Free ranging on the lawn

[KyCoop]

Lol "death from above". It won't be like as soon as you let them out it gonna look like a Hitchcock movie.



There are certain times of year and certain times of day that are more dangerous then others. Start spending time outside and watch and listen. The wild birds and squirrels will let you know if death is in the air. And your girls are smart they will let you know too. My girls will start trilling and freeze in place and only move their eyeballs about 60 seconds before a hawk will fly over. If they alarm call BAUK BAUK BAGAGH BAUK BAUK BAGAGH they see it and will run for cover.
Oh but let them see a cat or a ground hog and they are all about wanting to go see it.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

The best way to determine how long your birds in your tractor on your lawn will work is to try it. I'd start with a day, then move the tractor more or less often based on what you're seeing. If done right, they'll tear thing up a little bit, but that spot will grow back greener and healthier than it was for their labor and contributions.

I actually use my chicken tractor as a slow-motion grass killer. I leave 2-3 chickens in one spot for about two weeks, then move the tractor and any and all grass and weeds is gone. I put down some finished compost and plant grass seed. Basically, I'm very slowly replanting my entire lawn, converting it from straggly, weedy grass grown in New England forest soil to lusher, greener grass grown in great (chicken) compost.

 

[Perris]

I would love to let them just be chickens, but we have a lot of predators (flying and otherwise) and not sure I could keep them safe without a tractor. But I am open to suggestions!

We have goshawks, red tailed kites, buzzards, and kestrels from above, foxes and dogs at ground level. I lost birds when I started, but they get more predator savvy with every attack, and in 2021 I even had to rescue a kestrel from a broody I lost none, not even a chick, in 2022; at one point I thought I'd lost my favorite hen (a 5 year old) to a neighbour's dog, but she reappeared 3 days later, uninjured and very hungry. Wherever she'd been hiding day and night for 3 days, none of us or the various terrestrial or aerial predators around here could find her.

If they are free they can scatter and hide. If they're penned, it's carnage if something gets in, as the threads about predators wrecking havoc in coops demonstrate.

 

[missmychicks]

The best way to determine how long your birds in your tractor on your lawn will work is to try it. I'd start with a day, then move the tractor more or less often based on what you're seeing. If done right, they'll tear thing up a little bit, but that spot will grow back greener and healthier than it was for their labor and contributions.

I actually use my chicken tractor as a slow-motion grass killer. I leave 2-3 chickens in one spot for about two weeks, then move the tractor and any and all grass and weeds is gone. I put down some finished compost and plant grass seed. Basically, I'm very slowly replanting my entire lawn, converting it from straggly, weedy grass grown in New England forest soil to lusher, greener grass grown in great (chicken) compost.

Brilliant!!!!!

 

[missmychicks]

We have goshawks, red tailed kites, buzzards, and kestrels from above, foxes and dogs at ground level. I lost birds when I started, but they get more predator savvy with every attack, and in 2021 I even had to rescue a kestrel from a broody I lost none, not even a chick, in 2022; at one point I thought I'd lost my favorite hen (a 5 year old) to a neighbour's dog, but she reappeared 3 days later, uninjured and very hungry. Wherever she'd been hiding day and night for 3 days, none of us or the various terrestrial or aerial predators around here could find her.

If they are free they can scatter and hide. If they're penned, it's carnage if something gets in, as the threads about predators wrecking havoc in coops demonstrate.

Lol "death from above". It won't be like as soon as you let them out it gonna look like a Hitchcock movie.



There are certain times of year and certain times of day that are more dangerous then others. Start spending time outside and watch and listen. The wild birds and squirrels will let you know if death is in the air. And your girls are smart they will let you know too. My girls will start trilling and freeze in place and only move their eyeballs about 60 seconds before a hawk will fly over. If they alarm call BAUK BAUK BAGAGH BAUK BAUK BAGAGH they see it and will run for cover.
Oh but let them see a cat or a ground hog and they are all about wanting to go see it.

Wow- this is a really good point! I hadn't really thought of nature's alarm systme. Makes me even more excited to work on recall from the time i meet my little chicks. Thanks for this insight!

 

[KyCoop]

Get yourself a brightly-colored cup to train them with. I don't recommend the red disposable cups. You will never be able to have a drink outside again and neither will your guests. True story.

 

[missmychicks]

Get yourself a brightly-colored cup to train them with. I don't recommend the red disposable cups. You will never be able to have a drink outside again and neither will your guests. True story.

LMAO!!