Free ranging

[olrobo]

A couple of questions...since getting three of our chickens (Rhode Island Reds) in Feb. 2018 and then picking up 1 year old Orpington Buffs in that July, we've kept them in an Eglu Cube coop with a 2 meter run. Once a week when we clean the coop we let them and roam around for most of the day.

Will they have enough sense to return to the coop/nesting box when they lay? I try to keep an eye on them while they're loose to see if any appear to be laying, but it's kind of hard to tell since they love to dig a hole and lay in it coming out only to poop on the front walk, porch, or stepping stones where we have to walk! At any rate, I've only found an egg once or twice where they'd been dirt-bathing. They do know to return to their coop when they think I'm going to give them their daily meal worm treats and sometimes refuse to leave the immediate area staying under foot while we're trying to clean. So, will I have to search diligently the entire area where they MIGHT have laid eggs? This isn't a problem right now as I've only gotten ONE egg since mid-November when they were all molting.

My other question is...should I let them roam daily as long as it isn't snowing/sleeting and/or the ground covered completely with snow?

Any input is appreciated! Thanks - Steve

 

[boskelli1571]

You are unlikely to get many eggs through the winter period. Once the days really start to lengthen they should start up - think Feb. at the earliest.
They should return to the nest, but it's possible they will not.....if they don't you will need to retrain them to use the boxes.
I let my girls out daily - we have 6 inches of snow right now, so they choose not to leave the coop, but on the warmer days when the snow is melting some of them will venture out.
Hope this helps a bit

 

[21hens-incharge]

Most if not all will head into the nest boxes to lay even when ranging.

I find letting them out to range daily can be problematic.
First they like to dig.....especially where you may rather they not....like under freshly planted shrubs or veggies.
They choose to poop where we walk.
Then there are predators that learn the schedule and wait for us to leave.

Yes they greatly enjoy time out of the run.....I only allow it when I can be right there the entire time to monitor things.

Just yesterday we had a big hawk hanging around again.

 

[olrobo]

You are unlikely to get many eggs through the winter period. Once the days really start to lengthen they should start up - think Feb. at the earliest.
They should return to the nest, but it's possible they will not.....if they don't you will need to retrain them to use the boxes.
I let my girls out daily - we have 6 inches of snow right now, so they choose not to leave the coop, but on the warmer days when the snow is melting some of them will venture out.
Hope this helps a bit

Thanks! I appreciate it. Yes, I realized that the egg production would slow/cease even though I got at least an egg or two every couple of days all last winter. My concern was them laying their eggs (if any) outside the coop/nesting box. They never range too far and generally always go to the same spot to root/wallow (the front flower bed). I just felt kinda bad seeing them "cooped" up all the time! LOL

 

[boskelli1571]

Thanks! I appreciate it. Yes, I realized that the egg production would slow/cease even though I got at least an egg or two every couple of days all last winter. My concern was them laying their eggs (if any) outside the coop/nesting box. They never range too far and generally always go to the same spot to root/wallow (the front flower bed). I just felt kinda bad seeing them "cooped" up all the time! LOL

Yes - it is good for them to be able to roam around a bit. As '21 hens' said if you have predators know that you are taking a chance.
We have lived in a very rural area for the last 10 years and have lost 4 birds - 3 to hawks and 1 to a raccoon, but we also have dogs patrolling the area too