German New Hampshire

[gjensen]

How well do GNH forage?

Depends on how you manage them.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

How well do GNH forage?

I let my birds free range during daylight hours. My mature GNH venture further than any of the rest of the birds away from the coop to forage every day. They stop at the compost pile, and then go about 300 feet to the front fence then a couple hundred feet over to the donkey fence, then into the front duck pasture, then back to the coop. All in all, I would say they use 4 of the 6.5 acres each day (an acre is my garden and restricted to duck access only).
Now, they do stop and visit the feeders in each of the other animal areas on their way through, but don't tend to stay long eating. My juvenile GNH (5 month olds) are just now venturing out into the goat pasture beside the chicken coop, so it takes them time to get started. That is okay though...since they really aren't big enough to be safe outside until they are pushing 5-6 months old anyway.

 

[BlackPanther]

They will be locked in a coop at night and able to free-range during the day.

 

[BlackPanther]

I let my birds free range during daylight hours. My mature GNH venture further than any of the rest of the birds away from the coop to forage every day. They stop at the compost pile, and then go about 300 feet to the front fence then a couple hundred feet over to the donkey fence, then into the front duck pasture, then back to the coop. All in all, I would say they use 4 of the 6.5 acres each day (an acre is my garden and restricted to duck access only).
Now, they do stop and visit the feeders in each of the other animal areas on their way through, but don't tend to stay long eating. My juvenile GNH (5 month olds) are just now venturing out into the goat pasture beside the chicken coop, so it takes them time to get started. That is okay though...since they really aren't big enough to be safe outside until they are pushing 5-6 months old anyway.

Are they likely to stray particularly far? We have open ground and several hawks that like to visit in the spring.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Are they likely to stray particularly far? We have open ground and several hawks that like to visit in the spring.

Only the mature birds go very far. The hawks would have to be REALLY big to carry off a full grown GNH. The juveniles stay within 100 feet of the coop in an area that has low and dense tree canopies. I have only ever lost one juvenile bird to hawks (hatchery quality barred rock), although I have a ton of hawks, but that was before I got guineas and geese: I haven't lost a bird to a hawk since I got them. They don't defend anything, but seem to be just a general deterrent.

 

[BlackPanther]

Thank you, that's very helpful. I'm hoping to get some GNH for my father next year and maybe add some to my own flock

 

[7961]

Has anyone ran into an issue of feathers on the legs of their young New Hampshires? Does this trait commonly occur in these German strains? I got two young pairs (2013), 2 different ages, but the older 2 have developed some very short string of feathers on their legs. A friend picked these up for me. I saw pictures of the parent birds and they are beautiful rich color, type, and size, but lack any leg feathers on the legs.

 

[har]

I have had feathered legs on just a few of my GNH.

 

[fowlman01]

Has anyone ran into an issue of feathers on the legs of their young New Hampshires? Does this trait commonly occur in these German strains? I got two young pairs (2013), 2 different ages, but the older 2 have developed some very short string of feathers on their legs. A friend picked these up for me. I saw pictures of the parent birds and they are beautiful rich color, type, and size, but lack any leg feathers on the legs.

Feathers on the legs appears to be common in these, but if removed they don't seem to come back. I am selecting against it in my breedings. I think we can get rid of it.

Walt

 

[gjensen]

I will not even consider tolerating stubs here, and I think that I have made good progress.

The life span of a bird with stubs on this yard is not very long. No apologies.