Free ranging

[RodNTN]

My chickens usually start free ranging 12-14 weeks.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

My first time at raising chickens and I think I'm doing really well. They are at 12 weeks, what is a safe age to start letting them free range? I have 2 orpingtons, 2 RIR, 2 Plymouths and 2 bantams. I am almost positive they are all hens.

The hard truth is that there is no SAFE time for chickens to free range.

 

[ShoreBirds]

"SunHwaKwon, post: 18668954, member: 368647"]Shorebirds if you need a rooster I've got plenty, from 4 weeks to coming up on 4 months. I'm near Salisbury.

I am surrounded by farm fields on all four sides. I start free ranging around a week if they're with a mother hen, ~three weeks if not. My May chicks have the option but choose to stay in the run for now, which is typical. Generally the trend is they start in the run for a few weeks, then venture out but stay within a couple feet for a couple weeks, then slowly begin to venture further.

The only predator issues I've had this year have been a snake and a feral cat. Hoping it stays that way. We do our best to keep the foxes thinned out while the crops are low but this year they did corn and it's already six feet tall.

My flock is mostly bantams with about 15 large fowl, about 75 total right now including chicks but not including guineas.[/QUOTE]

Shorebirds if you need a rooster I've got plenty, from 4 weeks to coming up on 4 months. I'm near Salisbury.

I am surrounded by farm fields on all four sides. I start free ranging around a week if they're with a mother hen, ~three weeks if not. My May chicks have the option but choose to stay in the run for now, which is typical. Generally the trend is they start in the run for a few weeks, then venture out but stay within a couple feet for a couple weeks, then slowly begin to venture further.

The only predator issues I've had this year have been a snake and a feral cat. Hoping it stays that way. We do our best to keep the foxes thinned out while the crops are low but this year they did corn and it's already six feet tall.

My flock is mostly bantams with about 15 large fowl, about 75 total right now including chicks but not including guineas.

I would love to have a 4 month old rooster - what kind do you have?

 

[ShoreBirds]

I would love to have a 4 month old rooster - what kind do you have?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

@ShoreBirds

I have a few bantams, mainly Old English, or in large fowl I have a splash Marans (breeder, not hatchery, he's a beautiful bird) and a gray and white Easter Egger. I am thinking of downsizing my entire flock so I will have hens and pullets for sale before long, too.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

I put my chicks in a chicken tractor at about six weeks, then at about 8 weeks i let them out to free range.

 

[ShoreBirds]

@ShoreBirds

I have a few bantams, mainly Old English, or in large fowl I have a splash Marans (breeder, not hatchery, he's a beautiful bird) and a gray and white Easter Egger. I am thinking of downsizing my entire flock so I will have hens and pullets for sale before long, too.

How old is the Marans and how much for a 3 or 4 month old. When can I pick him up and where?

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

I'm veering off topic but excited! 15 weeks old & one of my older chicks, laid her 1st egg, Today!! Brought her and her sisters home March 24th. They've been free to roam, no pen since about late May. Knew she was thinking about it since she had been hanging around the box the adult hens use to lay. Irony, both adult hens took a reprise y-day. I have a 4 x 6ft extension pen for the 4 remaining youngest chicks to roost in. her and her sisters, roost on an old truck door, old computer desk, close to the house. YAY!!

 

[Katrina89]

@ShoreBirds

I have a few bantams, mainly Old English, or in large fowl I have a splash Marans (breeder, not hatchery, he's a beautiful bird) and a gray and white Easter Egger. I am thinking of downsizing my entire flock so I will have hens and pullets for sale before long, too.

I have a question: Is there any way to keep a rooster from crowing? I wonder, because I might want to have my (future) chickens hatch their own chicks. I live in a city (where chickens are allowed)...

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I have a question: Is there any way to keep a rooster from crowing? I wonder, because I might want to have my (future) chickens hatch their own chicks. I live in a city (where chickens are allowed)...

There are no crow collars that lessen the sound. There are mixed reviews/views regarding effectiveness and humaneness.