Free ranging a flock of Cockerels

[Willowspirit]

I think as long as they get food, water and some kind of shelter for roosting even if that is a tree I think why not? As long as they can get out of the occasional rain and stay warm, I think it would be a great life for them. I know you are not in Hawaii, but the entire island of Kauai is covered in feral chickens. They seem to do great. Your chickens would have more predictable food and water resources than the Kauai chickens.

I’d say go for it. As their caretaker it’s ok to take care of them without them having to be a commodity for you.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thanks for the feedback, and I agree with some of what you are saying. When I was young - before going off to college - all our pet chickens were free range. We had a large penned off area of the yard for them, but there was no roof and no coop to lock them in at night. Predators were not a problem - we only had hawks to worry about when the hens hatched out babies, and the dogs left them alone. I never considered what we did as unethical. Now, if I were to just leave them over there with the mindset of 'survival of the fittest', yeah, that would eat away at my conscience. To me, letting them have a free life, even if there is the chance of predators being present from time to time, is better than just euthanizing them. But I will pen them in for the first few days to a week so they can get used to their new home.

Sounds like you have already decided how to proceed. Good luck, and keep us posted!

 

[roosterhavoc]

Thanks for the feedback, and I agree with some of what you are saying. When I was young - before going off to college - all our pet chickens were free range. We had a large penned off area of the yard for them, but there was no roof and no coop to lock them in at night. Predators were not a problem - we only had hawks to worry about when the hens hatched out babies, and the dogs left them alone. I never considered what we did as unethical. Now, if I were to just leave them over there with the mindset of 'survival of the fittest', yeah, that would eat away at my conscience. To me, letting them have a free life, even if there is the chance of predators being present from time to time, is better than just euthanizing them. But I will pen them in for the first few days to a week so they can get used to their new home.

Plenty of people allow birds to free range just like you are planning. There’s nothing wrong with your plan at all. I have birds free range year round. They sleep in trees during snow storms, rain, sleet etc.. They do just fine. I’ve never lost a bird to the weather. They are healthier, feathers in better shape etc.. I’d put the health of free range birds above penned birds any day.
You’re getting a bunch of comments from people that have never tried it because they’re too afraid of letting birds loose.

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

Hi, I have 20 roosters that I chose to keep because I love roosters. Some of them are also my breeding boys. I put my extra boys in bachelor pens. If they get along well with each other they can live in a bachelor pen together quite well. As long as there are no hens in the pen with them they will be just fine. I currently have 20 roosters in 4 bachelor pens. This has been my solution for my extra roosters. They don't eat as much as the hens either which is nice. They are beautiful birds, I am glad that I kept them. Not sure if this helps but it has been a great solution for my extra boys.

 

[Shadrach]

Hello chicken people!

This July, I let one of my hens hatch out a batch of chicks. She hatched 11, 7 of which turned out to be cockerels (of course). I am able to keep one, and a neighbor is going to take another and two of the pullets (I'll be keeping the other two pullets), but there is no way I can keep the five other little roosters, at least not in the same enclosure.

I have been lightly asking around, and there is a person at the local Farm Supply who takes roosters and releases them on a ranch (or at least that is what the employees at the store think). I don't have the heart to ''dump'' them out somewhere like that, and I really need the space they are all in right now for back up (in case things get crazy within my established flock).

They all get along pretty well (have only had to separate two), so I've decided to let them free range on the property (owned by my family) across the street. It's about 2 acres, fenced in, with about 1 and 3/4 available for my little flock of cockerels. The fence is 6 ft high in some areas, about 4 ft in others. I'll be feeding them and giving them water, so they won't be entirely abandoned, and the renter on that property is very open to having them around (she's getting the one roo and two pullets for her own yard/coop).

SO, my question is: Should I set up a temporary holding pen to get them used to the new yard, or is it safe to take them over and just release them onto the property? There are a few trees along the fence line I'd like them to avoid roosting in (so as not to end up on the wrong side of the fence in the morning), but I also plan to put the food and water near/under a large tree that is centrally located on the property.

Does anyone have any advice on how to proceed? Thanks!!!!

My view is it depends a lot on the area you are planning to let them free range on.
Some pictures of said area would be helpful.

 

[ZoomuKeeper]

When the dust settles, the ethical consideration of providing safety and food and water to domesticated animals under your care trumps all. If you are not able to provide these three essentials, you ethically have the obligation to euthanize these animals instead of exposing them to the dangers of being without adequate shelter.

I know of a person that keeps chickens and turns out cockerels and hens no longer laying to deal with the elements on their own. They quickly disappear and her conscience is no longer troubled by their continuing presence. She justifies this by insisting she married a farmer, and this is how he and generations of farmers before him dealt with this issue.

Just because, "this is the way we've always done it" is paraded out as the ultimate excuse for avoiding our responsibilities, it doesn't come close to justifying it.

Sermon delivered. If you wish to turn out these cockerels to free range, I urge you to provide a predator secure shelter for them to roost in at night along with the food and water. Confine them in the shelter for the first day and first night so they will know it's their safe place. Then you will be free to sleep well at night.

I don't feel any animal should be euthanized but that is just me. I know it is done and I won't judge anyone who does it, I just could never do it. I do agree with everything else

 

[ZoomuKeeper]

They will fight when they are under a year old because of hormones but once they establish pecking order as a bachelor group things will settle down

I have 4 roosters together. A giant Buff Brahma and 3 white crested black polish. I also only have 4 hens 2 buff brahmas a red star and a white crested black polish. all so far get a long. they have established a hierarchy and it is rare that one goes against the rank. But when it happens it is just a little chase here and there and it is over.

 

[roosterhavoc]

The logic that it’s better to “humanely” euthanize a rooster instead of turning them loose is mind blowing. That’s the peta mentality of putting down animals so there’s no chance of them having a poor life. Lets save em by killing them.

 

[roosterhavoc]

My view is it depends a lot on the area you are planning to let them free range on.
Some pictures of said area would be helpful.

What do you determine to be a suitable free range area for chickens?

 

[Shadrach]

What do you determine to be a suitable free range area for chickens?

The availability of cover mostly.