First Free Range today (Lots of Pictures)

[Cyberous]

I picked up these two adoptees 12 days ago, RIR and Redstar (I think) They have been real antsy whenever I come to the coop looking like they want to get out.

Last night I did a search on this forum and found the best way of training your chickens to free range is let them out 2 hours prior to sunset since they will instincutally want to come home to roost.

I locked the Dogs on the deck and the cats inside, crossed my fingers and opened the door.

They immediately started scratching in an area I just tranplanted a tree, They were there for 10 minutes or so then started to wander.

After about an hour of wandering around they started to walk home,.. it was a proud moment for me!

Hope you enjoy the photos!

Don


Woot,.. we are FREE!!!

YUM BUGS AND STUFF

Whats over here?

Where are we?

Heading Home!

Home at last!

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Your chickens are going to be soooo happy! I wish so bad that I could do this, but we have hawks all over the place! Not to mention my two weinerschnappers and the cat.

You have a gorgeous view too.

 

[b.hromada]

They certainly will be happy! What a beautiful place you have! And the view, fabulous!!

 

[gritsar]

Great pics. Thanks for sharing!

I don't always know where my free range chickens wander during the day, but they are all back at the coop come dusk. Happy chickens.

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

Wow, your flower beds are great!!
Are they very high maintenience?
Great view too!

 

[Cyberous]

Should I be concerned with Hawks on full sized chickens?

We have a few but not too many.

Thanks for the kind words,.. the planters are no problem. I worked in a commercial nursery a few years back so I was able to get a few truck loads of potting soil so maint is very very low as weeds pull out easily and they are on timed sprinklers. However, last year I converted three of the six to water gardens, containing lotus and water lillies

Don

 

[b'hamPeeps]

Wow! Looks like some lucky clucks.

Can you post a couple pics of your raised beds? They look like cool designs.

 

[Dr.Doorlock]

Even here in the city I worry about hawks. I'm troubling over letting the girls out in the back yard. They have lots of room in their run and coop. I would have to clip their wings and keep the dogs inside while they tear up my raised gardens. Even with all the problems, I still want to give them that freedom sometime.

 

[Cyberous]

Here is a picture from last year, the poly bag is a temp "green" house to get the Lotus and Thai Basil started.

I will take some better photos tomorrow.

Don

 

[Cyberous]

Oh yea,.. I found more photos.

Remember the three on the out side are now water gardens.

Don