Free range or supervised range

[olympicchicks]

I forgot to say I had done some maths and worked out with a mix of any of those breeds I would get enough eggs

 

[Michael OShay]

Gotcha. ) I would get a mix of those bantam breeds then. It will give you a chance to compare them and ultimately decide which breed you like the best.

 

[olympicchicks]

Ok thanks

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

I only supervise my girls free range. One day they got attacked by a hawk even though I was only three feet away.

There are pros and cons of free ranging:
Pros

-Happier chickens
-Generally healthier chickens
-More room=exercise and ability to have more chickens
-They will eat less food

Cons

-Easy targets for predators
-Generally more prone to diseases and parasites
-Can get hurt and killed more easily.

 

[kittykitty30]

Welcome! I supervise range my chickens, it is just generally safer for them. They also have a fenced run that I put them in during the day- they range in the mornings and in the evenings.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

There are far too many predators here for free ranging, as many of my fellow chicken keepers have found. Having them out while you are in the house is not supervised, as you are not close enough to prevent problems - that is basically free ranging.

Bantams lay smaller, and generally fewer, eggs that standard breeds.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you decided to join our flock. If eggs are a priority, I don't know why you would change from Australorps to one of the bantam breeds on your list. Australorps are the best layers of the standard, brown egg laying breeds. Not only will they lay considerably more eggs than any of the bantams on your list, but their eggs are much larger. In addition, Australorps are very calm and gentle, and are hardier (both heat and cold) than any of the bantam breeds on your list. I have to think you would be better off sticking with the Australorps. Please feel free to ask any other questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Whatever breed you end up getting, good luck with your flock.

I agree with Michael. The breeds that you mention are bred more for 'pretty' than for production. You might want to add two or three production birds to the mix as your choices will tend to go broody.

 

[olympicchicks]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan  ​

There are far too many predators here for free ranging, as many of my fellow chicken keepers have found.  Having them out while you are in the house is not supervised, as you are not close enough to prevent problems - that is basically free ranging.

Bantams lay smaller, and generally fewer, eggs that standard breeds.

I agree with Michael.  The breeds that you mention are bred more for 'pretty' than for production.  You might want to add two or three production birds to the mix as your choices will tend to go broody.

That is why I have chosen breeds of bantam that will give me enough eggs

And I only have the room for three bantams as I have already built the coop and run and I prefer some of of the looks on the bantams than production layers

 

[BantamLover21]

Glad you joined us!

Feel free to ask lots of questions! We're all here to help.