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

[aart]

Last night we had a major weather event involving a lot of wind. Several large items and even tree branches were blown over. That will be a navigation issue.

Variation to protocol can be interesting but a bummer.

 

[centrarchid]

Here is the big image flattened out. Dog trails extremely visible.

 

[centrarchid]

I am experimenting with images size so not really double post.

 

[Kiki]

I am experimenting with images size so not really double post.

View attachment 1935443

This second one is better for mobile users.

 

[centrarchid]

Student just did another day of following the chickens. Foraging and ranging behavior totally different and I suspect due to weather. This time they spent about 80% of their day in a strip of sumac and plum trees where they have good protection from cool wind yet exposure to sun with reasonable eats. They crossed the road into a coarsely mowed area for only about 20 minutes near the end of the day. When a couple killdeer flew over giving alarm calls the chickens flew hard to cover under a large multi-floral rose next to house and did not come out a good 15 minutes even though clearly hungry. Previous observation days the chickens spent a lot more time in the open. Thermal stress I think biggest driver. Birds also shifted roosting site into garage which allowed better listening for communications associated with that process. One pullet advertise clearly she wanted to use me as an intermediate perch getting to roost, and she used me. Made certain all birds put up tight with owl coming already to be run off by dogs just minutes ago. Dog with pups driving owl off carcasses with help from other dogs. Owl is super persistent. I brought in two roadkill deer for use as raw feed by dogs. Chickens are likely to eat some and wildlife will certainly try to. Game cameras will be setup to see who comes to table.

 

[Perris]

very interesting! But I am not familiar with the phrase

all birds put up tight

; what does it mean?

 

[centrarchid]

very interesting! But I am not familiar with the phrase ; what does it mean?

Birds penned with doors, gates, and covers made to be less permeable to owls. Most of the time many roosting areas are accessible to an owl as major concerns are such as Red Fox and Raccoons are blocked by electric fencing. The owl visits for a few days to a couple of weeks before going somewhere else for at least as long. The owl shifts area it hunts based on something in addition to catching something to eat. I think the owls must change hunting areas to more effectively defend territory from other encroaching owls.

 

[Perris]

thanks for the clarification

 

[centrarchid]

Student following chickens today and tomorrow and field part of study will be complete. Weather mild today so subject bird is spending a lot of time in the open. They found a deer carcass the dogs are eating where the subject and its flock-mates are also getting something to eat. Student expressed concern and I said it is all right, put observation in notes.

 

[centrarchid]

Student made comment at end of day that subject and its family group spent a lot of time going back and forth between deer carcass and pokeweed patch. I presume carcass for protein and pokeweed berries for energy. Only one cockerel (not subject) crossed road and that was only for a short time. Ranging habits of group shifted to west a good 50 yards relative to what we saw in the beginning.