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

[centrarchid]

I had to feed 4 penned cocks / stags in area of trial. It affected behavior of all free-range birds as they came in trying to get at feed. I provided only a small amount and made so birds outside could not get at it. No tid-bitting from penned males, none.

 

[centrarchid]

Daughter came in looking for an umbrella. Tracking in rain now kind of nasty. Daughter is really get into this.

 

[PoultryAnna]

What daily maintenance do you do with the flock? Do you think it could be feasible to maintain a flock that's left entirely on its own for long periods of time?

ETA: Asking for scenarios such as utilizing Crown land or other remote land (don't know what the US equivalent is, but Crown land in Canada is wilderness that can be leased from the government for grazing livestock)

 

[centrarchid]

What daily maintenance do you do with the flock? Do you think it could be feasible to maintain a flock that's left entirely on its own for long periods of time?

ETA: Asking for scenarios such as utilizing Crown land or other remote land (don't know what the US equivalent is, but Crown land in Canada is wilderness that can be leased from the government for grazing livestock)

What is currently ongoing is short-term. Normally they have a feeding station with feed allotment enough to last through at least noon and many of the birds usually stay in pens through end of work day.

I have kept flocks free-range without feeding them, but do not do so now. The flocks could reproduce and even increase in numbers, but where not valued as egg producers. The flock size started off very low each spring like one to three hens with a rooster. We had good predator control. I would not recommend such keeping now.

Closer to realistic has you living with small farm supporting some livestock and dogs with some fencing and other resources the chickens need. Livestock provide food resulting from inefficient assimilation, dogs provide protection and keep you in loop, and fencing provides borders chickens can concentrate activities around.

 

[PoultryAnna]

What is currently ongoing is short-term. Normally they have a feeding station with feed allotment enough to last through at least noon and many of the birds usually stay in pens through end of work day.

I have kept flocks free-range without feeding them, but do not do so now. The flocks could reproduce and even increase in numbers, but where not valued as egg producers. The flock size started off very low each spring like one to three hens with a rooster. We had good predator control. I would not recommend such keeping now.

Closer to realistic has you living with small farm supporting some livestock and dogs with some fencing and other resources the chickens need. Livestock provide food resulting from inefficient assimilation, dogs provide protection and keep you in loop, and fencing provides borders chickens can concentrate activities around.

What you describe is 100% the traditional way of life on a remote island that's been in my family for several generations. They raised their own food and it was an island so it was very self-contained. That's actually what I had in mind, but it's such a unique scenario I tried to come up with something normal and analogous, lol. The island isn't always inhabited anymore, so it's tricky. There's a flock of semi-feral sheep (which is now my responsibility to take care of, but I havent been out there yet) and I wondered if chickens could be similar. It's an island, so they're not going to leave. Hawks and perhaps rats are the only predators.

We always have a flock of chickens, but lately we've been borrowing them from some locals. The tricky part is if one of us leaves and then maybe it's a couple weeks until someone else goes out there. Everything we bring there has to be loaded into a dory.

Anyway, don't mean to ramble... Thanks for responding.

 

[aart]

It's an island,

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[PoultryAnna]

I live in Alberta, but Seal Island is in Nova Scotia.

(I'm now editing my profile)

 

[AllenK RGV]

What daily maintenance do you do with the flock? Do you think it could be feasible to maintain a flock that's left entirely on its own for long periods of time?

ETA: Asking for scenarios such as utilizing Crown land or other remote land (don't know what the US equivalent is, but Crown land in Canada is wilderness that can be leased from the government for grazing livestock)

In the case of my 5 total free rangers, who can fly over 8 foot fences I personally do nothing other than provide water points and the occasional treats of sprouted lentils, scratch, and whatever cat food they decide to steal. My feral chicken does not steal cat food though. They put themselves to bed each night and let themselves out. I have yet to lose one at night to the possums(our only predators) So no need for me to open and shut doors plus my cat is the stuff of nightmares for the possums. Our soil is pretty poor but there is always something green available for them.

I'm sure in Canada this wouldn't be an option in winter.

 

[centrarchid]

In the case of my 5 total free rangers, who can fly over 8 foot fences I personally do nothing other than provide water points and the occasional treats of sprouted lentils, scratch, and whatever cat food they decide to steal. My feral chicken does not steal cat food though. They put themselves to bed each night and let themselves out. I have yet to lose one at night to the possums(our only predators) So no need for me to open and shut doors plus my cat is the stuff of nightmares for the possums. Our soil is pretty poor but there is always something green available for them.

I'm sure in Canada this wouldn't be an option in winter.

You be in Texas

 

[AllenK RGV]

You be in Texas

yep caught me before I finished my location specific editing.