FREE-RANGE KEEPING OF AMERICAN DOMINIQUES

[ChickensAreSweet]

Sounds like the only way. Good plan IMO.

 

[Bullitt]

I would like to keep this thread focused on the management efforts directly related to the birds and the resources they have access to free-range.

You were the one who brought up the subject of fewer butterflies.

 

[centrarchid]

Artic blast coming. Two hens with young. One with six week old juveniles roosting up on a pen. One with three week old chicks roosting on ground. Both groups free range. They have been provided a fixed ration over last several days. Normally about one third not eaten. Today all eaten. Feed intake way up. I do not know if more consumed during day or if they went roost with greater crop fill.

 

[Primo]

When he delivered check he said he invested already about $500 in an invisible fencing system and that dogs where already learning boundaries. He has subsequently offered to give me some nest boxes. This I think is being done to protect his dogs. He has acquired dogs on two prior occasions since moving in about three years ago and lost them to roaming and not coming back. One was problematic for one of my roosters that came down with Mareks at same time so loss there was inevitable even without dog. That dog was imputes for acquiring Scoob when I did.

If his fencing fails I think dogs will be dispatched fairly quickly as after only three days of running they already made quit the un-fan club. He needs some livestock himself so he becomes sensitized to problems dogs can cause if not properly managed. If he did that, then he can also be the front-line between dogs down in the valley and me.

Be prepared, his dogs will breach the invisible fencing again at some point. I have first hand experience with my own invisible fencing(which I have now removed and replaced with real fence) and my neighbors. Both my neighbor and myself spent a lot of time training our dogs on it. They will continually test it on purpose, or by accident, and if the collars are not on, or supplied with a fresh battery they will breach it sooner or later.

 

[centrarchid]

We have switched over to off season mode where all but a small number are in pens and even the free-range birds are within my fenced in areas. We also just purchased a much heavier duty fence charger for the current outer perimeter and will fence property boundary as well. Two chargers will be running where one on the inner most perimeter will be covering only pens where pens themselves help keep dogs in place for proper repeated shocks.

 

[centrarchid]

Feed consumption clearly up. Crop fill consumed in chicks before half of night is gone. They are hungry enough 90 minutes before dawn to come out and get underfoot as I arm feeders. They do not do that during summer even when they go to roost without full crops. Interest in feed now much more single minded.

The chicks are in very good weight although they do not seem to be growing all that fast with respect to bone structure. Feathering does not appear to be developing faster than when it is hot.

 

[centrarchid]

Temperature at dawn about 6 degrees F. Juveniles are fluffed up a bit but otherwise acting typical. Chicks also fluffed up a bit but also alternating feet raised up into body feathers. Chicks clearly want to be under mommy but she does enable while I am out putting feed down. If I were to go out more frequently when it is cold as is then chicks could be stressed unless hens calm down.

 

[centrarchid]

I have been stuck in house for much of day but could see hens and chicks with aid of binoculars. Chicks were out most time exposed to less than twenty degrees F. Crops were constantly topped off. When I did go out to check they were obviously shivering. Much smaller wild birds do not shiver so until temps below zero with wind. The hens also are not seeking cover from wind like other free-range birds are doing. This all means chicks are investing more in fighting cold than they should. For these night time is much easier than the warmer day.

 

[centrarchid]

KEEPING CHICKS OUTSIDE WITH ADULTS CONFINED DOES NOT WORK WELL

Chicks wander too far. Coopers Hawk! Not normally a problem. Juveniles at seven weeks not taken., yet. The juveniles will confined shortly as well. This yet another reason to shut down broody hens by summers end.

 

[Mrs. K]

you really can't fool mother nature....she has the trump cards...... but it is so darn tempting.