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

[wyoDreamer]

I am curious as an aside

I am curious as an aside, how many birds per acre for forage, and have you planted any chicken specific crops such as https://www.naturesseed.com/pasture-seed/poultry-pastures/ offers for sale? I was considering putting in around a quarter acre of this stuff myself. I currently have 5 birds foraging one acre.

I looked at that web-site out of curiosity. Interesting to me was that the GreatLakes/New England mix is $20, the Great Plains and Mid-west are about $8. They seem to be the same seed mixes for all 3, lol.

 

[PoultryAnna]

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

I'm sure it's possible, I just don't know if it's worth it. The dream would be to develop a landrace that's adapted to the conditions like the sheep have. Currently, a flock of chickens comes on in the spring and they forage for all their own food aside from treats and scraps. The winter's not THAT bad, it's just wet and cold (this is essentially New England).

ETA: it's been a few decades since there was a continuous Seal Island flock, now it's completely different chickens every year so they don't get as much of a chance to adapt. I'm not sure they've ever really fed the chickens? This is a place where the line between domestic and wild animal is very blurred.

ETA again: I should go ask my Nana how they cared for the chickens growing up. I read in a book recently that my great grandmother never butchered the retired layers, they were more like "released into the wild" and there were some that'd been there for over a decade.

I should also start my own thread... sorry...

 

[Shadrach]

I have a lot of edge areas between short cropped grass and larger plants ranging from 16" forbes to 40 feet trees. A lot of Persimmon trees are also involved and they are producing fruit falling to ground. The birds are moving freely back and forth between trees and pasture. Area being foraged is now approaching 6 acres with 22 chickens moving about freely plus seven 5 week old chicks that have access to a creep feeder keeping them in tight. The math is 22 birds / 6 acres = 3.7 birds per acre. If not for Persimmons supplying energy, they would be foraging a further although following fence rows and roadways where cover and eats are concentrated. Student is have fun trying to track the birds as they move back and forth between open and wooded areas. The loafing time is much less than what you would see when feed supplied, especially when offered free-choice.

Student instructed to watch closely for predator action. Hawks in particular are about as the songbirds are flocking up. Student got to watch how a mixed flock of starlings and black birds rolled about nearly 1/4 mile away. She never appreciated before how the songbirds had to adjust movement patterns when flocking up.

I've got Persimmon trees here; not in fruit yet, but the chickens eat the figs that fall at this time of year. It's also flying ant time and that's a feeding frenzy.
I've tried documenting some of the bugs and plants the chickens eat here.

 

[AllenK RGV]

The Chantecler breed might also be worth taking a look at they originated in Canada. Or even take a look at other heritage breeds as they are usually good foragers, and mothers should you be interested in mostly free ranging. I certainly wouldn't bother leasing Crown land as your chicken will decide to go where they like anyways. You as their keeper only need to ensure they are habituated to their coop so they come home at night.

 

[Shadrach]

There are many breeds that are suitable for fully feral or semi feral chicken keeping. The Minorcan Black is a favorite here for fully feral. The Catalan makes a good semi feral option.

 

[PoultryAnna]

Yes, so many breeds! Chantecler were developed here on the prairies, where it's much colder and drier. I also considered Canadian Bresse or any of the Scandinavian breeds. I'll most likely bring a diverse flock there in the spring when I go to shear the sheep and see how they fare. I can just imagine the flavour of a Bresse that's been foraging fiddleheads and berries all summer.

 

[AllenK RGV]

There are many breeds that are suitable for fully feral or semi feral chicken keeping. The Minorcan Black is a favorite here for fully feral. The Catalan makes a good semi feral option.

Minorcan seemed to be harder to habituate to the coop than the Sumatras I had ordered from a hatchery. It(hatchery screw-up) decided to fly over the fence while all the Sumatras remained.

 

[Shadrach]

Minorcan seemed to be harder to habituate to the coop than the Sumatras I had ordered from a hatchery. It(hatchery screw-up) decided to fly over the fence while all the Sumatras remained.

There are a few flocks here that coop roost but many roost outside, or in outhouses.
Imo hatchery chickens are not going to hack it. Flocks here are generations old on some farms.
The older generation show the new ones the ropes. It's how I keep the population here.

 

[Fisherlmiranda]

Ive

Love your daughter making her own notes! That will definitely be something to see when she's finished!

As for my own study...I've been seriously playing with the idea of equipping my duck hen with a GoPro for the day in an attempt to find her hidden nest! True "birds eye view"

Wanted to do this too

 

[PoultryAnna]

There are a few flocks here that coop roost but many roost outside, or in outhouses.
Imo hatchery chickens are not going to hack it. Flocks here are generations old on some farms.
The older generation show the new ones the ropes. It's how I keep the population here.

This supports my chicken intuition 100%