Hello! We're about to jump in head first.

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InTheWoods

InTheWoods

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Typically I research a new hobby to death before I do the first thing. That's what I did with beekeeping 3 years ago and I'm in good shape with 11 of 12 hives coming out of the winter successfully. One of our family's goals is to start keeping chickens this year. Life has been too busy to research chickens keeping like I'd like so. So I'm just going to jump on this forum and let the experts here guide me.

We live in a rural area on 7 acres (2 cleared and 5 wooded). There's a stream at the back of our property. My next door neighbor breeds Old English Game birds. He heard we wanted to get into chickens this year and volunteered to give us "four or five" hens. He says we don't need a rooster. He's got roosters. But says we don't need any. I'm a little puzzled about that. But I digress. He bring us a couple dozen eggs every week for free so I'm just going to go with whatever program he has in mind for us.

He told me to build the coup and then he'll bring some hens over. So my father-in-law and I picked out a spot in the woods where we want the coup. I got this notion in my head that I wanted one side of the inside completely open with no wall or door since English Game breeds can fly out to safety if a predator discovers them instead of building a predator proof chicken coup. Is that a bad idea?

I want the flock to roam my property completely free. I don't think I need a caged in run. I'm on good terms with neighbors on all 4 sides so if the flock gets curious and ends up on their property they won't be bothered by them. Are there some downsides to totally free ranging them I'm ignorant to? If so, please enlighten me.

From some of my reading here I'm a little worried my hens will want to cruise over to where my neighbor has his roosters because that's just in their nature to scout out the roosters in the area. Is that something to worry about? If so, what's the solution?

That's probably enough questions to prime the pump and get me steared in the right direction here. I'm looking forward to the conversation!
 
Lets start with how cold are your winters? If you only have 3 walls that doesn't give them any protection from the winter weather. Also chickens can not see in the dark to fly. So they can fly, but they don't know where they are going so it isn't much protection from predators. I would build them a secure coop so that they are safe at night. Other wise go with the theory that they are replaceable if eaten by the wild life. The problem is that once the wild life figures out that there is an easy dinner to be had they will come back again and again. As to your birds returning home to see their favorite fellow do you have a 6ft solid fence? If not they are going to go back to their flock next door. That is home to them especially seeing as how you not starting with chicks. Hope that helps. :)
 
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I agree with Odelia. Your birds need a secure coop at night to protect them from predators. And depending on your winters, they will need protection from the wind and snow. Your birds will no doubt venture over to where the roosters are and visa versa. So expect to find a roo in your yard occasionally! Free ranging is fine as long as they are safe from predators and that include those from the skies. Hawks.

You might want to do some reading in our learning center for more tips and hints on keeping your new flock. Lots of good reads on all aspects of poultry keeping...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

Good luck with your new adventure and welcome to BYC!
 
Odelia said:
Lets start with how cold are your winters? If you only have 3 walls that doesn't give them any protection from the winter weather. Also chickens can not see in the dark to fly. So they can fly, but they don't know where they are going so it isn't much protection from predators. I would build them a secure coop so that they are safe at night. Other wise go with the theory that they are replaceable if eaten by the wild life. The problem is that once the wild life figures out that there is an easy dinner to be had they will come back again and again. As to your birds returning home to see their favorite fellow do you have a 6ft solid fence? If not they are going to go back to their flock next door. That is home to them especially seeing as how you not starting with chicks. Hope that helps. :)
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My Winter got down to 8F once and in the teens twice this Winter. Spent several weeks in the mid 20s to lower-mid 40s We're in SC (should have mentioned that).

We have no fence. So I'm glad to get confirmation on the flock returning to their home. He said I'll want to lock them up in their new coup for 3 weeks so they get used to it. But is that all it will take? Or are they pretty much 100% going to find their old home over where the roosters are and be prone to absconding over to the neighbor's all the time?

If so, am I really going to need a rooster to solve that problem (putting up a fence isn't an option at this time)?
 
TwoCrows said:
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I agree with Odelia. Your birds need a secure coop at night to protect them from predators. And depending on your winters, they will need protection from the wind and snow. Your birds will no doubt venture over to where the roosters are and visa versa. So expect to find a roo in your yard occasionally! Free ranging is fine as long as they are safe from predators and that include those from the skies. Hawks.

You might want to do some reading in our learning center for more tips and hints on keeping your new flock. Lots of good reads on all aspects of poultry keeping...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

Good luck with your new adventure and welcome to BYC!
Click to expand...

Thanks TwoCrows! I will certainly head over to the Learning Center and read everything there. Glad there seems to be consensus on a secure coup. I will certainly heed that wisdom.
 
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How close will your flock be to their old home? Will they be able to see/hear them? Yes, you'll want to keep them locked up for some time (I've mostly read that 1 weeks will do, but it'll depend on your birds). Locking them up will help to understand the coop is their new home.

I personally would go with a secure, weather tight coop. If you get a predator attack at night then basically your chickens are screwed no matter what, leaving an opening will only cause easier attacks and weather issues.
 
Free ranged birds are very likely to lay eggs where you will never find them, or brood a batch of chicks in a hidden nest - until predators discover an easy lunch. Some people expect and can live with the loss others prefer to keep their chickens in an enclosed large run which affords some protection.
 
ChirpyChicks1 said:
How close will your flock be to their old home? Will they be able to see/hear them? Yes, you'll want to keep them locked up for some time (I've mostly read that 1 weeks will do, but it'll depend on your birds). Locking them up will help to understand the coop is their new home.

I personally would go with a secure, weather tight coop. If you get a predator attack at night then basically your chickens are screwed no matter what, leaving an opening will only cause easier attacks and weather issues.
Click to expand...

Thanks ChirpyChicks1! If my flock meanders over to the adjoining property line they will be probably 100 yards from their old home. Their coup will be more like 400-500 yards from their old home. I hear those roosters all day long anywhere on my property.
 

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