They were pretty clear they weren't ready for bed! Silly girls...

 

[Trunkster]

I'm still just a wannabe chicken man and I truly enjoy reading all your stories. I raised them over 30 some years ago and just now getting back into it. I'll be free ranging too in short sperts, half days. I plan on 9 layers and one Roo. I'm in Canada with Northern NY type weather, what is a good Roo to consider.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:

Consider a LF brahma roo. Winter just flat out doesn't bother them. This is my Thor, he's a gentle giant:

 

[scooter147]

I let my chickens out into the yard about 7:15 or 7:30 each night (any earlier and they always make their way to the flower gardens up at the house NOT GOOD).
They remind me of kids on Christmas morning, they crowd up to the the human screen door and scream at me as they see me come out the back door. They just can't wait for me to open that door.
Once open they come running and flying out. They spend a few minutes gorging on grass then go on the hunt for bugs.
I have 30 chickens and I seem to have 6 different flocks and it is funny when one gets away from it's group and it runs/flys like the devil to get back.
They all have to make a quick trip to the ducks bowl just in case they left a little something for them.
I just wishi it would cool off a bit so I would enjoy being out as much as them

 

[sheila3935]

My girls free range all day. They are sooo mad at me if the weather is bad and they have to stay in their run. Soon I will be letting the babies range with them. Right now they just get to go out in their run.

 

[Ironmaiden]

Does anyone worry about them getting into the neighbors yard, ate by the neighbor's dog or a fox etc? I used to free range mine, but have had to pen them up in a very large run. I'd like to let them run again, but my guy is against it. Opinions?

 

[scooter147]

I stay out with mine when mine free range but it's only an hour or so. I stay out because we are grand central station for redtail hawks.

My backyard is over a 1/2 acre so only on rare occasions has one gone over the fence and my neighbors dog is about 10 years old with arthritis and couldn't run a chicken down if her life depended on it.

The closer to dark the less likely they will want to explore the neighbors yard but no guarantee of course. The closer to dark the liklihood of a predator appearing increases. For example, my co-worker had a fox attack her chickens while free ranging about 7:30 one evening while she was in the run cleaning waterers. She was able to intervene before he caught one.

 

[Ironmaiden]

Wow. So...being free is better even if it means possible danger. Guess it is true for chickens as well as humans! We let them out for an hour last night. They went straight for the tomatoes, and the dividing line fence. I have 11 acres, but a house nearer the barn where the fence is.

 

[scooter147]

How tall is the fence?
Quite a few of mine head for the fence line as well. The reason is that "stuff" leaves, grass etc builds up there and the chickens know in piles of "stuff" the bugs hide.
Mine also head for the grape vines now that they are ripe. Which is fine by me my vines produce more then I can possible eat. An no I don't make jelly.