Free-Roaming Chickes All Over The Place?

[GoodEgg]

My birds were first outside in a coop with an attached run. They easily knew to go into the coop at night to roost.

After a while (probably a week or so) I started letting them out into the "big yard" an hour before dark. They still went back in easily as night fell. It wasn't long before I was opening the doors at sunrise and letting them roam the property until sunset. They have always gone in themselves just before dark.

Now I may be gone until hours after sunset. They still go inside as it's getting dark and roost. The only ones I ever have to put in are broodies who want to sit on imaginary nests in the bushes.

My youngsters of this year sleep in a dog crate (still!). I put it in their run. The first couple of nights, they went in one night, and then would try to sleep between the crate and run wire the next night. But by the fourth day, they were putting themselves to bed every night. Now ... they don't all fit. The two brahmas were sleeping in the doorway tonight when I got home and went outside to get them. I left the buff orps in the crate and put the crate in the coop for lock-down as usual, but the two brahmas are in an aquarium in the house tonight, next to my three baby gooses in large boxes.

Sigh ... I GOTTA get a couple more coops built !!!

trish

 

[tomstephens]

When I first got my chickens I let them free range all over. Then I lost 6 chickens in two weeks to a raccoon one night, then a fox a few days later, then a bobcat picked off my rooster.

So now they are penned. They still have lots of space to roam but not truly free range anymore.

 

[Portia]

My small flock free ranges my fenced backyard acre along with my dogs (who, quite frankly, could care less about them....even caught a chicken 'grooming' one of the sleeping dogs the other day). I started them in my fenced 24'x24' garden in the early spring when they were about 6 weeks, returning them to the brooder each night. Just before dusk they would all gather into the transport box that I left in the enclosure for protection. At 8 weeks I turned them out into the coop and the yard. The first 2 nights we had to put them back into the coop, but after that they all found it on their own. Now I can almost set a clock by them, they go to roost between 7:30-8:00, long before dusk when the predators begin to come out. I lock them in at night. So far, no losses & they have plenty of places to hide around the yard & do go back into the coop when thunderstorms kick up. I have a rooster that has finally decided that his job is to guard the flock and he keeps them all in line (they are 13 weeks old). I know that we could loose some/all at some point, but I love the free range and it keeps the lawn green and yard pretty much bug free; plus its very cathartic just watching them do their chicken thing.

 

[starbrite]

South Brittany, France. We open open all the animal houses first thing in the morning, and close up usually at dusk, we've left them before well into the night if we've been out and have had, so far, no problems. The chickens usually come into our garden or root about in the veg field, especially if I'm digging, often they vanish over the neighbouring fields, more so when it has been dug, the ducks used to be able to get through the fence but usually stayed close, now they and the geese are to big to leave the field, but they are still free ranging as they have a good amount of room, the ducks prefer to sit on top of the chicken coop.

Here's the wife feeding the chicks and ducks ( and the dogs)

The ducks in the pool;

Photos;

http://s284.photobucket.com/albums/ll4/starbritefr/?special_track=nav_tab_album

 

[Wildsky]

Great Video's starbrite!

 

[ninjapoodles]

I did it! And nobody died! At least not yet!

I took some fruit and a camp chair out to the chicken-yard late yesterday afternoon, and opened the gate to the yard. My little girl and I had barely gotten settled in our chair before the first of the little roos were venturing out into the big, wide world. I was FASCINATED. An hour later, when my husband got home, we were still sitting there watching, and then HE got a chair and joined us for another hour!

In the end, as it began to get dusky, we DID chase them all back in, because Hubs would NOT hear of waiting for it to get dark--he claimed the raccoons would have half a dozen of them before they all made it into the coop. So I guess I'll have to work on "training" them to come to me for treats and follow me.

Oh, my, but they were fun to watch.

 

[Portia]

Isn't it awesome! I can watch my chickens forever, but alas there is usually work to do. When I'm out working in the yard the chickens and at least one of the dogs are usually right there with me, especially if I working in the perrenial or herb beds or my mini orchard. In fact, the chickens often try to help me dig & I have to shoo them away so I can actually get something accomplished.

 

[peepkeeper]

If I need to lock up my chickens for any reason, lawn mowing or whatnot, I just shake a coffee can at them. Chickens come a-running for the great taste of scratch! They appear out of the woodwork like magic. It beats chasing them around.

 

[Freepopcorn]

>< My chickens have feed and water in their coop. I kept them in the coop for about 3 weeks and let them out into my 1acre backyard to freerange. For some reason...they dont go back into the coop at night...or atleast I havent noticed them going back in. I never chased them in or put them back...so im hoping they will go in on their own.

This is also a concern when I plan on collecting eggs. Will they go to the coop to the nest boxes or lay all over my yard?!

 

[1muttig]

I just let my year old chickens out and I'm getting half the eggs that I was getting before. They have only been out for a week now. I shut them up at night. What's going on? Help someone.