Following a Free-range Chicken from Roost in Morning to Roost at Night

[Molpet]

If nothing else changed I bet all would start foraging even in morning.

Supposed to be warmer so they will be out.
The teenage chickens, in the past, have gone out in the snow to get away from the adults. This year they moved to an unused coop.

 

[centrarchid]

Supposed to be warmer so they will be out.
The teenage chickens, in the past, have gone out in the snow to get away from the adults. This year they moved to an unused coop.

How deep is your snow?

 

[Molpet]

How deep is your snow?

Only 3" in most spots
Just a month or so early

 

[centrarchid]

Yellow lines show a very short route taken yesterday that was not much more than 400 feet in total. Previous days monitored were underestimates to be sure but still three or four times as much movement. When It gets really cold with deep snow I have them fly 125 feet to a pallet and hay bales to stay their all day before flying back without touching snow.

 

[aart]

Copies of this map might help your students mark where the birds go.

 

[centrarchid]

Copies of this map might help your students mark where the birds go.

Each day observations made, a map as shown accompanied each data sheet that covered about 2 hours worth of observation. Numbers are marked on maps like done with number sets used to guide line drawings for kids.

 

[centrarchid]

Bald Eagle issue that is currently targeting my fish. This project will very soon be moved to same locality were Bald Eagles perch every day, Great-horned Owls come in every night, and you can see half dozen Red-tailed Hawks at same time for much of the winter. Red-shouldered Hawks also present but they have yet to cause problems. Also exceptional location for seeing how Coopers Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks hunt in more open habitat.

Can you see the two eagles perched in the dead Black Walnut? They be eating our market size bass. They also eat dead goats not found quickly enough, like within a couple daylight hours sometimes unless dogs take issue.

 

[aart]

a map as shown accompanied each data sheet

I shoulda known

 

[centrarchid]

I shoulda known

We new for summer observations a single map would be too cluttered to read in field. They move around a lot more during summer, and a lot further. Actual data collection for this trial started after ranging habits contracted. We also had to pen a lot of the early season hatch birds because stags coming into courage. More birds do cover more ground.