Getting a taste of freedom

[LI chickie]

I have 5 RIRs & 1 Wyandotte about 11weeks old. They've been out in the coop for several weeks. Whenever I go out there I'll call out "hi girls" and such they always come to greet me at the fence. They aren't super friendly but allow me to touch them but prefer not to be held. I started letting 2 out at a time to explore the horse corral that the coop is in figuring they won't go far without the rest of the flock. I've gotten brave and have let all 6 out while I'm doing chores of course they are getting braver and going further away from the coop. Last night they went to the back fence and since hubby told be he's not chasing chickens I herded the up with my rake back to the coop.
Does anyone else let their "non free range" chickens out to play?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I have 5 RIRs & 1 Wyandotte about 11weeks old. They've been out in the coop for several weeks. Whenever I go out there I'll call out "hi girls" and such they always come to greet me at the fence. They aren't super friendly but allow me to touch them but prefer not to be held. I started letting 2 out at a time to explore the horse corral that the coop is in figuring they won't go far without the rest of the flock. I've gotten brave and have let all 6 out while I'm doing chores of course they are getting braver and going further away from the coop. Last night they went to the back fence and since hubby told be he's not chasing chickens I herded the up with my rake back to the coop.
Does anyone else let their "non free range" chickens out to play?

Yep - we have an enclosed run that the flock is in most of the day during the week - when I get home in the evening and on weekends I let them out. Right now the evening release leads to them beelining for our woods where they can escape the heat and sun - when it isn't unbearably hot they stay out in the open pasture where they graze, chase bugs and dust bathe. They are great for scattering the piles of horse poop! Our current fence is only designed to keep horses in, and does little to contain the chickens - we are working on a modification to that so they can be out without so much supervision (we have one naughty girl who loves leading the flock astray onto the neighbors' side of the fence) - I find it beyond rude not to control your animals and keep them on your own property, so until the fencing is corrected we just make a point to keep an eye on them and if/when they venture too close to one fence line or the other we herd them back to an area they are supposed to be in. The "new and improved" plan will not only allow them free access to the horse pasture with no option to go under the wire, but will also include an exclusive "chickens only" portion of fenced area that extends back into the woods. In theory, once it's done, I should be able to let them out anytime we are home without having to constantly check to be sure they are where they should be - the lack of control of dogs by others around us is reason enough for me to hesitate leaving them out when we are not at least on the property.

 

[Mrs. K]

Yes I let mine out, however, I really try to keep it random. And I don't let them out on heavily cloudy days or days of high wind. I have found that helps with the predators.

If you always call when you bring feed, they will generally come running. But I also have used a long stick or sorting stick to round them up. Get so that the girls are between you and the pen, and tap the ground and call "Hut, hut" then walk forward slowly till they move, when they move, you stop. If the move past you, just extend the stick and tap the ground in front of them and they will turn and head in the right direction.

When they stop, move again, slowly calling "hut,hut" and tapping the ground till the move again towards the hut, this keeps them calm, and they will eventually go in the run. If you have some feed there, the firsts ones will find it, and the more relunctant will hurry in.

mk

 

[LI chickie]

They do very good being rounded up with the rake, no trouble at all.
I also need to plug up some spots they can get out of the corral from. Sometimes I feel bad it's only a short outting but I guess it's better than none at all!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

.

If you always call when you bring feed, they will generally come running. But I also have used a long stick or sorting stick to round them up. Get so that the girls are between you and the pen, and tap the ground and call "Hut, hut" then walk forward slowly till they move, when they move, you stop. If the move past you, just extend the stick and tap the ground in front of them and they will turn and head in the right direction.



mk

Yep - I use our lunge whip (or the "handy stick") for the stragglers - *most* of the time a good shake of the rattle-can I use gets their attention, even when they are deeper in the woods, and brings them running/flying for the scratch or treats they know are being put down in the run for them.