Free Range or Not? What Does Everyone Prefer?

[Habibs Hens]

i just want to add to this


i build a very large run for my chicken as i didnt want them out due to fear of loosing them

when i introduced new chicken i lost a few to pecking and fighting (peking order)

i then decided to freerange

i let out the chicken from all different pens all at the same time

the weaker ones where able to run away at the sigh of attack and not get hurt

eventually after about 1 week the waeker chicken started getting braver and integating with the other hens

now all the chicken go to the coop at night and sleep together and they dont need seperation at night

they seem to have establised a pecking order in a safe manner and none lost



so im all for free ranging

 

[clucky3255]

hey silver fox? Y don't you try using punctuation and capitals? It is much easier to read. I am all for free ranging and have done it before with chickens.(none lost) but the guineas would run so i cant anymore.(frowny face)

 

[clucky3255]

Other than that ur post is perfecto!

 

[Mrs. K]

What I have found with free ranging is there are a lot of variables. One has to manage the beauty and healthiness of free range with the reality that some will be lost. What I have found with predators, is a roo will help with day time predators. As dark has been coming on earlier, my predators have been sneaking a few, if I don't get right down there.

Too much free range, makes your chickens not want to be in the pen, which can make them difficult to round up. When they get that way, I just lock them up in the run for a few days. Mine need to think the best treats are in the run.

But the real thing that helps me, is do not have a consistent routine, such as let them out at 7:00, get them in at 7:00. Vary it day to day. Keeps the predators confused.

MrsK

 

[Habibs Hens]

hey silver fox? Y don't you try using punctuation and capitals? It is much easier to read. I am all for free ranging and have done it before with chickens.(none lost) but the guineas would run so i cant anymore.(frowny face)

Other than that ur post is perfecto!

I have a reading and writing dyslexia, I tend to forget grammer when i read as i write.

Its not untill someone else reads it do the mistakes become aparent

 

[karlamaria]

free ranging about 8 hours a day, look at the grass by my hedge lol,. they use that dirt to sun bath in, and the yard is green for the picking. the pen is nice and cool in the summer, see the tarp, keeps the afternoon sun off and they go in there on there own to escape the heat.

 

[karlamaria]

I have a reading and writing dyslexia, I tend to forget grammer when i read as i write.

Its not untill someone else reads it do the mistakes become aparent

I do to, so no worries, If you can not read my writing then pass it up LOL, I enjoy your posts!

 

[karlamaria]

What I have found with free ranging is there are a lot of variables. One has to manage the beauty and healthiness of free range with the reality that some will be lost. What I have found with predators, is a roo will help with day time predators. As dark has been coming on earlier, my predators have been sneaking a few, if I don't get right down there.

Too much free range, makes your chickens not want to be in the pen, which can make them difficult to round up. When they get that way, I just lock them up in the run for a few days. Mine need to think the best treats are in the run.

But the real thing that helps me, is do not have a consistent routine, such as let them out at 7:00, get them in at 7:00. Vary it day to day. Keeps the predators confused.

MrsK

I have trained my girls to come into the pen by shaking a pill bottle . ( it has a few of my kids teeth in it lol never ever do my girls not follow me into the pen, of course when they get into the pen I give them dried worms or scratch. I trained them in case I have to go some where and they need to go back into the pen. I used to have to chase them around, now its shaky shaky and in there go.

 

[ChickSter99]

My 14 girls and 2 roosters (that were supposed to be girls) are now 11 weeks old and have been free ranging in the evening for about 2 hours a day. From the time I get home with the kids until they are ready to go in the coop is their fun time. They stay in the run with some younger bantam mixes so, having a chance to get away from the 'babies' is a big stress reliever for them. The 'babies' are 6 weeks old so, there is some pecking and bullying going on when I'm not looking. I guess they really need down time to chase bugs and be chickens. My chihuahua is very good about protecting them and right now they don't go out of sight of the coop/run. I have 45 acres that's fenced around the perimeter, but I still don't want them to wander any farther than I see out my kitchen window.

Right now, there not laying but in a couple of weeks hopefully we will start getting some eggs from them. My only concern about them free ranging (other than predators) is that they won't lay in the coop. I have to keep the coop/run closed because the 'babies' aren't big enough to be outside yet. They still haven't learned to go in the coop at bedtime when everyone else does

I guess the 'babies' will be old enough to go out when they start laying. They're bantams so, I'm a little more particular about letting them out so early. I worry about ever letting them out which just doesn't seem fair. The girls and my roosters are a variety of large fowl chickens. Every chicken (big and small) has a name according to their personality. This is our first year with chickens and we have fallen for them. They are truly some of the best entertainment when they are eating from our hands or stirring up grasshoppers and chasing them until they land.

 

[ChickSter99]

I have trained my girls to come into the pen by shaking a pill bottle . ( it has a few of my kids teeth in it lol never ever do my girls not follow me into the pen, of course when they get into the pen I give them dried worms or scratch. I trained them in case I have to go some where and they need to go back into the pen. I used to have to chase them around, now its shaky shaky and in there go.

When did you start training them to go in for you and how did you do it? My girls are as hard headed as the day is long. They will come running to me when I walk out the door and will eat from my hand. They will not go in the coop/run unless it's bedtime.