Hello, new member here.

[1stcarver]

I have been surfing this site for a while now, and thought I would join so I could learn more from you folks. I grew up in the country, and we had chickens. Some for laying eggs, others for eating. Their coop was open, and they roosted there at night, but ran around freely at all other times, except for those dedicated to the pot. I built a swank chicken coop 25 years ago, and thought I had done a good job. Something got in the coop, and killed everything. About a month ago I acquired a couple a dozen more chickens, mixed flock, all grown, and I've built a pen, and coop. The pen was my old dog pen. I'm sure they can fly out of it, but haven't so far. They are laying some, and I'm only feeding them scratch at this time. I want to let them out of the pen so they can free range some. I have dogs that did not grow up with chickens, but if I let the chickens out, the dogs will be shut up in the house. I'm wondering if I let them out, how do I get them back in? If I don't let them out what should I be feeding them.

 

[LRH97]

First of all, welcome! If the birds have been in the coop for a while, they should know that this is "home", and should go back in on their own at sundown. If they have never been out before, it may take them a while to figure out that outside is a fun place to be. And once they figure that out, they may wander a little bit, so you just have to keep a closer eye on them for a while. If you are raising your birds for eggs, any commercial layer feed with scratch as a treat or table scraps if you wish, will be sufficient. If they free range, you shouldn't have to worry about grit or anything, but if you do notice consistent thin shells, you may want to offer some oyster shell (although I've never had to while they were on the layer feed diet). Best of luck!

 

[RJSorensen]

Welcome to BYC! And back to the flock. First the birds need to be homed. This means they need to be more or less locked in the coop for 3 to 4 days. Enough time for them to know where they live and that it is safe there. Then let them out to wander under supervision and when they get far enough away from 'home' that you are a bit nervous, shoo them back into the coop. Do this for a few days so they get the idea of where to run for when/if things go bad. Then by the end of the week you and the birds should be good to go.

If you were to change coops, you would need to do the same thing. Herding chickens… well that just don't happen. Other than shooing them back into the coop at first, it just won't work out. But they will come home just before dark. Most of the time.

Scratch is too low in protein to be much good for layers. Not to mention it has nothing in it to build egg shells and etc. So a good lay feed, free choice would be best for everyone. Scratch isn't a real food, it was designed to be thrown into the coop liter, so as the birds would 'scratch' for it and help the bird keeper keep the litter turned and fresh. Birds like the grains in scratch, even though they are not the best for them, sort of like candy I suppose. Sweet to eat but you could not live on it.

Best to you and your new flock,

RJ

 

[1stcarver]

Thanks for the reply's! These guys have been in the pen, and coop, for about a month now, they roost in the coop, so maybe I won't have any trouble. I'll try to let them out an hour or two before sundown. If they won't come when I call them, with some feed, maybe they will return to the coop on their own at sundown.

 

[RJSorensen]

Gosh, it would seem you are way ahead of the game with these. That should work just fine, you might have to poke a straggler or two at first.

Best to you and keep your fingers crossed,

RJ

 

[1stcarver]

I bought some laying pellets a week, or so, ago. I'm now getting 3 - 4 eggs per day. The story I got on this flock is that the original owners started out with 4 dominickers, these are the layers that I have at this time. Then they added to the flock with 4 white chickens, and 6 red chickens. I have no idea how old they are, and don't know what breed they are. Is there any way to know their age, and what breed they are?

 

[RJSorensen]

You could post a few pictures in a new thread (so everyone can help) and I bet someone here can get close to the age and most likely the breed. A lot of very smart, very savvy bird keepers in these parts…

Best to you and your birds,

RJ

 

[ronmauldin]

Welcome from the Ocean State!